Astronomers have identified a natural sugar in interstellar clouds near the Milky Way's center, marking the first evidence of life-essential compounds forming between stars.

Erythrulose, which has four carbon atoms, is the most complex sugar spotted beyond our Solar System.

Astronomers have detected a type of sugar in space that’s also found in raspberries. The sugar, called erythrulose, lurks in interstellar space, or the space between stars.

Erythrulose—a sugar found in raspberries—is also prevalent in a giant molecular cloud close to our galaxy’s core, scientists have discovered