The taste of the Milky Way?

I'm absolutely delighted to read that our galaxy may have - of all things - a taste!

Astronomers testing a giant dust cloud at the heart of the Milky Way say it might taste of raspberries.




Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, were searching for evidence of amino acids, reports The Guardian.

They say they failed to locate any but did find ethyl formate - the chemical responsible for the flavour of raspberries.

The astronomers used the IRAM telescope in Spain to analyse electromagnetic radiation emitted by a hot and dense region of Sagittarius B2 that surrounds a newborn star.

While scouring their data, the team found ethyl formate as well as evidence for the deadly chemical propyl cyanide in the same cloud. The two molecules are the largest yet discovered in deep space.

Astronomer Arnaud Belloche said: "It does happen to give raspberries their flavour, but there are many other molecules that are needed to make space raspberries."

How fascinating! Now, if they can find the chemicals to make custard or cream too, then future interstellar space travelers might have all they need for a galactic feast!

Who says astronomical research doesn't bear fruit?



Peter