What is Astrochemistry?
[[File:Star-stuff.png|thumb|Astrochemistry can show where the chemicals in [[human body]] start.]] '''Astrochemistry''' is the study of how [[Atom|atoms]] react with each other outside our planet. They make the [[Molecule|molecules]] in planets, stars, and other stellar things.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Astrochemistry {{!}} Center for Astrophysics {{!}} Harvard & Smithsonian|url=https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/research/topic/astrochemistry#:~:text=Astrochemistry%20is%20the%20way%20for,are%20the%20precursors%20to%20life.|access-date=2024-04-02|website=www.cfa.harvard.edu}}</ref> It is a combination of [[astronomy]], [[astrophysics]], and [[chemistry]]. Astrochemistry is sometimes combined with [[nuclear physics]] when dealing with the nuclear reactions that happen within [[Star|stars]]. Astrochemistry is different from [[cosmochemistry]] as astrochemistry talks about things outside our [[Solar System]], while cosmochemistry talks about things within the Solar system.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Astrochemistry|url=https://www.astrochemistry.eu/ac/astrochem_astrochem.html#:~:text=On%20the%20Solar%20System%20scale,as%20their%20temperature%20and%20composition.|access-date=2024-04-03|website=www.astrochemistry.eu}}</ref> == Discoveries == In October 2011, scientists from [[Hong Kong]] reported that unexpectedly complex [[Organic compound|organic compounds]] exist in the [[universe]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Astronomers discover complex organic matter exists throughout the universe|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111026143721.htm|access-date=2024-04-03|website=ScienceDaily|language=en}}</ref> [[File:The Celestial Zoo infographic wikimedia.png|thumb|273x273px|Infographic showing the diversity of chemicals in outer space.]] In August 2012, astronomers at [[Copenhagen University]] discovered [[sugar]] molecules in the gas surrounding a star about 400 [[Light year|light-years]] away. Although this does not prove that there is other life in space, it does show there could be.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-08-30|title=Sugar Fou