Arrokoth's distinctive reddish coloration and sweet taste are results of complex hydrocarbon molecules and sugars formed by cosmic rays and solar wind on its frozen methanol surface.
Chemical reactions triggered by cosmic rays on Arrokoth's ice produce sugars like glucose and glycerol, potentially forming the basis for life's chemical building blocks.
Lab experiments by Zhang's team simulated cosmic rays on methanol and carbon monoxide, producing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sugars, and important compounds like ribose, associated with DNA and RNA.
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