Email Print Share

News From the Field

Formaldehyde: Poison Could Have Set the Stage for the Origins of Life


April 4, 2011

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

Formaldehyde, a poison and a common molecule throughout the universe, is likely the source of the solar system's organic carbon solids--abundant in both comets and asteroids. Scientists have long speculated about how the organic, or carbon-containing, material became a part of the solar system's fabric. New research from Carnegie Institution shows that these complex organic solids were likely made from formaldehyde in the primitive solar system.Full Story

Source
Carnegie Institution

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

mail icon Get News Updates by Email 

Connect with us online
NSF website: nsf.gov
NSF News: nsf.gov/news
For News Media: nsf.gov/news/newsroom
Statistics: nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards database: nsf.gov/awardsearch/

Follow us on social
Twitter: twitter.com/NSF
Facebook: facebook.com/US.NSF
Instagram: instagram.com/nsfgov