Life Sciences: Complex Organics in Space

This publication contains 19 papers on extraterrestrial complex organic chemistry, in direct relation to prebiotic chemistry and exobiology, the study of the origins, evolution and distribution of life in the universe.

The papers are presented within three main parts. Part 1 presents the complex organics in interstellar clouds.

Part 2 presents the complex organics in meteorites, interplanetary dust, comets and Mars, and finally part 3 presents the complex organics in the outer solar system.

The papers cover the various aspects of such organic compounds.

This includes their physical and chemical nature, approaches through experimental simulation (on ground and in Earth orbit) and other studies in the laboratory as well as through theoretical modelling.

This also includes their occurrence in the universe, evidenced from remote sensing observations, past, present and future (in particular, through Cassini-Huygens and Rosetta missions).