Irradiation of condensed CO reveals a new pathway for the formation of aromatic molecules in astrochemical ices.

Summary: Have you ever wondered how complex carbon molecules form in deep space? Scientists looked at carbon monoxide, a common gas that freezes into ice in the cold, dark parts of space. They blasted this ice with tiny, fast particles called electrons to see what would happen. Surprisingly, the carbon atoms broke apart and linked back together to form rings, creating materials like graphene! This discovery shows a brand-new way that the building blocks of stars and planets can form in the freezing cold of space.