Life on Earth has a cosmic origin Astronomers have used the ALMA radio telescope to discover 17 complex organic molecules (COM) in the protoplanetary disk around the star V883 Orionis. It is located 1,350 light years from Earth. The molecules discovered include ethylene glycol (CH₂OH)₂ and glycolonitrile (HOCH₂CN), which are considered precursors to amino acids and DNA components. This is the first observation of such molecules in the zone where planets are formed. It was previously assumed that when a star transitions from a protostellar stage to a young star, complex molecules are destroyed and formed anew. But new data refute this hypothesis. Protoplanetary disks can preserve and develop organic matter laid down at the stage of interstellar clouds. This discovery supports the theory of the cosmic origin of life and shows that the chemical conditions for biology can arise long before the appearance of planets.