1. Could you explain the significance of your article to the non-specialist?

Our paper discusses the link between organic materials in space. We describe what happens to interstellar organic material entering in the solar nebula and discuss organic chemistry in the early solar system.  
The paper also addresses some misconceptions about prebiotic chemistry in space and describes that complex aromatic material is resistant and dominant in space and consequently most important for extraterrestrial delivery processes.

2. What has motivated you to conduct this work?

Mark Sephton and myself are both working on complex organics in space since a decade. We are trying to merge our knowledge/expertise about interstellar (PE) and solar system (MS) organics into a coherent picture.

3. Where do you see this work developing in the future?

To investigate the pathways of inter and circumstellar chemistry and to relate them to observations of comets and laboratory studies of meteoritic matter is a crucial tool to understand the link between organic materials in space.

4. Are there any particular challenges facing future research in this area?

The observations of inner disks of young stars and more sensitive analysis of carbonaceous meteorites (bulk and volatiles) will provide important insights into the formation and evolution or organics in our early solar system. Furthermore we can track down the carbonaceous material that has been delivered to young planets and allowed to jump start life.