2024ApJ...965L..26S

We present the first detection in space of thionylimide (HNSO) toward the Galactic center molecular cloud G + 0.693-0.027, thanks to the superb sensitivity of an ultradeep molecular line survey carried out with the Yebes 40 m and IRAM 30 m telescopes. This molecule is the first species detected in the interstellar medium containing, simultaneously, N, S, and O. We have identified numerous K_a = 0, 1, and 2 transitions belonging to HNSO covering from J_up = 2 to J_up =10, including several completely unblended features. We derive a molecular column density of N = (8 ± 1)×10¹³ cm^–2, yielding a fractional abundance relative to H₂ of ∼6 × 10^–10, which is about ∼37 and ∼4.8 times less abundant than SO and SO₂, respectively. Although there are still many unknowns in the interstellar chemistry of NSO-bearing molecules, we propose that HNSO is likely formed through the reaction of the NSO radical and atomic H on the surface of icy grains, with alternative routes also deserving exploration. Finally, HNSO appears as a promising link between N, S, and O interstellar chemistry, and its discovery paves the route to the detection of a new family of molecules in space.