NASA scientists analyzing the Bennu asteroid sample, returned to Earth in September 2023, have identified molecules that are fundamental to life. The sample contains amino acids crucial for protein formation, along with evidence of water. These findings support theories that the conditions necessary for life were present throughout the early solar system.
By John Adams
Traces of Amino Acids and DNA Components
A study published in Nature Astronomy confirms that the Bennu sample contains 14 of the 20 amino acids used by life on Earth to build proteins. Additionally, researchers identified five nucleobases essential for DNA and RNA formation. These discoveries suggest that organic molecules may have formed on asteroids billions of years ago. Alongside these compounds, the sample also revealed ammonia and formaldehyde, which can react under the right conditions to create complex molecules such as amino acids.
Evidence of Ancient Water Systems
Another study, published in Nature, provides evidence that Bennu was once part of a larger asteroid with liquid water. Scientists from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum in London found 11 minerals in the sample, including calcite, halite, and sylvite. These salt deposits suggest that liquid water may have been present in the past, facilitating chemical reactions essential for life. This finding supports the hypothesis that asteroid-based saline water systems played a crucial role in the formation of organic compounds.
OSIRIS-REx: A Groundbreaking Mission
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission launched on September 8, 2016, reaching Bennu on December 3, 2018. After nearly two years of study, the spacecraft successfully collected a sample from the asteroid’s surface on October 20, 2020. The sample was securely transported to Earth, where it was retrieved on September 24, 2023. Scientists hope that further analysis will not only provide insights into the building blocks of life but also deepen our understanding of the solar system’s formation.
New Perspectives on the Origins of Life
The discovery of amino acids and water-bearing minerals in the Bennu sample expands our knowledge of life’s chemical origins. These findings support the theory that organic molecules were delivered to Earth by asteroids. Future research on the sample may offer new insights into the evolution of life and the chemical processes shaping the universe.
The analysis of the Bennu asteroid sample provides crucial insights into the chemical conditions that may have contributed to the emergence of life. The discovery of amino acids and water-bearing minerals reinforces the theory that organic molecules were delivered to Earth by asteroids. Future studies of the sample could further unravel the mysteries of planetary formation and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Based on content from www.theverge.com and own research.