Analysis of samples from asteroid Bennu reveals a surprising inventory of organic molecules, including amino acids and nucleobases, key ingredients for life. While no signs of life were found, the discovery provides valuable insights into the chemistry of the early solar system and suggests that life's building blocks may be more common throughout the solar system than previously thought.
Scientists analyzing samples from asteroid Bennu have found something remarkable: Despite being a cold, lifeless rubble pile that formed around 65 million years ago, it holds a rich inventory of organic molecules - key ingredients for life.
harvested from the surface of Bennu were published Wednesday. While no signs of life were found, the results provide valuable insights into the chemistry of the early solar system. The Nature Astronomy paper reports that Bennu contains 14 of the 20 amino acids essential for life on Earth, along with all five nucleobases that form DNA and RNA. The samples also included ammonia and formaldehyde, which can combine to form complex molecules like the amino acids found in the sample, indicating multiple stages of development being present. Along with those compounds, around 10,000 nitrogen-bearing chemicals were found in the Bennu samples. Like amino acids and nucleobases, nitrogen-bearing compounds play a critical role in life. All those organic compounds need a proper environment to develop in, and Bennu shows evidence of containing that, too. The Nature paper found evidence of evaporated brine minerals, suggesting that Bennu's parent body - a larger proto-planet or asteroid - once contained liquid water and compounds critical to life, including sodium-bearing phosphates and carbonates, as well as sulfates, chlorides, and fluorides. While some of the compounds found in the Bennu samples have been found in meteorites, both papers point to the unprecedented detail OSIRIS-REx's pristine samples were able to provide because they were retrieved from space, returned in an air-tight container and never subject to the ravages of Earth. "Discovery of diverse salts would not be possible without mission sample return and careful curation and storage, because these decompose with prolonged exposure to Earth's atmosphere," the authors of the Nature paper wrote. As for the organic compounds, exposure to Earth's environment alters or degrades them, making it harder to trace their origins in the early solar system. "The clues we're looking for are so minuscule and so easily destroyed or altered from exposure to Earth's environment," Danny Glavin, NASA Goddard senior sample scientist and co-lead author on the Nature Astronomy paper,."That's why some of these new discoveries would not be possible without a sample-return mission, meticulous contamination-control measures, and careful curation and storage of this precious material from Bennu."Bennu, described in the Nature paper as a relatively young rubble pile at about 65 million years old, formed from the debris of a larger parent asteroid. Despite its recent assembly, its material dates back to the early solar system, offering a chemical snapshot of planetary formation and the origins of life on Earth. "Primitive asteroids—those whose bulk chemistry was established in the protoplanetary disk—record processes that occurred during the formation and evolution of the early Solar System," per the Nature Astronomy paper. Bennu is considered a primitive asteroid, meaning its chemical makeup is a fingerprint of the early solar system - an ideal source of data on how it developed. The material that makes up Bennu, OSIRIS-REx project scientist and co-lead author on the Nature Astronomy paper Jason Dworkin toldShine on you crazy diamond: We don't know who needs to hear it but NASA's explained the weird shape of the Bennu asteroid "The transport and delivery of organic compounds from could have been a source of molecules available for the emergence of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere," the authors of the Nature Astronomy paper said. In other words, Bennu's samples provide further evidence that life's building blocks formed early in the solar system and could have been transported toNot only does Bennu's makeup suggest life's building blocks formed early, but it also suggests they may be more common throughout the solar system than previously thought. " were in the outer solar system and migrated inward," Dworkin explained."They would have done at the time of the origin of life on Earth, or elsewhere as well." This might be the first look at what sort of surprises Bennu has in store for us, but more remains to be discovered. According to Nature Astronomy, one of the mysteries of the Bennu samples lies in the chirality of the amino acids they contain. Terrestrial life relies almost entirely on left-handed amino acids, but those found in Bennu exhibit no such bias, suggesting they formed through non-biological processes. Whether future studies of Bennu samples will resolve that mystery remains to be seen, but rest assured: These findings are just the first of many that'll help us further understand the early solar system and the formation of life. "Numerous studies are ongoing and several submitted for publication," Dworkin told us."Samples will be preserved for decades, including one frozen at -80°C that will not be opened for 49 years. There is much more to come." ® So you want to go to the Red Planet. How deep are your pockets and how much time do you have?Boeing going backwards as production’s slowing and woes keep flowing No such problems at Airbus, which cruised at a high level and shipped almost two planes a day last year
ASTEROID ORGANICMOLECULES LIFEBEGINNINGS SOLARSYSTEM SAMPLEANALYSIS
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mum's Diary Holds Clues to Crete Death 15 Years OnA private detective used a deceased woman's diary to identify a suspect in her death, leading to charges being prepared by Greek authorities.
Read more »
The Masked Singer UK: Kingfisher's Costume Holds Vital Clues for FansCostume designer Tim Simpson reveals that Kingfisher's intricate outfit contains hidden clues about the celebrity's identity. He hints at subtle details within the design that viewers should pay close attention to.
Read more »
Building Blocks of Life Found in Asteroid DustAnalysis of asteroid Bennu dust reveals the presence of amino acids and nucleobases, supporting the theory that asteroids delivered the ingredients for life to Earth billions of years ago.
Read more »
Newly discovered asteroid poses tiny risk to Earth in 2032A recently found asteroid, designated 2024 YR4, has a 1% chance of hitting Earth in 2032. While space agency officials stress that there is no cause for alarm, scientists are closely monitoring the asteroid's path. The asteroid is estimated to be 130 to 330 feet across and is currently heading away from Earth. As its orbit becomes clearer, the risk of impact could decrease to zero. Powerful telescopes will continue to observe the asteroid until it fades from view in the coming months.
Read more »
Asteroid 2024 YR4: 1.3% Chance of Christmas 2032 ImpactA newly discovered asteroid, 2024 YR4, has a 1.3% chance of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032. The space rock, estimated to be between 130 and 330 feet in size, is currently the only large asteroid with an impact probability above 1%. While the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) has issued a Potential Impact Warning Notification, experts stress that the asteroid's orbit is still uncertain and a miss is the most likely outcome. Scientists will continue to track YR4 and its potential threat level.
Read more »
Building Blocks of Life Found in Asteroid RubbleA NASA spacecraft mission brought back samples from asteroid Bennu, revealing traces of a salty brine rich in minerals and organic compounds. These molecules are the building blocks of DNA, suggesting asteroids like Bennu may have delivered these key ingredients to Earth billions of years ago.
Read more »