Bennu Asteroid Sample Reveals Organic Compounds That May Hint at Life Beyond Earth
A sample from asteroid Bennu , delivered to Earth by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission in 2023, has revealed a collection of molecules and minerals that play a fundamental role in biological processes. Organic compounds such as amino acids, nucleobases, and ammonia, along with minerals formed in saltwater, have been identified. The findings suggest that the necessary conditions for life may have been present in various regions of the early solar system, raising the possibility that life could have developed beyond Earth. Key Findings from the Study According to the study published in Nature and Nature Astronomy, 14 of the 20 amino acids essential for protein formation and all five nucleobases found in DNA and RNA were detected in the Bennu samples. The presence of ammonia and formaldehyde was also noted, both of which are significant in the formation of complex organic molecules. These compounds, previously identified in meteorites, were found in an uncontaminated sample collected dire...