In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA scientists have found crucial building blocks of life in the samples retrieved from the asteroid Bennu. The study, published in the journal Nature, reveals that the space rock contains a rich array of organic molecules, including nucleobases the essential components of DNA and amino acids, which form proteins. These findings strengthen the theory that asteroids may have played a key role in delivering the ingredients necessary for life to Earth.
Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, was sampled by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2020, and its material was successfully transported to Earth in 2023. Scientists examining the pristine asteroid fragments have detected nitrogen, minerals, and thousands of organic compounds, providing a rare glimpse into the chemical conditions that existed in the early solar system.
One of the most striking revelations is the presence of minerals and salts that indicate water once existed on Bennu. Additionally, the detection of ammonia a crucial component for biological processes supports the idea that asteroids could have been carriers of water and organic materials to early Earth, potentially facilitating the emergence of life.
NASA’s associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Nicky Fox, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating that asteroid samples serve as a “time capsule” of the solar system’s history. The analysis suggests that the chemistry found on Bennu could still be occurring today on icy moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn, hinting at the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
While the discovery does not confirm that life ever existed on Bennu, it provides compelling evidence that asteroids may have played a crucial role in shaping the conditions for life on Earth billions of years ago. The research is expected to fuel further investigations into how cosmic materials may have contributed to the formation of life, bringing scientists closer to answering one of humanity’s biggest questions.
