Asteroid Bennu's secrets: Life-forming compounds unveiled
Scientists have discovered that the asteroid Bennu contains the chemical ingredients of life, supporting the theory of their cosmic origin.
The asteroid Bennu, studied by scientists, has been found to be a treasure trove of the chemical ingredients of life. The analysis of the dust samples from this asteroid, brought back to Earth by a NASA probe, revealed a wealth of minerals and thousands of organic compounds.
According to the BBC, among them are amino acids, which form proteins, and nucleobases, the basic elements of DNA.
Although this does not mean that there was life on Bennu, these discoveries support the theory that asteroids delivered these essential ingredients to Earth billions of years ago. Scientists believe that the same compounds could have reached other planets in our solar system.
Professor Sara Russell from the Natural History Museum in London emphasizes that these discoveries help answer fundamental questions about the origins of life.
The Osiris-Rex mission, one of NASA's most daring ventures, involved collecting samples from the asteroid Bennu. The probe used a robotic arm to gather material from the surface of the asteroid, and then transported it to Earth in 2023. Approximately 4 ounces of black dust were collected and distributed to scientists around the world.
These discoveries add evidence that asteroids may have delivered water and organic materials to Earth. Dr. Ashley King from the Natural History Museum explains that the early solar system was full of asteroids that could have bombarded the young Earth, delivering the ingredients necessary for the formation of oceans and life.
The future of research
Scientists have decades of research ahead on the dust from Bennu, as well as much to discover in our cosmic neighbourhood. The key question remains why life arose on Earth and whether it could exist elsewhere in the solar system. These studies may bring us closer to answering these fundamental questions.
