An asteroid has been found to contain essential components of life in a recent discovery detailed in two new studies. The 4.3-ounce sample of the asteroid Bennu brought back to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission in September 2023 contains amino acids, nucleobases, and minerals known as evaporites, all crucial elements for the formation of life. While this does not confirm the presence of life itself, it suggests that the conditions for life may have been more favorable in the early Solar System than previously thought.
The origin of this asteroid can be traced back around 4.5 billion years ago when a colossal asteroid, approximately 60 miles wide, formed in the outer regions of the Solar System beyond Jupiter’s orbit. The asteroid eventually broke apart in the Asteroid Belt some one to two billion years ago, resulting in a rock fragment known as Bennu. This piece of celestial material was collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to gain insights into the early universe and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Following the safe return of the 4.3-ounce Bennu sample in the Utah desert, two studies published in Nature and Nature Astronomy are providing new insights into the asteroid’s ancient history. The examination of the pristine sample has revealed a wealth of life’s essential building blocks, including amino acids, nucleobases, and evaporite minerals. While NASA clarifies that no life has been found, the presence of these key components implies that the conditions for life were prevalent in the early Solar System.
The discovery builds upon previous findings of water on Bennu in 2018 and NASA’s confirmation of carbon-rich content. The Nature Astronomy study highlights that the sample contains 14 out of the 20 amino acids found on Earth, the five nucleobases crucial for genetic information storage, and significant levels of ammonia that support amino acid formation. Additionally, a separate team of experts identified 11 minerals unique to evaporites, indicating the past presence of water with dissolved salts on Bennu.
This groundbreaking discovery supports NASA’s mission to unravel the mysteries of our solar system’s origins and potentially uncover the origins of life on Earth. The findings from the Bennu sample shed light on the ancient history of our solar system and hint at the vast possibilities for life beyond our planet.
Minerals found in meteorites that have been on Earth for decades to centuries have sparked a new wave of curiosity. The recent discovery on Bennu raises further questions, such as why life on Earth exclusively produces left-handed amino acids while the asteroid contains an equal mix of left and right amino acids. Scientists are eager to unravel the mystery behind this biological preference, hoping to gain more insight as they continue to study and collect data.
Jason Dworkin, a co-lead author on the Nature Astronomy paper and part of NASA, describes the OSIRIS-REx mission as a great success. The mission prompts a thought-provoking question about the existence of life solely on Earth and not elsewhere in the universe, leaving researchers intrigued and eager to explore further possibilities.
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