NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has delivered samples from asteroid Bennu, revealing evidence of an ancient water world and the potential building blocks for life. Scientists are analyzing the samples to understand the early solar system and the possibility of life beyond Earth.
Asteroid samples fetched by NASA hold not only the pristine building blocks for life but also the salty remains of an ancient water world , scientists reported Wednesday. This discovery has the potential to shed light on the origins of life on Earth. The samples, collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu , were delivered to the Utah desert in 2023. These samples are remnants from the solar system 's formation 4.
5 billion years ago and are considered the biggest cosmic haul from beyond the moon. Scientists found that Bennu's composition includes both the basic ingredients for life and evidence of ancient water. This suggests that the asteroid may have played a role in seeding life on Earth. One research team, led by the Smithsonian Institution's Tim McCoy, found that Bennu's water-rich particles held organic molecules, some of which are considered essential for life. They believe that this type of environment, with water and organic molecules mixing, could have been crucial for the transition from simple elements to complex life forms. Another research team, led by Dr. Hitoshi Imai from the University of Tokyo, analyzed Bennu's mineralogy and found evidence of salty deposits, indicating a history of liquid water. They suggest that Bennu's ancient water world could have been similar to Earth's early oceans, providing the necessary conditions for life to emerge. These findings offer valuable insights into the early solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth. NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, which successfully collected samples from Bennu, continues to explore our cosmic neighborhood, seeking answers about the origins of life and the nature of our universe
Asteroid Bennu NASA OSIRIS-Rex Water World Origins Of Life Solar System
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