Scientists studying a sample from asteroid Bennu have discovered 14 of the 20 amino acids essential for life on Earth, suggesting the conditions for life's emergence are present beyond our planet. The sample also contains minerals indicating a past presence of saltwater, a crucial medium for these compounds to interact.
Scientists studying the sample collected in 2023 from asteroid Bennu have announced a dramatic finding: they have identified the key building blocks of life within the sample. Although this does not mean that life is present on Bennu, a small asteroid in our solar system , it does show that the conditions for life to emerge are present in locations beyond Earth.
Recommended Videos “These samples from Bennu are an incredible discovery, showing that the building blocks of life were widespread across the early solar system,” said Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, leader of the OSIRIS-REx mission.
ASTEROID LIFE AMINO ACIDS SOLAR SYSTEM WATER
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