Asteroid Bennu's ancient dust hints at cosmic life's origins
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 proved to be a treasure trove of the chemical ingredients of life. Analysis of dust samples from this asteroid, brought to Earth by a NASA probe, revealed a wealth of minerals and thousands of organic compounds.
According to the BBC, amino acids, which form proteins, and nucleobases, the basic elements of DNA, are among them.
Although this does not mean that life existed on Bennu, these discoveries support the theory that asteroids delivered these essential ingredients to Earth billions of years ago. Scientists believe 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.
One of NASA's boldest endeavours, the Osiris Rex mission, involved collecting samples from the asteroid Bennu. In 2023, the probe used a robotic arm to gather material from the asteroid's surface and transported it to Earth. Approximately 113 grams of black dust were collected, which was distributed to scientists worldwide.
These discoveries prove that asteroids could 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, providing the ingredients essential for forming oceans and life.
The future of research
Scientists have decades of research ahead with the dust from Bennu and much to discover within our cosmic neighbourhood. A key question remains: why did life originate on Earth, and could it exist elsewhere in the Solar System? These studies may bring us closer to answering these fundamental questions.
