Scientists analyzing samples from the asteroid Bennu suggest they contain chemical building blocks of life. The American spacecraft OSIRIS-REx collected 122 grams of material from Bennu in 2020, sending it back to Earth in 2023. NASA recovered the samples in Utah, marking the largest asteroid sample retrieved from beyond the moon. Subsequently, OSIRIS-REx embarked on its next mission to asteroid Apophis, expected to arrive by 2029.
Two studies have examined Bennu’s materials. One, published in Nature Astronomy, found organic compounds, essential for life due to their carbon-based structures. The other study, appearing in Nature, discovered evidence of Bennu originating from a larger body that once contained salty, liquid water. This finding suggests early solar system asteroids might have distributed water and life-supporting chemicals to other celestial bodies.
NASA noted the samples show conditions suitable for life’s emergence were common in the early solar system, raising the possibility of life forming elsewhere. Bennu is believed to have been part of a 100-kilometer icy body from the outer solar system, which disintegrated over 1 billion years ago, creating Bennu and similar asteroids.
Nicky Fox from NASA highlighted OSIRIS-REx’s role in expanding knowledge about the solar system’s origins. The samples may offer insights into the ‘ingredients’ present before life on Earth developed. Tim McCoy from the Smithsonian Institution emphasized that these samples might clarify environmental conditions crucial for life’s development, suggesting that vital processes started earlier and were more widespread than previously thought.
Yasuhito Sekine, while not involved in the study, confirmed the significance of analyzing directly collected samples. He stressed their careful preservation ensured reliable results. Jason Dworkin from NASA emphasized that while OSIRIS-REx’s materials provide insights into a life-supporting solar system, the unique emergence of life on Earth remains a compelling question.
Original Source: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/researchers-nasa-asteroid-samples-contain-building-blocks-of-life/7957452.html
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Publish Date: 2025-02-03 03:35:00
