NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which brought back samples from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu in late September 2023, has made a remarkable discovery.
Bennu, which is believed to be rich in carbon, has provided scientists with clues about the origins of life on Earth. Researchers have found organic compounds and minerals in the asteroid samples that may have contributed to the emergence of life billions of years ago.
Initial analysis of the asteroid’s rock and dust samples, released in 2024, revealed the presence of carbon and water. Now, two new research reports reveal that the asteroid contains multiple chemicals vital for life.
A study published in the journal Nature Astronomy indicates that these findings are exciting because they suggest that asteroids like Bennu acted as giant chemical factories in space, delivering raw ingredients essential for life on Earth and other planets.
Another study published in Nature revealed that Bennu’s rock samples also contained salts and minerals critical for life.
During a NASA press conference, Associate Administrator Nicky Fox stated that these discoveries are of great scientific significance. Dr. Tim McCoy, who was part of the Nature study, mentioned that the asteroid is even more fascinating and complex than expected.
It is worth noting that the mission to collect samples from Bennu began in 2016 and traveled a distance of 120 million miles. The spacecraft landed on the asteroid in October 2020 and began its return journey to Earth in May 2021.
