Thu Jan 30 05:00:03 UTC 2025: ## Asteroid Bennu Samples Reveal Building Blocks of Life, Suggesting Extraterrestrial Origin

**Washington, D.C.** – Analysis of samples from asteroid Bennu, returned to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, reveals the presence of key building blocks for life, potentially bolstering the theory of extraterrestrial origins for life on Earth. Two studies published Wednesday detail the findings from just 120 grams of material collected from the asteroid in 2020.

The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, shows that evaporated water on Bennu’s parent asteroid, which dates back 4.5 billion years, left behind a briny mixture of salts and minerals, including some never before seen in space samples. This “salty broth” contains the fundamental ingredients necessary for life to emerge.

“We have discovered that next step on a pathway to life,” said Tim McCoy, curator of meteorites at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and co-lead author of one of the studies. The findings strongly suggest a non-terrestrial origin for these compounds.

The pristine samples, carefully preserved to avoid contamination from Earth’s atmosphere, offer unprecedented insight into the early solar system. The researchers believe similar conditions may exist on other celestial bodies, such as Ceres and Enceladus. Further analysis of existing meteorite collections is planned to search for similar compounds previously overlooked.

While Bennu itself shows no signs of life, the discovery raises intriguing possibilities about the potential for life on other icy bodies. “Even though asteroid Bennu has no life, the question is could other icy bodies harbour life?” asked Nick Timms, an associate professor at Curtin University.

Although many questions remain regarding the exact pathway from these building blocks to life, the research represents a significant leap forward in understanding the evolution of asteroids and their potential role in making Earth habitable. “This discovery was only possible by analyzing samples that were collected directly from the asteroid then carefully preserved back on Earth,” added Yasuhito Sekine, a professor at the Institute of Science Tokyo. The research highlights the importance of sample return missions in advancing our understanding of the origins of life.

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