Sugars, 'Gum,' Stardust Found in NASA's Asteroid Bennu Samples
8 days ago
- #Asteroid Bennu
- #Origins of Life
- #Solar System Formation
- Discovery of essential sugars (ribose and glucose) in Bennu samples, indicating building blocks of biological molecules were widespread in the solar system.
- Presence of ribose supports the 'RNA world' hypothesis, suggesting early life may have relied on RNA.
- First-time detection of a gum-like, nitrogen and oxygen-rich material in Bennu samples, possibly a precursor to life's chemical ingredients.
- Analysis reveals an unexpectedly high abundance of supernova dust in Bennu samples, suggesting its parent body formed in a region enriched by dying stars.
- Findings highlight the diversity of presolar materials and offer insights into the early solar system's composition and the origins of life.