#OrganicMolecules

Organic Molecules in Asteroid Bennu Samples: Clues to Life’s Origins Uncovered

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission successfully returned a sample from asteroid Bennu, revealing organic molecules that are essential for life. The analysis showed the presence of all five nitrogen bases required for DNA and RNA, as well as 14 amino acids, formaldehyde, ammonia, and other prebiotic materials. These findings support the panspermia theory, which suggests that asteroids may have delivered the building blocks of life to Earth. The discovery of minerals formed in water-rich environments also hints at the past existence of liquid water on Bennu.

𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission collected 121.6 grams of material from asteroid Bennu.
The samples contained all five nitrogen bases crucial for DNA and RNA.
Scientists detected 14 amino acids, essential for protein formation in living organisms.
Bennu’s samples also included ammonia, formaldehyde, and N-heterocycles.
Minerals such as calcite, halite, and sylvite indicate the presence of water in Bennu’s past.
The presence of vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid) supports the theory that asteroids provided nutrients for early Earth life.
The results were published in Nature and Nature Astronomy.

Organic Molecules in Asteroid Bennu Samples: Clues to Life’s Origins Uncovered — Illustration of the asteroid Bennu. This image was created by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

𝑵𝑨𝑺𝑨’𝒔 𝑶𝑺𝑰𝑹𝑰𝑺-𝑹𝑬𝑿 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

The OSIRIS-REx mission, launched by NASA in 2016, aimed to study asteroid Bennu and return samples to Earth. The spacecraft reached Bennu on December 3, 2018, mapping the asteroid in detail before collecting a sample in October 2020.

The returned samples were carefully stored and analyzed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the Johnson Space Center. The mission’s success has expanded our understanding of early Solar System chemistry.

𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑶𝒏 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒖

A major discovery in the Bennu sample was the presence of all five nitrogenous bases used in DNA and RNA: adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, and uracil. These are the core components that store genetic information in all life forms on Earth.

Additionally, researchers from Hokkaido University and JAMSTEC found high concentrations of N-heterocycles, which are organic compounds important for biological activity.

“The clues we’re looking for are so minuscule and so easily destroyed or altered from exposure to Earth’s environment. That’s why some of these new discoveries would not be possible without a sample-return mission.”
— Daniel P. Glavin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

A poster shows all the compounds found in the OSIRIS-REx sample. A compound is a substance made of two or more elements. Elements are basic substances like hydrogen or oxygen. The OSIRIS-REx sample is a collection of materials gathered from an asteroid by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. NASA ©NASA

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝒏 𝑨𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚

Scientists also found 11 types of minerals formed in water-rich environments, including calcite, halite, and sylvite. The Natural History Museum in London confirmed that these minerals could only form in briny water, suggesting that Bennu once had liquid water.

This discovery is important because similar brine chemistry has been observed on Ceres, Enceladus, and Europa, raising the possibility of habitable environments beyond Earth.

𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒚𝒖𝒈𝒖

Scientists compared the Bennu sample with materials from asteroid Ryugu, collected by JAXA’s Hayabusa2 mission.

Feature	Bennu Sample	Ryugu Sample
Amino Acids	14 types detected	Less abundant
Nucleobases	All 5 nitrogen bases	Only uracil and vitamin B3
Water-formed Minerals	High presence	Lower presence
Organic Complexity	More diverse molecules	Less complex compounds

These findings suggest Bennu may have originated in a colder, more water-rich environment than Ryugu.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝑵𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒅 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔?

The Bennu samples will continue to be studied for decades, with international collaborations involving NASA, Hokkaido University, and CRESST. Scientists hope to decode the full chemical history of Bennu and confirm whether similar asteroids contributed to life’s emergence on Earth.

The discoveries made by the OSIRIS-REx mission are significant not only for understanding the origins of life on Earth but also for the potential existence of life elsewhere in the Solar System. The building blocks of life—amino acids, nucleobases, and complex organic molecules—have been found on Bennu, supporting the idea that asteroids could have played a critical role in life’s development. As Jason P. Dworkin, one of the researchers on the mission, pointed out:

Scientists are still trying to understand why life developed on Earth and not on other planets. However, findings from Bennu give us important clues. These findings suggest that the Solar System might support life more than we previously believed. The successful mission to Bennu helps us move closer to solving a big mystery in science. This mystery is about how life started and if it can exist outside Earth.

A mosaic image of asteroid Bennu, composed of 12 PolyCam images collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 24 kilometers. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona — A mosaic image shows asteroid Bennu. This image is made up of 12 pictures taken by the PolyCam camera. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collected these images. It was at a distance of 24 kilometers from Bennu. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Facts

OSIRIS-REx is the first mission to return samples from an asteroid since Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission.
The samples from Bennu are believed to be around 4.5 billion years old, offering a glimpse into the early solar system.
Asteroids like Bennu are thought to have formed from the remnants of the early solar nebula, the cloud of gas and dust that surrounded the young Sun.

References

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#OrganicMolecules, #AsteroidBennu, #OSIRISREx, #LifeOrigins, #NASA, #AminoAcids, #Nucleobases, #PrebioticChemistry, #Astrobiology, #SpaceExploration, #AsteroidSamples, #BennuFindings, #BuildingBlocksOfLife, #ExtraterrestrialLife, #LifeBeyondEarth

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NASA’s Mars Rover ‘Percy’ Finds First Signs of Past Life

Key Takeaways

NASA’s Perseverance rover, nicknamed Percy, discovered organic molecules in a rock at the Cheyava Falls site on Mars.
These organic molecules are carbon-based and could be potential building blocks of life, but this is not yet confirmed as a sign of life.
Similar organic molecules were found in 2014 by the Curiosity rover, but the new discovery is raising fresh excitement.
The rock sample showed white spots with black rims, resembling microbial formations found on Earth.
Paul Byrne, a planetary scientist, urges caution, noting that these formations may also be a result of water-rock chemistry, not life.
The discovery adds weight to the case for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, which would bring the sample back to Earth for deeper study.
Funding for MSR is uncertain, but the Perseverance rover continues to collect compelling samples in hopes of securing future funding.

NASA's Mars Rover 'Percy' Finds First Signs of Past Life — The Mars Perseverance rover looked at this rock on July 21. It saw spots on the rock that reminded scientists of the spots on a leopard’s fur. The spots appeared on areas of the rock that were clay-colored. These spots look similar to certain patterns found in rocks on Earth. On Earth, these patterns have sometimes been connected to the presence of tiny living things, or microbes.
MSSS/JPL-Caltech/NASA

The Search for Martian Life: NASA’s Perseverance Rover’s Discovery of Potential Signs of Life

NASA’s Perseverance rover (commonly referred to as “Percy”) made headlines in July 2024 when it uncovered its first possible signs of ancient life on Mars. This historic discovery took place at the Cheyava Falls site within the Jezero Crater, a once-dried lakebed. Percy drilled into a reddish rock and discovered organic molecules, sparking discussions across the scientific community.

However, excitement is tempered with caution. As Katie Stack Morgan, the deputy project scientist in charge of the Mars rover, noted:

“We’re not able to say that this is a sign of life. But this is the most compelling sample we’ve found yet.”

What Exactly Did Percy Find?

At the heart of this discovery are organic molecules, which are carbon-based compounds. On Earth, these molecules form the building blocks of life, but their presence on Mars doesn’t automatically mean that life once existed there. Still, it’s significant. These molecules were found in a sample taken from a rock at Cheyava Falls, a site named after a Grand Canyon feature.

Percy’s finding of white spots with black rims—compared to a tricolored leopard spot by Stack Morgan—adds another layer of intrigue. Instruments onboard Percy confirmed that the rims of these spots contained iron phosphate. On Earth, similar formations have been linked to ancient microbial life, as the chemical reactions forming these rings could potentially serve as an energy source for microbes.

Table 1: Organic Molecule Discovery Timeline on Mars

Year	Rover	Discovery Location	Significance
2014	Curiosity	Gale Crater	Detected the first organic molecules on Mars
2024	Perseverance	Cheyava Falls (Jezero Crater)	Found organic molecules and formations resembling microbial life

Why This Discovery Matters

Since its landing in Jezero Crater three years ago, Percy has been tasked with finding signs of ancient life. Though earlier searches proved challenging, this new discovery represents a significant step forward. Ken Farley, project scientist at the California Institute of Technology, introduced Percy’s finding at the 10th International Conference on Mars held in Pasadena, California, on July 25, 2024.

Percy’s discovery isn’t just about the presence of carbon-based molecules; it’s about what they might represent. Paul Byrne, a planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, acknowledges the possibility that these molecules might be signs of life but stresses caution. He suggests:

“Could this truly be a signature of life? Yes. And if it is, then it really is the kind of society-altering discovery that the discovery of truly extraterrestrial life would be.”

Table 2: Key Instruments Used by Perseverance

Instrument Name	Function
SHERLOC	Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals; used to find signs of life
PIXL	Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry; analyzes chemical elements
SuperCam	Uses lasers to identify the chemical composition of rocks and soil on Mars
Mastcam-Z	A powerful camera system used to capture high-definition images of Mars’ surface

What Could These Spots Mean?

One of the most captivating aspects of Percy’s discovery is the spotted rock it uncovered at Cheyava Falls. The spots have black rims, composed of iron phosphate. While not definitive proof of past life, on Earth, formations like these are often linked to ancient microbial life. According to Katie Stack Morgan, rings of iron phosphate can be an energy source for microbes. Still, she emphasizes caution, stating:

“They don’t require life, but based on our experience with similar things on Earth, there is a possibility that life could have been involved.”

The discovery becomes even more complicated with the volcanic features Percy found in the rock. There are white veins of calcium sulfate. Calcium sulfate is a material often seen in areas affected by volcanic activity. Percy also found small crystals of olivine.

Olivine is a type of mineral that forms when volcanic magma cools and hardens. This discovery makes the rock’s structure even more mysterious.

The combination of organic molecules, iron phosphate spots, and volcanic features in the same sample raises questions about the rock’s history. According to Stack Morgan, these seemingly conflicting features might point to different formation processes. Understanding how the rock formed could offer clues about whether it had the right temperatures and conditions to support life in the past.

Despite this uncertainty, the discovery has rekindled excitement within the scientific community. While the evidence is not conclusive, it’s the closest scientists have come to finding potential biosignatures on Mars. Still, as Paul Byrne puts it, the discovery could be nothing more than an example of water-rock chemistry, which is why caution is essential.

With this newfound discovery, the attention now shifts to the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. MSR aims to bring samples collected by Percy back to Earth, where scientists can study them with advanced technology. The issue, however, is that funding for MSR is currently on hold.

Stack Morgan and her team continue to push forward, collecting samples and hoping that this discovery strengthens the case for the mission. The rock samples collected so far, particularly the one from Cheyava Falls, could hold answers that we cannot uncover with the instruments onboard Perseverance alone.

Why the Mars Sample Return is Crucial

Despite the exciting possibilities of Percy’s findings, it’s important to recognize the limitations of its instruments. While the rover has powerful tools, some questions can only be answered with more sophisticated instruments back on Earth. As Paul Byrne notes:

“The only way to find out for sure is to bring the rock home.”

Percy’s discovery shows that more research is necessary. It also shows how important MSR is. MSR stands for Mars Sample Return. This means bringing rocks and soil from Mars back to Earth so scientists can study them closely. Without MSR, we may not be able to prove if life exists or existed on Mars.

#NASA, #MarsRover, #Perseverance, #CheyavaFalls, #MarsLife, #OrganicMolecules, #MarsSampleReturn, #MSR, #Astrobiology, #MicrobialLife, #SpaceExploration, #ExtraterrestrialLife, #MarsMission, #PercyFindsLife, #FutureMars

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