NASA's Asteroid Sample Reveals Building Blocks of Life and Ancient Water Evidence

The OSIRIS-REx mission's Bennu samples uncover amino acids, nitrogen compounds, and salt minerals pointing to life-friendly environments in space.

• NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission returned 122 grams of material from the asteroid Bennu, marking the largest asteroid sample ever collected and studied on Earth.
• Scientists identified amino acids, nitrogen in the form of ammonia, and components of DNA, confirming extraterrestrial organic material formed in space.
• The samples contain sodium-rich salts and minerals, suggesting Bennu's parent body once had extensive underground lakes or oceans that evaporated over time.
• These findings strengthen the theory that asteroids like Bennu may have delivered the chemical precursors of life to Earth and other celestial bodies.
• Further analysis of the Bennu samples is ongoing, with most of the material preserved for future research to deepen understanding of the origins of life.

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