Scientists Discover Life’s Building Blocks on Asteroid Bennu

NASA’s recent return of samples from the asteroid Bennu has unveiled groundbreaking discoveries that could reshape our understanding of life’s origins. The samples, retrieved from approximately 63 million kilometres (or 39 million miles) away, contain essential components believed to be crucial for life, including evidence of ancient water and a unique substance described as “space gum.”

Researchers at Tohoku University in Japan have identified sugars critical for life within the Bennu samples, marking the first instance of such a discovery from an extraterrestrial source. This significant finding suggests that the building blocks of life may exist beyond Earth. Additionally, NASA scientists expressed their astonishment at the discovery of a flexible, gum-like material that has not been found on any other known asteroid, further intensifying interest in the samples.

Alexandra Doten, a space communications expert, shared these developments on TikTok, highlighting the implications of the findings. She noted, “We already knew from this sample that the asteroid has high carbon content and water together, and together those indicate the building blocks for life as we know it.” Doten explained that Bennu is rich in nitrogen and organic compounds and contains minerals like serpentine, which resemble those found in underwater mid-ocean ridges on Earth.

Insights from Bennu’s Composition

The research reveals that Bennu contains 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to create proteins. Notably, all five nucleotide bases that form DNA and RNA were also discovered on the asteroid. Among these, sugars essential for biological processes, specifically ribose and glucose, were identified. Ribose is a key component of RNA, which suggests that the necessary elements for forming RNA are indeed present on Bennu.

Doten emphasized the potential ramifications of these findings, stating, “This has huge implications—it could imply that RNA is more prevalent in the universe and could be the dominant form of early life.” This insight challenges current understandings of how life might arise on other planets.

The Mystery of ‘Space Gum’

In addition to biological compounds, a separate paper published in the journal Natural Astronomy, led by Scott Sandford from NASA’s Ames Research Center and Zack Gainsforth of the University of California, revealed the presence of a pliable, gum-like substance on Bennu. NASA characterized this material as resembling used gum or soft plastic, noting that exposure to radiation has made it brittle, akin to a lawn chair left outside for too long.

Further research from the same journal, led by NASA’s Ann Nguyen, highlighted an unexpectedly high amount of dust found in the samples. This dust originates from supernova explosions that occurred long before our solar system formed, providing a deeper understanding of the asteroid’s history and composition.

The discoveries from Bennu not only enhance our understanding of the building blocks necessary for life but also offer a glimpse into the complexities of our universe. As scientists continue to analyze these samples, the implications for astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life become increasingly profound.