NASA's Bennu Sample Uncovers Widespread Ingredients for Life 🌌

Check out the full news story here: https://go.nasa.gov/4hxI2A6

NASA #AstrobioNews with Tahira Allen
January 2025: NASA’s Asteroid Bennu Sample Reveals Mix of Life’s Ingredients

Studies of rock and dust from asteroid Bennu delivered to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security–Regolith Explorer) spacecraft have revealed molecules that, on our planet, are key to life, as well as a history of saltwater that could have served as the “broth” for these compounds to interact and combine.

The findings do not show evidence for life itself, but they do suggest the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were widespread across the early solar system, increasing the odds life could have formed on other planets and moons.

“NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission already is rewriting the textbook on what we understand about the beginnings of our solar system,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Asteroids provide a time capsule into our home planet’s history, and Bennu’s samples are pivotal in our understanding of what ingredients in our solar system existed before life started on Earth.”

Check out the full news story here: https://go.nasa.gov/4hxI2A6
https://science.nasa.gov/astrobiology/