Asteroid Bennu: A Treasure Trove of Prebiotic Organic Compounds
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has made a groundbreaking discovery by analyzing pristine samples from asteroid Bennu. The mission, which delivered these untouched regolith samples to Earth, revealed the presence of prebiotic organic compounds. These compounds are the building blocks of life and point to the asteroid’s fascinating chemical history.
Evidence of Aqueous Alteration on Bennu
Scientists found heterogeneous aqueous alteration in the asteroid’s samples. This means water interacted with Bennu’s minerals in various ways over time, leaving behind a patchwork of chemical changes. Such diversity in water-related alteration is a big clue for understanding how water—and potentially life—may have traveled through the solar system.
So, next time you’re rooting around in the garden and find a weird rock, just remember: somewhere out there, Bennu is dropping hints about the origins of life itself. Who knew space dirt could be this exciting?