NASA has just made a major discovery thanks to the analysis of the sample taken from the asteroid Bennu. Indeed, scientists noted the presence of water and a large quantity of carbon in this sample, essential elements in the formation of life on Earth. This discovery opens new perspectives in research into the origin of life in the universe.
According to experts, the water and carbon molecules found in the sample are exactly what they were hoping to find. These elements are crucial in the formation of our planet and could help us understand how vital compounds were able to arrive on Earth thanks to asteroids. This discovery thus confirms the hypothesis according to which asteroids may have played a key role in the appearance of life on our planet.
The sample taken from Bennu is the largest ever reported on Earth. The Osiris-Rex mission, which allowed this sampling, was a success and brought back around 250 grams of material. The first images of this sample show dust and blackened pieces, indicating the presence of carbonaceous material.
NASA scientists are excited about these findings. NASA scientist Daniel Glavin calls this mission “an astrobiologist’s dream” because carbon is an essential element for life as we know it. Asteroids, by hitting the Earth, could thus have provided the compounds necessary for the formation of life.
The water found on Bennu is trapped in hydrated minerals, which could explain how water arrived on Earth billions of years ago. This discovery reinforces the idea that asteroids may have been “planters” of water, thus contributing to the formation of oceans, lakes and rivers that made Earth habitable.
The sample from the asteroid Bennu will now be subjected to a series of in-depth analyses. A NASA team will establish a “sample catalog” so scientists around the world can request material to conduct their own research on Bennu. The majority of the sample will be retained for study in the years to come, with new, more efficient tools and instruments.
In conclusion, the discovery of water and carbon in the sample from the asteroid Bennu is a major advance in our understanding of the origin of life on Earth. This NASA mission opens new perspectives in research into the existence of life in the universe and shows the importance of asteroids in the formation of our planet.