Bennu asteroid contains building blocks of life, say scientists
The chemical building blocks of life have been found in the grainy dust of an asteroid called Bennu, an analysis reveals.Samples of the space rock, which were scooped up by a Nasa spacecraft and brought to Earth, contain a rich array of minerals and thousands of organic compounds.These include amino acids, which are the molecules that make up proteins, as well as nucleobases - the fundamental components of DNA.This doesn't mean there was ever life on Bennu, but it supports the theory that asteroids delivered these vital ingredients to Earth when they crashed into our planet billions of years ago.
Scientists think those same compounds could also have been brought to other worlds in our Solar System."What we've learned from it is amazing," said Prof Sara Russell, a cosmic mineralogist from the Natural History Museum in London."It's telling us about our own origins, and it enables us to answer these really, really big questions about where life began. And who doesn't want to know about how life started?"The findings are published in two papers in the journal Nature.
Grabbing a bit of Bennu has been one of the most audacious missions Nasa has ever attempted.A spacecraft called Osiris Rex unfurled a robotic arm to collect some of the 500m-wide space rock, before packing it into a capsule and returning it to Earth in 2023.About 120g of black dust was collected and shared with scientists around the world. This might not sound like much material, but it's proved to be a treasure trove."Every grain is telling us something new about Bennu," said Prof Russell, who's been studying the tiny specks. About a teaspoonful of the asteroid was sent to scientists in the UK.
The new research has shown that the space rock is packed full of nitrogen and carbon-rich compounds.These include 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to build proteins and all four of the ring-shaped molecules that make up DNA - adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine.The study has also found an array of minerals and salts, suggesting water was once present on the asteroid. Ammonia, which is important for biochemical reactions, was discovered in the sample too.Some of these compounds have been seen in space rocks that have fallen to Earth, but others haven't been detected until now. "It's just incredible how rich it is. It's full of these minerals that we haven't seen before in meteorites and the combination of them that we haven't seen before. It's been such an exciting thing to study," said Prof Russell.
This latest study adds to growing evidence that asteroids brought water and organic material to Earth."The early Solar System was really turbulent and there were millions of asteroids like Bennu flying about," explained Dr Ashley King, from the Natural History Museum.The idea is that these bombarded the young Earth, seeding our planet with ingredients that gave us the oceans and made life possible.But Earth wasn't the only world getting hit by space rocks. Asteroids would have been colliding with other planets too."Earth is unique, in that it's the only place where we have found life so far, but we know asteroids were delivering those ingredients, the carbon and the water, throughout the Solar System," said Dr King."And one of the big things that we're trying to understand now is, if you have the right conditions, why do we have life here on Earth - and could we potentially find it elsewhere in our Solar System?"It's a key question that scientists will continue to try and answer.They have decades of research ahead on the dust brought back from Bennu, and parts of our cosmic neighbourhood still to explore.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE NASA-backed 10-minute 'rebounding' hack that causes more weight loss than a 30-minute run
A little-known NASA-backed fitness technique could be the secret to effortless weight loss. Ten minutes of 'rebounding' - bouncing on a mini trampoline - is nearly 70 per cent more effective for weight loss than a 30-minute jog, according to a NASA study in 1980 that has recently resurfaced online.
Wales Online
10 hours ago
- Wales Online
8ft ambush shark 'more common' than thought on Welsh coast
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An enigmatic species of shark known to be favour Welsh waters could be more abundant than previous suspected, scientists believe. The Angel shark, a large flat species resembling a stingray, is unique because it has evolved very differently to other types of shark. Previously only reliably spotted around the Canary Islands, catch evidence from Welsh fishermen has shown that Cardigan Bay is also a stronghold for this elusive and vulnerable species. The Welsh population had thought to be shrinking dramatically as a result of habitat damage and bycatch fishing, with one study indicating a 70% decline since 1970. A major conservation project was launched in the hope of saving a species that lingers on the sea floor, half-buried in sand and mud, waiting for prey to swim near them. They can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long. However a new study, 'People & Nature', from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) suggests previous Angel shark counts were wide of the mark. Its authors believes changes to commercial fishing practices have seen fewer angel sharks caught. As the speckled, caramel-coloured sharks are masters of camouflage, finding them on the sea floor is virtually impossible. Instead, evidence from boat captains is the only reliable way the population can be assessed. It's now thought fishermen are catching fewer not because numbers are dwindling but because they are targeting different waters and using species-specific nets. To reach its conclusions, the ZSL-led study harnessed the expertise of Welsh fishing organisations. Co-author was Charlie Bartlett, a charter fisherman from Gwynedd, who said: 'I've spent over 50 years working along the Welsh coast, and over the years I've come to know these waters inside out. 'With their large, flat fins, Angel sharks are unlike any other shark we see here - and over the years I've been fortunate to encounter the species a number of times.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now (Image: Charlie Barlett) In the 40 years to 2020, some 1,642 Angel sharks were reported in Welsh coastal waters. A particular safe haven is in an area south of the Llŷn Peninsula. While they pose very little risk to humans, they have been known to bite when provoked. Literature analysis going back two centuries revealed they have a long maritime heritage in Wales. No fewer than 16 different names were uncovered, including Monkfish, Banjofish, Bafoon, Shovelnose and Devilfish. Its traditional Welsh name is Maelgi (Monkfish). The species has been adopted as the flagship species for marine conservation in Wales. Working with the Welsh Fishermen's Association (Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr) and Angling Cymru Sea Anglers, scientists interviewed 27 fishers about their operations between 1968 and 2019. It became clear modern practices involve fewer interactions with Angel sharks, leading to fewer sightings. (Image: Jake Davies/JD Scuba/Project SIARC) Lead author Francesca Mason, a ZSL researcher at the Institute of Zoology's Ocean Predator Lab, said: 'There may be more Angel sharks swimming off the Welsh coast than we previously thought – we're just having a harder time spotting them. 'While this is a good sign if less Angel sharks are being caught accidentally, it also means we now need new ways to monitor them to build a more accurate picture of how these sharks are doing.' Instead of relying on chance sightings, scientists are now pinning their hopes on a novel technique involving environmental DNA (eDNA). This can build up in the shark's surroundings through the shedding of dead skin cells or blood loss from a wound. Already eDNA is being measured for Angel Shark Project: Wales, part of the wider work of Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities). (Image: Jake Davies/JD Scuba/Project SIARC) Jake Davies, technical specialist for Project SIARC, said: 'With their excellent camouflage, one of the hardest challenges we face studying Angel sharks is simply finding them. eDNA allows us to study species without having to spot them. 'By studying eDNA in Cardigan and Carmarthen Bays, we've confirmed the presence of a range of native sharks, skates and rays - including Angel sharks - in these more turbulent waters where other monitoring methods aren't as effective. 'Fishers today may be less likely to come across Angel sharks than they were 50 years ago, but through combining this technique with local knowledge, we can continue building a stronger picture of their status and distribution along the Welsh coast.' The Angel shark work was supported by the On the Edge conservation charity, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government and the Welsh Government's Nature Networks Fund. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox See what's on in your area
North Wales Live
20 hours ago
- North Wales Live
8ft ambush shark 'more common' than thought on Welsh coast
An enigmatic species of shark known to be favour Welsh waters could be more abundant than previous suspected, scientists believe. The Angel shark, a large flat species resembling a stingray, is unique because it has evolved very differently to other types of shark. Previously only reliably spotted around the Canary Islands, catch evidence from Welsh fishermen has shown that Cardigan Bay is also a stronghold for this elusive and vulnerable species. The Welsh population had thought to be shrinking dramatically as a result of habitat damage and bycatch fishing, with one study indicating a 70% decline since 1970. A major conservation project was launched in the hope of saving a species that lingers on the sea floor, half-buried in sand and mud, waiting for prey to swim near them. They can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long. However a new study, 'People & Nature', from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) suggests previous Angel shark counts were wide of the mark. Its authors believes changes to commercial fishing practices have seen fewer angel sharks caught. As the speckled, caramel-coloured sharks are masters of camouflage, finding them on the sea floor is virtually impossible. Instead, evidence from boat captains is the only reliable way the population can be assessed. It's now thought fishermen are catching fewer not because numbers are dwindling but because they are targeting different waters and using species-specific nets. To reach its conclusions, the ZSL-led study harnessed the expertise of Welsh fishing organisations. Co-author was Charlie Bartlett, a charter fisherman from Gwynedd, who said: 'I've spent over 50 years working along the Welsh coast, and over the years I've come to know these waters inside out. 'With their large, flat fins, Angel sharks are unlike any other shark we see here - and over the years I've been fortunate to encounter the species a number of times.' In the 40 years to 2020, some 1,642 Angel sharks were reported in Welsh coastal waters. A particular safe haven is in an area south of the Llŷn Peninsula. While they pose very little risk to humans, they have been known to bite when provoked. Literature analysis going back two centuries revealed they have a long maritime heritage in Wales. No fewer than 16 different names were uncovered, including Monkfish, Banjofish, Bafoon, Shovelnose and Devilfish. Its traditional Welsh name is Maelgi (Monkfish). The species has been adopted as the flagship species for marine conservation in Wales. Working with the Welsh Fishermen's Association (Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr) and Angling Cymru Sea Anglers, scientists interviewed 27 fishers about their operations between 1968 and 2019. It became clear modern practices involve fewer interactions with Angel sharks, leading to fewer sightings. Lead author Francesca Mason, a ZSL researcher at the Institute of Zoology's Ocean Predator Lab, said: 'There may be more Angel sharks swimming off the Welsh coast than we previously thought – we're just having a harder time spotting them. 'While this is a good sign if less Angel sharks are being caught accidentally, it also means we now need new ways to monitor them to build a more accurate picture of how these sharks are doing.' Instead of relying on chance sightings, scientists are now pinning their hopes on a novel technique involving environmental DNA (eDNA). This can build up in the shark's surroundings through the shedding of dead skin cells or blood loss from a wound. Already eDNA is being measured for Angel Shark Project: Wales, part of the wider work of Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities). Jake Davies, technical specialist for Project SIARC, said: 'With their excellent camouflage, one of the hardest challenges we face studying Angel sharks is simply finding them. eDNA allows us to study species without having to spot them. 'By studying eDNA in Cardigan and Carmarthen Bays, we've confirmed the presence of a range of native sharks, skates and rays - including Angel sharks - in these more turbulent waters where other monitoring methods aren't as effective. 'Fishers today may be less likely to come across Angel sharks than they were 50 years ago, but through combining this technique with local knowledge, we can continue building a stronger picture of their status and distribution along the Welsh coast.' The Angel shark work was supported by the On the Edge conservation charity, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government and the Welsh Government's Nature Networks Fund.
