Analysis of a sample of asteroid Bennu reveals dust rich in carbon, nitrogen and organic compounds needed for life
Early analysis of a sample of the asteroid Bennu returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has revealed dust rich in carbon, nitrogen and organic compounds, all of which are essential components for life as we know it. The sample, dominated by clay minerals, particularly serpentine, reflects the type of rock found at mid-ocean ridges on Earth.
Mars rover Perseverance finds interesting rock that may have harbored microbial life billions of years ago
Analysis by instruments on board the rover shows that the rock has qualities that meet the definition of a possible indicator of ancient life. The rock contains chemical signatures and structures that could have been formed by life billions of years ago, when there was flowing water in the area the rover was exploring. The science team is considering other explanations for the observed features, and further research will be needed to determine whether ancient life is a valid explanation.
Saturn’s moons: organic compounds discovered on Enceladus; Mimas has a subglacial ocean
The Cassini probe delivered new information about the moons of Saturn. In the subglacial ocean of Enceladus, Saturn’s moon, many organic compounds involved in the synthesis of proteins and DNA were discovered. This is very similar to the “primordial soup” that existed on Earth billions of years ago. There may be life on a distant, icy world at the edge of the solar system. Saturn has 146 moons, the most in the solar system. The largest one, Titan, has long been considered the most interesting. The Huygens lander was sent to it as part of the Cassini mission in 2005. Behind the dense atmosphere, the probe saw a lifeless, cold world, shrouded in smog, with seas and lakes of methane. Some evidence suggests that there is an ocean below the surface.
Carbonaceous materials from an asteroid, chelates and soda lakes: scientists are closer to understanding the origin of life
The research results may explain how life arose on Earth and can also be applied to other planets and bodies in the solar system and to exoplanets.
The James Webb Space Telescope has proven that complex organic compounds are present even in the most ancient galaxies of the Universe
The James Webb Space Telescope is capable of searching the “carbonaceous” atmospheres of exoplanets to search for alien life. “We have a way to find out if there is liquid water on another planet. And we can achieve this in the next few years.”
Planetologists continue to study asteroids
Organic substances have been discovered on the Ryugu asteroid. Another asteroid, 2022 FD1, discovered by astronomers only on the night of March 24-25, flew past the Earth at noon on March 25 at a distance of only about eight thousand kilometers.
Evidence of the possibility of extraterrestrial origin of life found on an asteroid
Organic substances have been discovered on a rocky S-class asteroid. It is this class of asteroids that most often falls on Earth.