Surprising Phosphate Finding in NASA's Osiris-Rex Asteroid Sample
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission found carbon, nitrogen, organic compounds, and phosphates in asteroid Bennu's sample, hinting at a watery past and potential origins from a primitive ocean world. The composition resembles Earth's rocks, offering insights into solar system formation and prebiotic chemistry.
Read original article
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has made a surprising discovery in the asteroid Bennu sample it collected. The analysis revealed the presence of dust rich in carbon, nitrogen, organic compounds, and magnesium-sodium phosphate, essential components for life. The phosphate finding suggests Bennu may have originated from a primitive ocean world. The sample's composition, dominated by clay minerals like serpentine, mirrors Earth's mid-ocean ridge rocks. The presence of water-soluble phosphates, crucial for biochemistry, hints at Bennu's watery past. This finding raises questions about geochemical processes and historical conditions on Bennu. The asteroid's elemental proportions resemble those of the Sun, offering insights into the early solar system. The rich carbon and nitrogen content in Bennu's materials provide clues to the chemical processes that could have led to the emergence of life on Earth. Further analysis of the Bennu sample by labs worldwide is expected to yield more discoveries about solar system formation and prebiotic chemistry. The OSIRIS-REx mission, which collected the sample, delivered it to Earth in 2023, marking a significant milestone in asteroid research.
Related
Fresh water on Earth emerged 500M years earlier than previously thought
Researchers at Curtin University discovered fresh water on Earth around four billion years ago, challenging existing theories. Analysis of ancient crystals suggests landmasses and fresh water played a crucial role in early life emergence. Published in Nature Geoscience.
Structures discovered in the Pacific could change our understanding of Earth
Researchers found unique structures in the Pacific Ocean challenging traditional beliefs about Earth's early history. Rock formations in South Africa and New Zealand suggest ancient seismic activities shaped the planet, potentially influencing the emergence of life.
First ever rocks from the Moon's far side have landed on Earth
China's Chang'e-6 mission safely brings unique Moon rocks from the far side to Earth, sparking high scientific interest. International collaboration and future lunar exploration plans signal China's advancing space capabilities.
Graphene find in China's Chang'e-5 moon samples challenges lunar origin theory
Chinese researchers found graphene in lunar soil from the Chang’e-5 mission, challenging moon formation theories. Graphene presence suggests carbon capturing processes on the moon's surface, impacting chemical understanding and potential graphene synthesis advancements.
Life Lessons from Hell-House Venus
Studying Venus reveals insights into planetary evolution and factors affecting habitability. Extreme conditions like high temperatures and lack of water make Venus uninhabitable despite being in the habitable zone. Scientists analyze Venus to understand exoplanet atmospheres.
3 commentsThis heating would have kept the bodies warm enough for liquid water to exist in their interiors for a periods of perhaps some millions of years. The total volume of these could have been quite large, and offers the interesting possibility that life originated in our Solar System in one of these bodies, not on Earth itself. If so, this could explain why life appeared on Earth so early: if OoL tends to occur in such bodies, it either happens early (before they freeze up) or it doesn't occur at all. This would counter the inference that because life originated early on Earth, OoL must be a high probability event.
The presence of phosphate minerals is mildly promising as phosphate is somewhat rare and is biologically essential in nucleic acids, ATP, and some cell membranes.
How are they able to tell that?
Related
Fresh water on Earth emerged 500M years earlier than previously thought
Researchers at Curtin University discovered fresh water on Earth around four billion years ago, challenging existing theories. Analysis of ancient crystals suggests landmasses and fresh water played a crucial role in early life emergence. Published in Nature Geoscience.
Structures discovered in the Pacific could change our understanding of Earth
Researchers found unique structures in the Pacific Ocean challenging traditional beliefs about Earth's early history. Rock formations in South Africa and New Zealand suggest ancient seismic activities shaped the planet, potentially influencing the emergence of life.
First ever rocks from the Moon's far side have landed on Earth
China's Chang'e-6 mission safely brings unique Moon rocks from the far side to Earth, sparking high scientific interest. International collaboration and future lunar exploration plans signal China's advancing space capabilities.
Graphene find in China's Chang'e-5 moon samples challenges lunar origin theory
Chinese researchers found graphene in lunar soil from the Chang’e-5 mission, challenging moon formation theories. Graphene presence suggests carbon capturing processes on the moon's surface, impacting chemical understanding and potential graphene synthesis advancements.
Life Lessons from Hell-House Venus
Studying Venus reveals insights into planetary evolution and factors affecting habitability. Extreme conditions like high temperatures and lack of water make Venus uninhabitable despite being in the habitable zone. Scientists analyze Venus to understand exoplanet atmospheres.