Asteroid Samples Suggest Origin of Life on Earth May Have Come Via Impact
- last year
Asteroid Samples Suggest , Origin of Life on Earth , May Have Come Via Impact.
Scientists have now confirmed that
samples taken from the asteroid
Ryugu contain organic molecules. .
Gizmodo reports that the revelation adds credence to
the theory that the origin of life on Earth could have
been delivered via meteorite and asteroid impacts.
Ryugu is a rocky remnant leftover
from the formation of our solar system
over 4 billion years ago. .
The primitive carbonaceous asteroid was visited
by Japan's Hayabusa2 mission, which gathered
samples from the surface back in 2019.
The mission has provided scientists with
a fascinating window looking into what
the solar system was like in its infancy.
Among other compounds, scientists found
15 different amino acids, amines and
aromatic hydrocarbons in the samples. .
The presence of prebiotic molecules on
the asteroid surface despite its harsh
environment caused by solar heating
and ultraviolet irradiation, as well as
cosmic-ray irradiation under high-vacuum
conditions, suggests that the uppermost
surface grains of Ryugu have the potential
to protect organic molecules, Hiroshi Naraoka, Planetary scientist at Kyushu University
in Japan and the paper’s lead author, via 'Gizmodo'.
The presence of prebiotic molecules on
the asteroid surface despite its harsh
environment caused by solar heating
and ultraviolet irradiation, as well as
cosmic-ray irradiation under high-vacuum
conditions, suggests that the uppermost
surface grains of Ryugu have the potential
to protect organic molecules, Hiroshi Naraoka, Planetary scientist at Kyushu University
in Japan and the paper’s lead author, via 'Gizmodo'.
These molecules can be transported throughout the solar system, potentially dispersing as interplanetary dust particles after being ejected from the uppermost layer of the asteroid by impacts or other causes, Hiroshi Naraoka, Planetary scientist at Kyushu University
in Japan and the paper’s lead author, via 'Gizmodo'.
The team's findings were
published in 'Science.'.
Gizmodo reports that NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission
is currently returning from an asteroid known as Bennu,
where it completed similar sampling operations
Scientists have now confirmed that
samples taken from the asteroid
Ryugu contain organic molecules. .
Gizmodo reports that the revelation adds credence to
the theory that the origin of life on Earth could have
been delivered via meteorite and asteroid impacts.
Ryugu is a rocky remnant leftover
from the formation of our solar system
over 4 billion years ago. .
The primitive carbonaceous asteroid was visited
by Japan's Hayabusa2 mission, which gathered
samples from the surface back in 2019.
The mission has provided scientists with
a fascinating window looking into what
the solar system was like in its infancy.
Among other compounds, scientists found
15 different amino acids, amines and
aromatic hydrocarbons in the samples. .
The presence of prebiotic molecules on
the asteroid surface despite its harsh
environment caused by solar heating
and ultraviolet irradiation, as well as
cosmic-ray irradiation under high-vacuum
conditions, suggests that the uppermost
surface grains of Ryugu have the potential
to protect organic molecules, Hiroshi Naraoka, Planetary scientist at Kyushu University
in Japan and the paper’s lead author, via 'Gizmodo'.
The presence of prebiotic molecules on
the asteroid surface despite its harsh
environment caused by solar heating
and ultraviolet irradiation, as well as
cosmic-ray irradiation under high-vacuum
conditions, suggests that the uppermost
surface grains of Ryugu have the potential
to protect organic molecules, Hiroshi Naraoka, Planetary scientist at Kyushu University
in Japan and the paper’s lead author, via 'Gizmodo'.
These molecules can be transported throughout the solar system, potentially dispersing as interplanetary dust particles after being ejected from the uppermost layer of the asteroid by impacts or other causes, Hiroshi Naraoka, Planetary scientist at Kyushu University
in Japan and the paper’s lead author, via 'Gizmodo'.
The team's findings were
published in 'Science.'.
Gizmodo reports that NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission
is currently returning from an asteroid known as Bennu,
where it completed similar sampling operations