Weird & Interesting science, take 2

[robkelk]

Building blocks of life in Bennu asteroid samples

The Nature Astronomy paper reports that Bennu contains 14 of the 20 amino acids essential for life on Earth, along with all five nucleobases that form DNA and RNA. The samples also included ammonia and formaldehyde, which can combine to form complex molecules like the amino acids found in the sample, indicating multiple stages of development being present.

Along with those compounds, around 10,000 nitrogen-bearing chemicals were found in the Bennu samples. Like amino acids and nucleobases, nitrogen-bearing compounds play a critical role in life.

All those organic compounds need a proper environment to develop in, and Bennu shows evidence of containing that, too.