NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission revealed key molecules for life on asteroid Bennu, suggesting conditions for life were widespread in the early solar system, enhancing the possibility of life on other celestial bodies. The findings include amino acids, nucleobases, and high ammonia levels in the samples, supporting the idea of extraterrestrial rocks as life’s raw material source. Scientists found 11 minerals indicating an ancient environment capable of initiating life chemistry, with mineral traces like trona discovered for the first time in space samples. Bennu’s sample provides insights into life’s beginnings, leaving the mystery of why life exclusively uses left-handed amino acids on Earth.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-asteroid-bennu-sample-reveals-mix-of-lifes-ingredients/