Scientists analyzing material from asteroid Bennu have identified tryptophan, an essential amino acid never before detected in any meteorite or space sample. The finding comes from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which collected 121.6 grams of rocks and dust from Bennu in 2020 and returned them to Earth in 2023. Researchers say the discovery strengthens the idea that key ingredients for life may have formed naturally in space.
Bennu’s chemical makeup preserves conditions from the early solar system, offering insight into how organic molecules arose billions of years ago. Prior analyses had already revealed 14 protein-forming amino acids and all five nucleobases found in DNA and RNA. Tryptophan now raises that number to 15, and researchers say it represents one of the more complex molecules found so far.
The study’s authors believe the tryptophan is unlikely to have come from Earth, citing the pristine nature of the returned samples. The asteroid itself formed between 2 billion and 700 million years ago and contains ammonia and minerals capable of producing organic compounds. Scientists compare these molecules to unassembled “jigsaw pieces,” suggesting that asteroids like Bennu may have delivered essential chemical components to early Earth long before life emerged.
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