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Organic matter found in samples of asteroid Ryugu suggests that ancient comets may be responsible for bringing the 'seeds of life' to Earth.
A detailed investigation of asteroid Ryugu samples has provided further evidence that the organic molecules which gave rise to life to our planet were brought here by ancient comets.
These space rock samples were returned to Earth by Japan's Hayabusa2 mission, which visited the spinning-top-like space rock Ryugu in 2018. Hayabusa2 spent around 18 months studying the asteroid and collecting surface material, which has proved to be a treasure trove of information about our solar system.
Ryugu, formally known as 162173 Ryugu, is a 2850-foot (870-meter) wide near-Earth asteroid that lacks a protective atmosphere. This means its surface is directly exposed to space and can gather interplanetary dust, which changes the asteroid's surface composition when struck.
The team of scientists behind the new developments in the quest to find life's origins found 5 to 20-micrometer-wide "melt splashes" created when cometary dust in particular pelted the surface of Ryugu. And within these melt splashes, the researchers found small carbonaceous materials similar to primitive organic matter.
www.livescience.com
A detailed investigation of asteroid Ryugu samples has provided further evidence that the organic molecules which gave rise to life to our planet were brought here by ancient comets.
These space rock samples were returned to Earth by Japan's Hayabusa2 mission, which visited the spinning-top-like space rock Ryugu in 2018. Hayabusa2 spent around 18 months studying the asteroid and collecting surface material, which has proved to be a treasure trove of information about our solar system.
Ryugu, formally known as 162173 Ryugu, is a 2850-foot (870-meter) wide near-Earth asteroid that lacks a protective atmosphere. This means its surface is directly exposed to space and can gather interplanetary dust, which changes the asteroid's surface composition when struck.
The team of scientists behind the new developments in the quest to find life's origins found 5 to 20-micrometer-wide "melt splashes" created when cometary dust in particular pelted the surface of Ryugu. And within these melt splashes, the researchers found small carbonaceous materials similar to primitive organic matter.
'This might be the seeds of life': Organic matter found on asteroid Ryugu could explain where life on Earth came from
Organic matter found in samples of asteroid Ryugu suggests that ancient comets may be responsible for bringing the 'seeds of life' to Earth.
www.livescience.com
