What's Happening?
NASA scientists have discovered amino acids, the building blocks of life, on the asteroid Bennu. These amino acids formed when Bennu was beyond the 'snow line,' a region too cold for liquid water, challenging the belief that amino acids require liquid water to form.
The discovery was made using samples retrieved by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. This finding suggests that the conditions for life could exist in more diverse environments than previously thought, expanding the potential for life beyond Earth.
Why It's Important?
The discovery of amino acids on Bennu has profound implications for our understanding of life's origins. It suggests that the building blocks of life can form in environments previously considered inhospitable, potentially increasing the number of locations in the universe where life could arise. This finding could influence future space exploration missions and the search for extraterrestrial life, as it expands the criteria for habitable environments beyond the presence of liquid water.
