Scientists Just Found DNA’s Building Blocks in Alien Asteroid Bennu – What Does It Mean?
29th Jan 2025
NASA researchers have just shared the results of their first in-depth analyses of the Bennu samples, which were delivered to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission in 2023. They have uncovered something truly remarkable: samples from asteroid Bennu contain the very building blocks of life. These findings were published in Nature and Nature Astronomy journals today, and they could change the way we think about life’s origins, suggesting that the raw ingredients for life may have been widespread throughout the early solar system.
During a live NASA conference today, scientists discussed how these minerals and molecules – found in the asteroid’s samples – could significantly alter our understanding of how life may have originated in the solar system. Let us explain it in the simple words.
The Bennu Breakthrough: What Exactly Did Scientists Discover?
The analysis of Bennu’s samples revealed key organic compounds that are fundamental to life on Earth:
- Amino acids: 14 out of the 20 amino acids used by life on Earth to create proteins
- Nucleobases: All five nucleobases that encode genetic information in DNA and RNA
- Ammonia: high abundance (230 parts per million – 100x more than naturally found in soils on Earth). It formed billions of years ago in cold, distant regions of our Solar System
- Evaporite minerals: Evidence of a wet, salty environment on Bennu’s parent body

Implications for Life’s Origins
These findings suggest that the building blocks of life were not confined to Earth but were likely widespread in the early solar system. While the discovery doesn’t imply that life existed on Bennu itself, it positions the asteroid as a crucial “time capsule” of the solar system’s beginnings. This opens up exciting possibilities for life beyond our planet.
Surprising Molecular Balance

One of the most surprising aspects of the discovery is the unexpected molecular balance found in Bennu’s amino acids. Unlike Earth’s life forms, which predominantly feature one molecular orientation, Bennu’s amino acids exhibited a more even mix. This challenges existing theories about how early life processes may have shaped molecular structures.
Ancient Saltwater Environment
Another striking revelation comes from the presence of evaporite minerals, which suggest that Bennu’s parent body once hosted liquid water. As the water evaporated, it left behind salty crusts—similar to the dry lakebeds we see on Earth today. This ancient “broth” could have been the perfect environment for organic compounds to interact and form the complex molecules necessary for life.
Manchester Scientist Helps Unveiling Asteroid Bennu’s Secrets
As part of the global effort to analyze the sample, the University of Manchester received a portion of the material for examination. Professor Rhian Jones, an expert in cosmochemistry, played a pivotal role in studying the mineralogy of the samples and interpreting the findings.
Professor Jones said: “This research is like opening a time capsule from the early solar system. We were surprised to find that the asteroid sample held such a complete library of minerals and some unique salts.”
The Big Picture: What It Means for Astrobiology

Dr. Tim McCoy, curator of meteorites at the Smithsonian, explains the significance of this discovery: “We now know from Bennu that the raw ingredients of life were combining in really interesting and complex ways on Bennu’s parent body.” This breakthrough not only sheds new light on how life could have emerged on Earth but also expands our understanding of the conditions required for life to form elsewhere in the universe.
Dr. Daniel P. Glavin, senior scientist for samples return at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland adds: “This is all very exciting because it suggests that asteroids like Bennu once acted like giant chemical factories in space and could have also delivered the raw ingredients for life to Earth and other bodies in our solar system.”
This is just the beginning of an extraordinary scientific breakthrough. The initial findings come from only 0.06% of the Bennu sample, leaving a vast majority—75%—still unexamined. This untouched portion holds immense potential for further exploration.
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