woensdag 9 september 2026

Scientists have found all five canonical nucleobases—the chemical “letters” used by DNA and RNA—in samples returned from asteroid Ryugu.


 

Scientists have found all five canonical nucleobases—the chemical “letters” used by DNA and RNA—in samples returned from asteroid Ryugu. The five are adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil, and their presence in pristine asteroid material provides strong evidence that important ingredients for life can form naturally in space without biology.
Even more fascinating, similar discoveries have been made in samples from asteroid Bennu, where scientists have also detected all five nucleobases along with other organic compounds and ribose. These findings don't mean life was found on an asteroid—but they strengthen the possibility that asteroids delivered some of the raw chemical ingredients needed for life to the early Earth.
Sources:
🔬 Nature Astronomy — A complete set of canonical nucleobases in the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu
🔬 Nature Astronomy — Covering all the bases on Ryugu
🔬 Nature Astronomy — Bennu nucleobase findings
🔬 Nature Geoscience — Bio-essential sugars in Bennu

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