Discovery of Amino Acids , in Ryugu Asteroid Samples , Could Hint at Extraterrestrial Life.
Over 20 types of amino acids were
detected in a sample returned to Earth
by Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe.
Over 20 types of amino acids were
detected in a sample returned to Earth
by Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe.
'Kyodo News' reports that the findings
show for the first time that the organic
compounds exist on asteroids in space.
Amino acids are essential
building blocks for all living things.
Japan's education ministry
said the discovery could broaden
our understanding of the origins of life.
In December 2020, Hayabusa2 returned
to Earth carrying over 5.4 grams
of surface material from the Ryugu asteroid.
'Kyodo News' reports that previous
analysis of the samples revealed traces
of water and other organic material.
Kensei Kobayashi, professor emeritus of astrobiology at Yokohama National University, said the discovery suggest amino acids are likely to be found on other planets. .
Proving amino acids exist in
the subsurface of asteroids increases
the likelihood that the compounds
arrived on Earth from space, Kensei Kobayashi, professor emeritus of astrobiology
at Yokohama National University, via 'Kyodo News'.
Life could have been born
in more places in the universe
than previously thought, Kensei Kobayashi, professor emeritus of astrobiology
at Yokohama National University, via 'Kyodo News'.
Hayabusa's mission launched in 2014 and reached
Ryugu in June of 2018 to collect the first-ever
subsurface samples from an asteroid