Scientists: ‘Organic Matter’ in Distant Asteroid Could Hide ‘Origins of Life’

Scientists analyzing samples from Ryugu, a near-Earth asteroid visited by Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft in 2018, have discovered “cometary organic matter.” This finding, revealed upon the spacecraft’s return to Earth with the samples in December 2020, offers valuable insights into the origins of life on Earth.

The theory that life on Earth may have been seeded by ancient asteroid impacts is further supported by this discovery. The research team, studying the asteroid samples, found that the surfaces likely contain organic molecules, aligning with this hypothesis.

Tohoku University Graduate School of Science assistant professor and study coauthor Megumi Matsumoto discussed the significance of this research. He suggested that the carbonaceous materials on the asteroid were formed from cometary organic matter, losing volatiles like nitrogen and oxygen during impact-induced heating. This implies that cometary matter was transported from the outer solar system to near Earth, potentially bringing the initial seeds of life from space to our planet.

In their study published in Science Advances, Matsumoto and his team identified tiny “melt splashes” measuring five to 20 micrometers across in the Ryugu samples. These were believed to have formed from cometary dust impacting the asteroid, which lacks an atmosphere. Within these melt splashes, the researchers found materials resembling primitive organic matter.

Matsumoto explained that the chemical composition of these melt splashes indicates a mix of Ryugu’s hydrous silicates with cometary dust.

Separately, NASA scientists are investigating samples from asteroid Bennu, collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. In October, NASA announced the preliminary finding of Earth’s life-building blocks in samples collected by the spacecraft, although outside of its sample collection instrument.

However, further research is needed to conclusively determine if life on Earth originated from organic matter brought from space.