An international group of researchers found evidence that asteroids could act as a kind of “couriers” that delivered compounds necessary for the origin of life to Earth. They came to this conclusion during the study of Ryugu matter.
In 2014, Japan’s aerospace agency launched the Hayabusa-2 mission. Its target was Ryugu: a small near-Earth asteroid of spectral class C. Hayabusa 2 studied it for several years and took a soil sample. It was delivered to Earth in 2020.
Since then, the samples collected by the probe have been studied by multiple scientific groups seeking to discover various things about the asteroid and its history. In a new study, a team of scientists analyzed them in search of evidence for the theory that asteroids are the source of many compounds essential for life on Earth.
During the study, the researchers placed grains of material from Ryugu in a sealed chamber with a spectral microscope. The samples were placed on sapphire plates to be examined using wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum. The dishes were placed on polished gold-coated mirrors to prevent contamination.
Using X-ray spectrometry and other tools, the researchers found hydrated magnesium, ammonium and phosphorus. The results suggest that asteroids like Ryugu are composed not only of organic elements and compounds, but also compounds in hydrated form that may have served as building blocks for life on Earth.
According to the researchers, the finding suggests that the grains, which contained the found compounds, originated in deep space beyond Jupiter’s orbit. If they had formed closer to the Sun, they would have vaporized. The research team also notes that the detection of ammonium is particularly important because its molecule can release both hydrogen and nitrogen when decaying.
Asteroids have not only contributed to the origin of life on Earth, but even nearly led to its extinction on several occasions. Previously, we told you about ways you can deflect a threatening space rock away from our planet.
According to Phys.org
