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Microscope images of Ryugu samples collected from the first and second landing sites of the Hayabusa2 mission, respectively. Credit: Jaxa/Jamstec

News Summary Archives

All DNA/RNA Nucleobases Are Found On Asteroid Ryugu

by Keith CowingMarch 16, 2026March 16, 2026

Samples from the asteroid Ryugu collected and returned to Earth by the Japanese Hayabusa 2 mission contain all five nitrogenous bases—adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil—that make up nucleic acids, the biomolecules that make life possible on Earth. The study was published today in Nature Astronomy.

A team of Japanese and US scientists have discovered the bio-essential sugars ribose and glucose in samples of asteroid Bennu that were collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. This finding builds on the earlier discovery of nucleobases (the genetic components of DNA and RNA), phosphate, and amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) in the Bennu samples, showing that the molecular ingredients of life could have been delivered to early Earth by meteorites. Download this graphic from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio website: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14932 NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Dan Gallagher

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Icy Worlds, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return

Sugars And Stardust Found In NASA’s Asteroid Bennu Samples

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2025December 2, 2025

Peak emission wavelength of a Dyson Swarm as a function of swarm temperature, following Wien’s displacement law, λmax = b/TDS. The shaded regions indicate the approximate wavelength coverage of key infrared observatories: JWST/NIRCam (red band with star hatching, 0.6−5.0 µm ) JWST/MIRI (orange band with slanted hatching, 5.0−28.3 µm) and Roman/Euclid (NIR) (blue band with dotted hatching, 0.5−2.0 µm). For example, a swarm at TDS ∼ 300 K peaks near ∼ 10 µm, within JWST- MIRI’s sensitivity, whereas hotter swarms (TDS ≳ 1000 K) peak in the near-IR range of Euclid and Roman. -- astro-ph.IM

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Sample Return

An OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Has Surprising Phosphate Content

by Keith CowingJune 27, 2024June 27, 2024

Schematic of project design. A E. coli REL606 strains were grown in High Aspect Ratio Vessels (HARV) on Rotating Wall Vessels (RWV) for simulated microgravity (SµG) and rotating (R) control in addition to immobile static (S) control. Each growth condition was assayed in glucose-limited (DM25) and glucose-replete (DM2000) media. B In a short-term culture study, the growth analysis of SµG, R, and S cultures in both media types was conducted. C Also in this short-term study, samples were collected at time of inoculation (T0), at 4.5 h post inoculation in DM25 and 6.5 h post inoculation in DM2000 (T1), and 24 h post inoculation (T2) for each condition for RNAseq and differential gene expression analysis. D In a follow-on long-term culture study, samples were passaged each day for 28 days. Samples from every 7th day of culture were subjected to whole genome sequencing to assay the genomic alterations for each growth condition. Created with BioRender.com -- BMC Microbiology

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Exploration Gear & Tech, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Sample Return

Asteroid (101955) Bennu In The Laboratory: Properties Of The Sample Collected By OSIRIS-REx

by Keith CowingApril 22, 2024April 22, 2024

First Astrobiology Workshop

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware

OSIRIS-REx Samples Available for Request

by Keith CowingMarch 25, 2024March 25, 2024

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety

OSIRIS-REx Team Clears A Hurdle To Access Remaining Sample From Asteroid Bennu

by Keith CowingJanuary 12, 2024January 12, 2024

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety

NASA Completes Last OSIRIS-REx Test Before Asteroid Sample Delivery

by Keith CowingSeptember 5, 2023September 5, 2023

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Planetary Protection & Biosafety

Preparing The OSIRIS-REx Curation Laboratory At Johnson Space Center

by Keith CowingJune 25, 2023June 25, 2023

Astrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety

NASA Prepares For OSIRIS-REx Sample Delivery From Asteroid Bennu

by Keith CowingMarch 24, 2023March 24, 2023

OSIRIS-REx Finds Water On Asteroid Bennu

by Keith CowingDecember 10, 2018