Dr. Danny Glavin, a senior scientist at NASA, and Dr. Dante Lauretta, a planetary scientist leading the OSIRIS-REx mission, delve into the groundbreaking findings from asteroid Bennu. They discuss the discovery of organic molecules and essential amino acids that could suggest origins of life. The fascinating chirality of amino acids challenges previous theories. They also highlight the meticulous efforts to prevent sample contamination, revealing significant implications for understanding life's building blocks and the search for extraterrestrial life.
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Origin of OSIRIS-REx
Danny Glavin and Dante Lauretta recall discovering a contaminated meteorite in Antarctica.
This experience sparked the idea for the OSIRIS-REx mission to collect pristine asteroid samples.
insights INSIGHT
Bennu's Significance
Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, is rich in organic molecules.
Its proximity to Earth makes it ideal for sample retrieval.
insights INSIGHT
Bennu Tea
Researchers created "Bennu tea" by boiling asteroid samples in water.
Analysis revealed a complex mix of organic molecules, including amino acids and nucleobases, essential for life.
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The Asteroid Hunter chronicles the high-stakes mission of the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission, led by Dr. Dante Lauretta. The book is a thrilling account of the mission to retrieve a sample from the asteroid Bennu, which holds secrets of the early Solar System and potential insights into the origins of life. It also delves into Lauretta's personal journey, from his humble beginnings to becoming a leading figure in planetary science. The narrative includes the challenges faced during the mission, such as NASA reviews, technical hurdles, and personal losses, making it both an adventure story and a detailed examination of scientific and bureaucratic processes.
About four and a half years ago, a spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx touched down on the surface of an asteroid called Bennu. It drilled down and scooped up samples of rock and dust and, after several years of travel, delivered those samples back to Earth.
Since then, researchers around the world have been analyzing tiny bits of that asteroid dust, trying to tease out as much information as they can about what Bennu is like and where it might have come from. Two scientific papers published this week give some of the results of those experiments. Researchers found minerals that could have arisen from the drying of an icy brine, and a soup of organic molecules, including ammonia and 14 of the 20 amino acids necessary for life on Earth.
Dr. Danny Glavin and Dr. Dante Lauretta join Flora Lichtman to talk about the samples, what their analysis is revealing, and what those findings could mean for the hunt for life elsewhere in the solar system.
Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.
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