Several bio-essential #sugars, including ribose (RNA sugar) and #glucose (metabolism substrate) were identified on #asteroid (101955) #Bennu, collected by the OSIRIS-REx #spacecraft. These sugars complete the inventory of ingredients crucial to #life.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-025-01838-6
#space #asteroid #life #science #osirisrex
Bio-essential sugars in samples from asteroid Bennu - Nature Geoscience
Samples returned from asteroid Bennu contain bio-essential sugars such as ribose and glucose that may have formed in the parent asteroid from brines containing formaldehyde, according to a geochemical study.
Matteo Ceriotti