Abundant ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter in samples from asteroid (101955) Bennu

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By Daniel P. Glavin et al, Nature Astronomy. 

Abstract Excerpt: Organic matter in meteorites reveals clues about early Solar System chemistry and the origin of molecules important to life.... Samples returned from the B-type asteroid Bennu by the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer mission ...show that Bennu samples are volatile rich, with more carbon, nitrogen and ammonia than samples from asteroid Ryugu and most meteorites. ...Bennu’s parent asteroid developed in or accreted ices from a reservoir in the outer Solar System where ammonia ice was stable. ...The transport and delivery of organic compounds from these bodies could have been a source of molecules available for the emergence of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere.... 


See also Nature article An evaporite sequence from ancient brine recorded in Bennu samples [Brines ...are environments in which life could have evolved or might persist in the Solar System] 

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