building blocks for life

NASA discovers 'space gum' and sugars 'crucial to life' in asteroid Bennu samples brought to Earth (video)

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 3 December 25

Asteroid Bennu samples contain life-friendly sugars, a strange "space-gum," and ancient stardust

JWST makes key detection of complex organic molecules around star in galaxy beyond our Milky Way

By Keith Cooper Published 7 November 25

The molecules are building blocks of the chemical precursors of things such as RNA.

Saturn's moon Enceladus is shooting out organic molecules that could help create life

By Keith Cooper Published 2 October 25

The discovery strengthens the case for a new mission to orbit and land on Enceladus and search for evidence of life.

Scientists discover minerals in asteroid Ryugu that are older than Earth itself

By Samantha Mathewson Published 26 August 25

Asteroid Ryugu is proving to be one of the most scientifically valuable time capsules in the solar system.

The key ingredients for life on Earth came from space, new evidence suggests

By Robert Lea Published 11 October 24

'If we can understand how these materials came to be on Earth, it might give us clues to how life originated here, and how it might emerge elsewhere.'

What's in a 'Space Hamburger'? Ingredients for Life, It Seems

By Hanneke Weitering Published 3 July 17

A young protostar that bears a striking resemblance to a giant "space hamburger" contains the molecular building blocks of life, researchers discovered.

Organic Molecules Found in Diverse Space Places

By Ker Than Published 8 August 06

A two-year survey of interstellar dust clouds has turned up eight organic molecules in both a stellar nursery and in a cold, starless region of space.