More molecules crucial for the formation of life on Earth found on asteroid Ryugu

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-03-22 03:00

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Analysis of the sample of dirt from the asteroid Ryugu which was obtained by Hayabusa 2 has revealed that there are more molecules important for life on Earth were present on the asteroid. Uracil, one of the four molecules found in ribonucleic acid (RNA), was detected by researchers studying the sample, as well as niacin, otherwise known as vitamin B₃. The team say that the discovery strongly suggests that such molecules of prebiotic interest, commonly formed in carbonaceous asteroids such as Ryugu, were delivered to early Earth.