"Uncovering the Origins of Life: Organic Matter Discovery on Asteroid Ryugu"

Researchers studying samples from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu, collected by Japan's Hayabusa 2 spacecraft, have discovered cometary organic matter, potentially shedding light on the origins of life on Earth. The samples contain melt splashes with carbonaceous materials resembling primitive organic matter, suggesting that cometary matter may have been transported to the near-Earth region from the outer solar system. This finding aligns with NASA's discovery of the building blocks of life on asteroid Bennu, indicating the potential for organic matter from space to have played a role in the development of life on Earth.