Tryptophan, the essential amino acid behind the Thanksgiving myth that eating turkey can make you sleepy, has been found to exist on Bennu, a small asteroid that swings by our planet about every six years.
The discovery stems from an unprecedented sample collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which landed a spacecraft on the asteroid in 2020, captured 4.3 ounces (121.6 grams) of rocks and dust, and safely [returned](https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/24/world/osiris-rex-asteroid-sample-return-scn) the cache to Earth in 2023. NASA has since distributed a small portion of that sample to researchers around the world to be analyzed.
Studying Bennu is important because its composition reflects that of the early solar system, giving scientists a glimpse into the beginnings of life. Previous research on Bennu samples had already found 14 of the 20 amino acids all living organisms on Earth stem from, as well as all five biological nucleobases — the components that make up the genetic code in DNA and RNA.
Researchers also previously detected amino acids in samples from another asteroid, [Ryugu](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/27/asia/japanese-spacecraft-hayabusa2-reaches-asteroid-ryugu-intl), which the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency collected in 2019, as well as in various meteorites that have fallen to Earth. This growing body of evidence suggests that asteroids might have delivered essential life ingredients to our planet early on, according to experts.
PSPs0 on
Asteroid that makes you go night night.
Fyrefawx on
I still think that is the craziest thing about the universe. It managed to create something that was capable of observing it. In a space that it is almost entirely hostile to life, it still found a way.
I’m not religious but I can see why someone like Einstein still was. The odds against life existing at all is staggering.
Cziri77 on
Huge W, pun fully intended.
Stardustquarks on
Obviously this is the actual mothership, not Atlas/3I. A mothership of turkeys – they’re where life on earth actually began…
mfyxtplyx on
As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
uwillnotgotospace on
It’s very fitting to announce that on Thanksgiving Day. I guess I’ll nickname Bennu as Butterball today.
OldandBlue on
It’s bringing happiness on earth!
beardbrazil on
Turkeys are aliens CONFIRMED
TeaInASkullMug on
Why is it they found this evidence just in time for Thanksgiving?
11 Comments
Tryptophan, the essential amino acid behind the Thanksgiving myth that eating turkey can make you sleepy, has been found to exist on Bennu, a small asteroid that swings by our planet about every six years.
The discovery stems from an unprecedented sample collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which landed a spacecraft on the asteroid in 2020, captured 4.3 ounces (121.6 grams) of rocks and dust, and safely [returned](https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/24/world/osiris-rex-asteroid-sample-return-scn) the cache to Earth in 2023. NASA has since distributed a small portion of that sample to researchers around the world to be analyzed.
Studying Bennu is important because its composition reflects that of the early solar system, giving scientists a glimpse into the beginnings of life. Previous research on Bennu samples had already found 14 of the 20 amino acids all living organisms on Earth stem from, as well as all five biological nucleobases — the components that make up the genetic code in DNA and RNA.
Researchers also previously detected amino acids in samples from another asteroid, [Ryugu](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/27/asia/japanese-spacecraft-hayabusa2-reaches-asteroid-ryugu-intl), which the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency collected in 2019, as well as in various meteorites that have fallen to Earth. This growing body of evidence suggests that asteroids might have delivered essential life ingredients to our planet early on, according to experts.
Asteroid that makes you go night night.
I still think that is the craziest thing about the universe. It managed to create something that was capable of observing it. In a space that it is almost entirely hostile to life, it still found a way.
I’m not religious but I can see why someone like Einstein still was. The odds against life existing at all is staggering.
Huge W, pun fully intended.
Obviously this is the actual mothership, not Atlas/3I. A mothership of turkeys – they’re where life on earth actually began…
As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
It’s very fitting to announce that on Thanksgiving Day. I guess I’ll nickname Bennu as Butterball today.
It’s bringing happiness on earth!
Turkeys are aliens CONFIRMED
Why is it they found this evidence just in time for Thanksgiving?
How did I sleep on this fact all this time?