Nitrogen- and oxygen-rich organic material indicative of polymerization in pre-aqueous cryochemistry on Bennu’s parent body
Nitrogen-containing organic compounds play key biological roles, and their identification in primitive astromaterials such as meteorites can shed light on the origin of life. However, meteorites are typically contaminated by uncontrolled exposure to Earth. Here we show that pristine samples returned from asteroid Bennu contain polymeric organics exceptionally rich in nitrogen and oxygen. These polymers contain a variety of functional groups including amines, amides, N-heterocycles, and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, among others. They are seen in a carbonaceous vein with mineral inclusions and in multilayered organic sheets. Their morphology and composition indicate formation from pre-aqueous N-rich precursors and later modification during aqueous alteration. These findings demonstrate that asteroids like Bennu contain complex nitrogen-rich organic phases formed by pre-aqueous and aqueous processes, and they expand the known inventory of potential prebiotic extraterrestrial compounds.
Authors
- Clive G. Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7630-7285)
- G. Domínguez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0861-2744)
- T. J. Zega (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9549-022X)
- Daniel P. GLAVIN (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7779-7765)
- Michel Nuevo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1527-2669)
- Z. Gainsforth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8180-3507)
- T. J. McCoy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4573-3553)
- Dante S. LAURETTA (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2597-5950)
- S. S. Russell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5531-7847)
- Matthew A. Marcus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2527-7586)
- Hans A. Bechtel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7606-9333)
- Scott A. Sandford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6034-9816)
- R. C. Ogliore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8165-6252)
- Jason P. Dworkin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3961-8997)
- Harold C. Connolly Jr. (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1803-5098)
Institutions
- Smithsonian Institution (US)
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Planetary Science Institute (US)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- Natural History Museum (GB)
- American Museum of Natural History (US)
- National Museum of Natural History (US)
- University of Arizona (US)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- California State University, San Marcos (US)
- Rowan University (US)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Astronomy
- Published
- 2025-12-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-025-02694-5
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.31
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research
- Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
- Office of Science
- Johnson Space Center
- Basic Energy Sciences