The presence of all canonical nucleobases in samples from Bennu has previously provided evidence that some of life’s ingredients were synthesized abiotically in the parent body of this asteroid and/or its precedent components. Here, the authors extend research on the distribution of nucleobases and other N-heterocycles in Bennu by using a larger sample and an updated analytical protocol, reporting the concentrations of a diverse suite of N-heterocycles including nucleobases and their precursors extracted from a homogenized Bennu sample.
- Yasuhiro Oba
- Toshiki Koga
- Dante S. Lauretta
