A Japanese research team, including members from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), announced that they have found all five types of nucleobases—adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U)—in the asteroid sand returned by Hayabusa2 from Ryugu. This groundbreaking discovery strengthens the theory that essential components of life, including DNA and RNA, could have originated from materials delivered to Earth by meteorites from space. The findings were expected to be published in a scientific journal on the 17th.

Previously, initial analyses of the Ryugu sand had only identified uracil, one of the five nucleobases. However, after receiving a substantial 20 milligrams of the 5.4 grams of sand returned by Hayabusa2, the research team carried out detailed analyses that confirmed the presence of the remaining four types of nucleobases. This comprehensive study suggests that complex organic materials needed for life may be produced in space, further propelling discussions and research into the origins of life on Earth.

Additionally, this discovery parallels findings from another mission where samples were taken from the asteroid Bennu, indicating that genetic materials are not exclusively found on Earth but may be synthesized throughout the universe. Such revelations underline a significant leap in understanding the interconnectedness of life and the cosmos, emphasizing that vital components for life could come from beyond our planet.