Asteroids may have brought water to Earth billions of years ago, says study

Findings of a Japanese space mission suggest that water may have been brought to Earth by asteroids from the outer edges of the solar system. An analysisof rare samples brought back to Earth in 2020 from the asteroid Ryugu led to the latest revelation.

Notably, to learn more about the origin of life and formation of the universe, Japanese space probe Hayabusa-2 had landed on the asteroid and fired an "impactor" into its surface, leading to the gathering of 5.4 grams (0.2 ounces) of rocks and dust.

Also Read |Astronomers discover amino acids in asteroid samples during Hayabusa2 probe

Add WION as a Preferred Source

In a new paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists said the Ryugu samples could help understand how oceans appeared on Earth billions of years ago. An earlier study published in June said scientists had found organic material which showed that some of the building blocks of life on Earth, amino acids, may have been formed in space.

"Volatile and organic-rich C-type asteroids may have been one of the main sources of Earth's water. The delivery of volatiles (that is, organics and water) to the Earth is still a subject of notable debate," said the study published Monday.

But the organic materials found "in Ryugu particles, identified in this study, probably represent one important source of volatiles".

The scientists hypothesised that such material probably has an "outer Solar System origin". However, it was "unlikely to be the only source of volatiles delivered to the early Earth".

Also Read |Asteroid samples from Hayabusa-2 space probe leave Japanese scientists 'speechless'

Hayabusa-2, that was launched in 2014 to Ryugu, around 300 million kilometres away, returned to Earth's orbit two years ago. It brought with it a capsule containing the said sample.

In the Nature Astronomy study, the researchers again hailed the findings made possible by the mission.

"Ryugu particles are undoubtedly among the most uncontaminated Solar System materials available for laboratory study and ongoing investigations of these precious samples will certainly expand our understanding of early Solar System processes," the study said.

(With inputs from agencies)