"Amino Acids Found in Asteroid Sand... 'Foundation of Life' Existed Beyond Earth"

Asteroid Ryugu. Photo by JAXA, Yonhap News Agency

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[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] The Japanese space probe Hayabusa2 has discovered more than 20 types of amino acids, which make up proteins, in the sand collected from the asteroid 'Ryugu.'

According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 6th, amino acids are the basic units that compose human proteins, and among them, essential amino acids such as isoleucine and valine, which cannot be produced within the body, were confirmed in the sand from Ryugu.

Glycine, a component of collagen, and glutamic acid, known for its umami flavor, were also found in the sand.

The media suggested the hypothesis that substances originating from space may have been involved in the birth of life on Earth.

The hypothesis states that although many amino acids existed immediately after the Earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago, they were lost when the entire Earth was covered with magma. After the magma cooled, meteorites flew to Earth, supplying amino acids. The sand from Ryugu could support this hypothesis.

Coarse particles collected from the surface of the asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 probe of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Photo by JAXA, Yonhap News.

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Amino acids had been detected in meteorites found on Earth before, but it was uncertain whether the amino acids were extraterrestrial because the meteorites might have been 'contaminated' after coming into contact with soil and air on Earth.

However, the newspaper reported, "In this case, Hayabusa2 directly brought sand from Ryugu, which orbits Mars, and it did not come into contact with external gases," adding, "This is the first confirmation that materials forming the basis for the birth of life existed outside of space."

Meanwhile, Hayabusa2 is a probe from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that collected about 5.4 grams of sand from the surface of the asteroid Ryugu.

The sand sent by the probe arrived on Earth in December 2020.

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