Researchers found that samples collected from an asteroid by a NASA spacecraft contain the building blocks of life. The spacecraft, called OSIRIS-REx, collected rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu and sent them back to Earth in 2023. Scientists discovered a mixture of organic compounds in the samples, which are essential for life on Earth. They also found evidence of water on the asteroid, suggesting it may have transported water and chemicals that support life to other planets and moons. The samples provide insight into the environment of the early solar system. Researchers hope to understand how life could have started on Earth and other planets. The findings increase the chances of finding life elsewhere in the universe. The samples were examined directly from the asteroid, allowing scientists to preserve them for study. NASA believes the materials could provide new information about the conditions necessary for life to form. The research is rewriting what we know about our solar system and its origins. Scientists are excited about the possibilities the samples provide for understanding the beginnings of life. They are still intrigued by the question of why we have only found life on Earth so far.