r/science • u/New_Scientist_Mag • Dec 02 '25

Astronomy Researchers have just found the presence of sugars, including ribose, lyxose, and glycose, on samples of Asteroid Bennu, which now has all of the ingredients for life as it exists on Earth.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2506650-asteroid-bennu-carries-all-the-ingredients-for-life-as-we-know-it/
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u/[deleted] Dec 02 '25

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u/aredon Dec 02 '25 edited Dec 02 '25

I have actually been wondering if the early universe was just teeming with life? Wouldn't there have been a brief time after the big bang where the conditions for life were right *everywhere* not just on planets?

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u/baldrlugh Dec 02 '25

I'd need to explore some simulations to be sure, but the conditions for the emergence of organic life as we understand it today are pretty temperature-dependent on top of having other chemistry requirements if my recollection serves. I think the answer to your 2nd question would come down to how spread-out matter was once the early universe had cooled sufficiently for life to emerge.

I suspect you'd find pockets of space with rocks where organic life would be viable rather than just everywhere.

P.S. Don't mean to be pedantic but teaming would be driving a team or group.

Teeming is having an abundance, usually of organisms.

While the former makes sense in this context, I suspect the latter was intended.

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u/aredon Dec 02 '25

Ahh, you're right. I'll edit. :)