Explore the nexus of X-Men fiction and NASA science! This deep dive covers Magneto’s Asteroid M, the real carbon-rich Asteroid Bennu, and its organic treasures—amino acids, serpentine, and water clues. Includes an embedded podcast, transcript, summary, and a Deep Research Report on cosmic life-building blocks. Ideal for Marvel fans, educators, and space science lovers!

Listen to “Asteroid M vs. Asteroid Bennu: X-Men Lore Meets Real-World Science (Raw Audio Transcript)” on Spreaker.

Summary of the Conversation: Asteroid M, Asteroid Bennu, and Amino Acids

1. Asteroid M (X-Men Lore):

• Origin & Purpose: A mutant sanctuary/base created by Magneto using his magnetic powers. Serves as a refuge from human persecution.
• Characteristics:
  • Size varies across depictions but large enough to house a significant mutant population.
  • Irregular shape, often flattened with structures, reshaped by Magneto’s abilities.
  • Orbit ranges from geostationary to eccentric in different storylines.
• Name Theory: Likely “M” for Magneto, though M-type asteroids (metallic) align with his powers. No explicit confirmation in comics.

2. Asteroid Bennu (Real-World Science):

• Mission & Findings: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx collected samples (2020), returning to Earth in 2023. Key discoveries:
  • Water Evidence: Serpentine and olivine minerals (formed via water interaction) and magnetite (iron oxide hinting at past water).
  • Organic Molecules: 33 amino acids, including 14 found in humans (e.g., glycine, alanine, serine). Simple amino acids like cysteine and complex ones (tyrosine, tryptophan) were absent.
  • Other Compounds: Naphthalene (linked to biological molecules like vitamins and hormones) and carbon-rich B-type composition.
• Significance: Supports the hypothesis that life’s building blocks (water, organic molecules) may be widespread in the solar system.

3. Amino Acid Deep Dive:

• Structure: Built from a backbone (central carbon, amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen) with variable side chains.
• Examples Discussed:
  • Simple: Glycine (H side chain), Alanine (CH₃), Serine (CH₂OH), Cysteine (CH₂SH).
  • Complex: Phenylalanine (benzene ring), Tyrosine (benzene + OH), Tryptophan (indole ring).
• Bennu’s Relevance: Found 14/20 human amino acids, emphasizing prebiotic chemistry’s potential ubiquity. Missing complex ones suggest environmental constraints on Bennu.

4. Key Takeaways:

• Sci-Fi vs. Reality: Asteroid M symbolizes refuge and power, while Bennu offers tangible insights into life’s cosmic origins.
• Scientific Impact: Bennu’s samples bridge astronomy and biology, showing asteroids could seed planets with life’s essentials.
• Future Exploration: Understanding amino acid formation in space informs astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Conclusion: The dialogue bridges fictional narratives (Magneto’s asteroid) and real-world science (Bennu’s organic richness), highlighting humanity’s quest to understand both imagination and the universe’s chemical groundwork.

OSIRIS-REx Mission Findings on Asteroid Bennu: Water, Organics, and Astrobiological Implications – Insights from Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander, PhD

Executive Summary

This report details the key scientific findings from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu, focusing on the analysis of returned samples. Central to this analysis is the discovery of water-bearing minerals and a diverse suite of organic molecules, including amino acids crucial for life on Earth. The investigation incorporates insights and specific inquiries raised by Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander, PhD, during a detailed discussion on the mission’s results. Dr. Alexander’s perspective highlights the significance of Bennu’s composition – rich in carbon, marked by past water activity ¹, and containing key prebiotic molecules – for understanding the potential delivery of life’s building blocks to early Earth.³ The mission timeline, Bennu’s characteristics, the nature of its hydrated minerals (like serpentine), the inventory of amino acids found (including 14 of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids used in human biology), and other significant compounds like magnetite and naphthalene are examined, contextualized by Dr. Alexander’s points (e.g., 11:03, 17:12, 41:57, 01:17:15). The findings confirm Bennu as a primitive remnant from the early solar system ¹, whose pristine samples offer unprecedented insights into the materials and processes present before life emerged on our planet.²

1. Introduction

NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission represents a landmark achievement in planetary science, being the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid and return it to Earth.³ The target, (101955) Bennu, is a carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid selected for its primitive nature and potential to contain molecular precursors to life and Earth’s oceans.³ Analysis of the returned samples provides a unique window into the early solar system, approximately 4.5 billion years ago.² This report synthesizes the major findings, particularly concerning water-bearing minerals and organic compounds, comparing the detected amino acids to those fundamental to terrestrial biology. The analysis is informed by a conversation featuring Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander, PhD, whose inquiries and perspectives guide the examination of the mission’s timeline, Bennu’s physical and chemical properties, the specific nature of the detected minerals and organics, and the overarching astrobiological implications of these discoveries.

2. The OSIRIS-REx Mission: A Seven-Year Journey

The OSIRIS-REx mission followed a meticulously planned trajectory spanning seven years from launch to sample return.⁷ Key milestones, queried by Dr. Alexander during the discussion (e.g., 05:46, 07:54, 08:27), define this journey:

• Launch (September 8, 2016): OSIRIS-REx launched aboard an Atlas V 411 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.⁶ After separating from the Centaur upper stage approximately 55 minutes post-launch and deploying its solar arrays, the spacecraft began its interplanetary cruise.⁶
• Cruise and Earth Flyby: The spacecraft performed deep space maneuvers, including one on December 28, 2016, to position itself for an Earth gravity assist.⁶ This flyby occurred on September 22, 2017, providing a velocity boost necessary to reach Bennu.⁷
• Bennu Arrival and Survey (December 3, 2018): After a 1.2 billion-mile (2 billion-kilometer) journey, OSIRIS-REx arrived at Bennu.³ It commenced detailed mapping and survey phases, including Preliminary Survey, Orbital A (achieving the closest orbit ever around a small body), and Detailed Survey: Baseball Diamond, to characterize the asteroid and identify a suitable sample site.⁶ This phase revealed a surprisingly rugged surface with numerous boulders, complicating site selection.⁶ The “Nightingale” site, located in a relatively young northern crater, was eventually chosen.⁶
• Sample Collection (October 20, 2020): OSIRIS-REx executed its Touch-And-Go (TAG) maneuver, briefly contacting Bennu’s surface at the Nightingale site with its robotic arm (TAGSAM – Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism).⁶ The maneuver successfully collected a substantial amount of regolith (rocks and dust), later confirmed to be 121.6 grams (4.29 oz), exceeding the mission goal of 60 grams.² The sample was securely stowed in the Sample Return Capsule (SRC) by October 28, 2020.⁶
• Departure and Return Cruise (May 10, 2021): After completing a final flyby of Bennu on April 7, 2021, to observe the sample site post-TAG ⁶, OSIRIS-REx fired its main engines to begin its 2.5-year journey back to Earth.⁶
• Earth Return (September 24, 2023): The spacecraft released the SRC, which successfully landed via parachute at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range.⁶ The pristine sample was then transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center for curation and analysis.² Following the sample delivery, the main spacecraft was renamed OSIRIS-APEX and redirected for an extended mission to asteroid Apophis, arriving in 2029.⁶

3. Asteroid (101955) Bennu: A Carbonaceous Time Capsule

Asteroid Bennu, the target of the OSIRIS-REx mission, possesses characteristics that make it a compelling subject for scientific study, as discussed by Dr. Alexander and Vega (e.g., 04:28, 10:38, 18:33).

• Classification and Composition: Bennu is classified as a B-type asteroid, a subgroup of carbonaceous (C-type) asteroids.⁵ This classification signifies a high abundance of carbon, both elemental and within complex organic molecules, alongside various minerals.⁵ Its surface is extremely dark, reflecting only about 4% of incident light, characteristic of carbon-rich bodies.⁵ Spectroscopic analysis links Bennu to primitive carbonaceous chondrite meteorites (specifically CI and CM types), which are known to contain hydrated minerals and organic compounds.¹² Bennu is considered a primitive object, likely formed within the first 10 million years of the solar system’s history (over 4.5 billion years ago) and having undergone minimal large-scale alteration since.¹
• Size, Shape, and Structure: Bennu has a mean diameter of approximately 490 meters (about 0.3 miles or 1,610 feet), roughly the height of the Empire State Building.⁵ It exhibits a distinctive “spinning top” or roughly spheroidal shape, with a pronounced equatorial ridge.¹⁵ Bennu is considered a “rubble-pile” asteroid, meaning it is not a monolithic body but rather an aggregate of rocky debris held together by gravity, likely formed from the fragments of a much larger parent asteroid (estimated 60-130 miles or 100-200 km wide) that was shattered by a collision between 700 million and 2 billion years ago.⁵ It possesses significant internal porosity, with 20-40% of its volume being empty space.⁵
• Orbit and Potential Hazard Status: Bennu is a near-Earth object (NEO) belonging to the Apollo group, with an orbit that brings it relatively close to Earth approximately every six years.¹⁵ Its semi-major axis is 1.126 AU, and it takes 1.2 years to orbit the Sun.¹⁵ Bennu is classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) due to its size and proximity to Earth’s orbit.¹⁵ It is listed on the Sentry Risk Table and holds the third-highest cumulative rating on the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale.¹⁵ While the Torino Scale is primarily used for potential impacts within the next 100 years ²⁰, Bennu’s potential impact dates lie further in the future. Current calculations estimate a cumulative 1-in-1,750 ¹⁵ to 1-in-2,700 ¹⁷ chance of impacting Earth between 2178 and 2290, with the highest probability on September 24, 2182.¹⁵ Due to the distant timeframe of potential impacts (>100 years), Bennu currently holds a Torino Scale rating of 0 (No Hazard).²¹ The distinction is important: while not an immediate threat warranting a high Torino score, its long-term potential based on the Palermo scale makes it one of the most closely monitored asteroids.¹⁷

4. Water-Bearing Minerals: Evidence of an Aqueous Past

A cornerstone discovery from the OSIRIS-REx mission, explored by Dr. Alexander (e.g., 11:03, 11:30, 13:09, 14:07, 15:41, 16:16), is the widespread evidence of hydrated minerals within the Bennu samples, confirming remote sensing observations and indicating significant past interaction with liquid water on its parent body.¹

• Serpentine and Aqueous Alteration: The Bennu samples are dominated by clay minerals, particularly serpentine.¹ Serpentine is a phyllosilicate mineral group formed through a process called serpentinization. This process involves the hydrothermal alteration of primary silicate minerals, typically olivine and pyroxene, when they react with water at moderate temperatures.¹³ The presence of abundant serpentine is strong evidence that Bennu’s parent body hosted liquid water for a period after its formation, allowing these chemical reactions to occur.¹ This process is analogous to alteration seen in terrestrial environments like mid-ocean ridges.¹
• Formation Process: The process likely began when Bennu’s parent body, having accreted ice along with rock in the early, cold solar system (potentially beyond Mars’ orbit), experienced internal heating, possibly from the decay of short-lived radioactive isotopes.¹³ This heating melted the ice, allowing liquid water to percolate through the rock and react with minerals like olivine and pyroxene, transforming them into serpentine and other secondary minerals.¹³ The discovery of mineral veins within Bennu boulders, potentially filled with precipitated minerals, further supports the idea of fluid flow within the parent body.¹⁵
• Other Hydrated Minerals and Salts: Beyond serpentine, analysis revealed other minerals indicative of water activity, including carbonates (like calcite), iron oxides (like magnetite), iron sulfides, and various salts.⁴ The presence of diverse salts (chlorides, sulfates, fluorides, carbonates) suggests the evaporation of brines, possibly in subsurface lakes or pools within the parent body, concentrating these dissolved species.⁴
• Unexpected Phosphates: A particularly surprising discovery was the presence of relatively pure, large grains of magnesium-sodium phosphate.¹ This specific phosphate composition was not anticipated from remote sensing data and is uncommon in meteorites.¹ Its presence hints at specific geochemical conditions, potentially involving the concentration of elements in evaporating brines on a primitive, small “ocean world” ancestor.¹ Phosphates are critical components of biochemistry (e.g., in DNA, RNA, ATP), making their discovery in a water-soluble form on Bennu particularly relevant to prebiotic chemistry.¹
• Significance: The collective evidence for extensive aqueous alteration confirms that Bennu’s parent body was a water-rich environment early in solar system history.¹ This watery past is crucial because liquid water is considered essential for the origin of life as we know it, providing a medium for chemical reactions, including the synthesis and concentration of organic molecules.¹³ The confirmation of these conditions on an asteroid parent body supports the hypothesis that such objects could have delivered both water and complex chemistry to early Earth.⁴

5. Amino Acids: Building Blocks of Proteins Found on Bennu

Analysis of the pristine Bennu samples yielded compelling evidence for the presence of amino acids, the molecular monomers that form proteins in terrestrial life. The findings, discussed in detail during the conversation (e.g., 17:12, 46:36, 47:05, 48:17, 49:03), provide strong support for the extraterrestrial origin of these vital prebiotic molecules.⁴

• Inventory: A total of 33 distinct amino acids were identified in the Bennu samples.³⁷ This diverse suite includes both proteinogenic (used in proteins by life on Earth) and non-proteinogenic amino acids.
• Proteinogenic Amino Acids: Crucially, 14 of the 20 standard amino acids used by terrestrial biology to construct proteins were detected.⁴ This represents a significant fraction of the biological toolkit.
• Non-Proteinogenic Amino Acids: The remaining 19 amino acids identified are not typically incorporated into proteins by life on Earth.³² Their presence further highlights the complex abiotic chemistry occurring on Bennu’s parent body or in its precursor materials.
• Comparison to Human Biology: The finding of 14 proteinogenic amino acids directly relevant to human biology within an extraterrestrial sample is highly significant. It demonstrates that a substantial portion of the molecular building blocks necessary for life as we know it existed in the early solar system and were incorporated into asteroids like Bennu.
• Confirmation of Extraterrestrial Origin: While amino acids have been found in meteorites before, concerns about terrestrial contamination often complicate interpretation.³³ The OSIRIS-REx mission’s meticulous sample collection and curation procedures ensured the Bennu material remained pristine.⁴ Furthermore, analysis of chirality (molecular “handedness”) showed that the Bennu amino acids were present in roughly equal mixtures of left-handed (L) and right-handed (D) forms (racemic or near-racemic).⁴ Since life on Earth almost exclusively uses L-amino acids, this racemic mixture strongly supports an abiotic, extraterrestrial origin for the amino acids found on Bennu.³³

6. Step-by-Step Amino Acid Synthesis Concepts

The conversation featuring Dr. Alexander included a detailed exploration of the potential step-by-step chemical synthesis pathways for several specific amino acids (e.g., 20:43 – 39:15). While these represent plausible terrestrial biochemical pathways or potential abiotic routes, understanding their structures is key to appreciating the molecules found on Bennu. The standard amino acids share a common structure: a central alpha-carbon atom bonded to an amino group (-NH₂), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain (R-group) that defines the specific amino acid.⁴⁶

• Glycine (Gly/G): The simplest amino acid, with only a hydrogen atom as its R-group (R = -H).⁴⁶ Its small size makes it unique and flexible. It is the only standard amino acid that is not chiral.⁴⁶ On Earth, it can be synthesized from serine.⁴⁹
• Alanine (Ala/A): Features a simple methyl group as its side chain (R = -CH₃).⁴⁶ It is a nonpolar, hydrophobic amino acid. On Earth, it can be synthesized from pyruvate.⁴⁷
• Serine (Ser/S): Contains a hydroxymethyl group (R = -CH₂OH).⁴⁷ The hydroxyl group makes it polar and hydrophilic, capable of hydrogen bonding.⁵⁰ It serves as a precursor for glycine and cysteine in terrestrial biosynthesis.⁴⁷ It is formed from 3-phosphoglycerate.⁴⁹
• Cysteine (Cys/C): Characterized by a thiol group (R = -CH₂SH).⁵¹ This sulfur-containing side chain is reactive and can form disulfide bonds, important for protein structure. It is polar and synthesized from serine in biological systems.⁴⁹
• Phenylalanine (Phe/F): Possesses a benzyl side chain (R = -CH₂-C₆H₅), featuring an aromatic phenyl ring.⁴⁶ It is nonpolar and hydrophobic. It is an essential amino acid for humans and a precursor to tyrosine.⁴⁷ Biosynthetically, aromatic amino acids derive from erythrose 4-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate.⁴⁹
• Tyrosine (Tyr/Y): Similar to phenylalanine but with an added hydroxyl group on the phenyl ring (R = -CH₂-C₆H₄-OH), making it a phenol derivative.⁴⁶ This hydroxyl group makes it polar, although it retains aromatic properties.⁴⁶ It is non-essential as it can be made from phenylalanine.⁴⁷ It is involved in signaling and is a precursor to several important biomolecules.⁴⁷
• Tryptophan (Trp/W): Features a complex indole ring system attached to a methylene group (R = -CH₂-C₈H₆N).⁴⁶ It is largely nonpolar/hydrophobic due to the large aromatic structure.⁵⁰ It is an essential amino acid and a precursor to serotonin and niacin.⁴⁷

Understanding these structures provides context for the specific molecules identified in the Bennu samples and their potential roles in prebiotic chemistry.

7. Amino Acid Findings: Bennu vs. Synthesis Discussion

Comparing the amino acids constructed step-by-step in the conversation with those confirmed in the Bennu sample analysis reveals overlaps and differences, as noted by Dr. Alexander (e.g., 40:29, 41:00).

• Confirmed from Discussion: Of the seven amino acids built during the detailed synthesis discussion, three were definitively confirmed as present in the Bennu samples:
  • Glycine (Gly/G) ¹⁹
  • Alanine (Ala/A)
  • Serine (Ser/S)
  • (Note: While Cysteine was discussed in synthesis, its specific confirmation in the Bennu sample is not explicitly stated in the provided snippets summarizing the findings, although it is one of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids. The 14 found are generally stated as a group.⁴)
• Not Confirmed from Discussion: Four of the amino acids discussed in the synthesis segment were not among the specific examples highlighted as found on Bennu in the primary findings reports or explicitly confirmed during the conversation segment comparing the lists:
  • Phenylalanine (Phe/F)
  • Tyrosine (Tyr/Y)
  • Tryptophan (Trp/W)
  • Cysteine (Cys/C) (subject to the note above)

Table 1: Comparison of Synthesized vs. Confirmed Bennu Amino Acids (from conversation)

Amino Acid Synthesized (Conversation)	Chemical Class	Confirmed Found on Bennu (Conversation Refs 40:29, 41:00 & Snippets)?
Glycine (Gly)	Nonpolar (Aliphatic)	Yes 19
Alanine (Ala)	Nonpolar (Aliphatic)	Yes
Serine (Ser)	Polar, Uncharged	Yes
Cysteine (Cys)	Polar, Uncharged	Not explicitly confirmed in summary snippets/conversation refs
Phenylalanine (Phe)	Nonpolar (Aromatic)	No (per conversation refs)
Tyrosine (Tyr)	Polar, Uncharged	No (per conversation refs)
Tryptophan (Trp)	Nonpolar (Aromatic)	No (per conversation refs)

This comparison underscores that while Bennu contains a rich suite of amino acids, the specific relative abundances or presence/absence might differ from expectations based solely on terrestrial biochemistry or simple abiotic synthesis models. The presence of simpler amino acids like glycine and alanine, alongside serine, aligns with findings in many carbonaceous chondrites. The apparent absence (or lower abundance making them less prominent in initial reports) of the larger aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr, Trp) in the highlighted findings might suggest formation pathways or preservation factors favoring smaller, simpler structures, or simply reflect the specific subset discussed in the conversation.

8. Bennu’s Full Proteinogenic Amino Acid Complement Relevant to Humans

Beyond the amino acids discussed in the synthesis section, the analysis of Bennu samples identified a broader set of proteinogenic amino acids shared with human biology. Dr. Alexander prompted the identification of these additional molecules (e.g., 50:21, 51:48), completing the picture of the 14 biologically relevant amino acids confirmed present.⁴

• Other Shared Amino Acids: Based on the conversation prompts and confirmed by multiple sources reporting the discovery of 14 out of 20 proteinogenic amino acids ⁴, the following were also identified among the 14 found on Bennu and used in human biology (in addition to Glycine, Alanine, Serine):
  • Aspartic acid (Asp/D)
  • Glutamic acid (Glu/E)
  • Valine (Val/V)
  • Leucine (Leu/L)
  • Isoleucine (Ile/I)
  • Proline (Pro/P)
  • Threonine (Thr/T)
• Consolidated List: Combining these with the confirmed Glycine, Alanine, and Serine, and acknowledging the total count of 14 proteinogenic amino acids found, provides the inventory of biologically relevant building blocks delivered by Bennu. The remaining four proteinogenic amino acids detected (to reach the total of 14) are confirmed by the overall count reported in sources like ³³ but were not individually named in the provided conversation summary or snippets listing specific examples beyond the initial few.

Table 2: The 14 Proteinogenic Amino Acids Found on Bennu (Shared with Human Biology)

Amino Acid Name	3-Letter Code	Chemical Class	Found on Bennu?
Glycine	Gly	Nonpolar, Aliphatic	Yes 19
Alanine	Ala	Nonpolar, Aliphatic	Yes
Serine	Ser	Polar, Uncharged	Yes
Aspartic Acid	Asp	Acidic	Yes
Glutamic Acid	Glu	Acidic	Yes
Valine	Val	Nonpolar, Aliphatic	Yes
Leucine	Leu	Nonpolar, Aliphatic	Yes
Isoleucine	Ile	Nonpolar, Aliphatic	Yes
Proline	Pro	Nonpolar, Aliphatic	Yes
Threonine	Thr	Polar, Uncharged	Yes
Other 4 (unnamed)	Varies	Varies	Yes 33
(Remaining 6)	Varies	Varies	Not Reported

(Note: The table lists the 10 proteinogenic amino acids specifically mentioned in the conversation/snippets as found, acknowledges the confirmed presence of 4 others to reach the reported total of 14 ³³, and indicates the remaining 6 proteinogenic amino acids were not reported in the Bennu sample.)

The detection of representatives from multiple chemical classes – nonpolar (Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro), polar uncharged (Ser, Thr), and acidic (Asp, Glu) – among the 14 proteinogenic amino acids is significant. Life on Earth utilizes this chemical diversity to build proteins with a vast array of structures and functions. Finding such a varied toolkit already present in extraterrestrial material suggests that the raw ingredients delivered by asteroids like Bennu were chemically rich and versatile, potentially providing a robust starting point for complex prebiotic chemistry on early Earth.

9. Additional Significant Findings Highlighted by Dr. Alexander

Beyond the headline discoveries of water and amino acids, the OSIRIS-REx samples revealed other compounds and features of interest, some highlighted by Dr. Alexander (e.g., 12:26, 41:57, 01:17:15).

• Magnetite (Fe₃O₄): This iron oxide mineral was detected both by remote sensing and in the returned samples.¹ Magnetite often forms alongside serpentine during the aqueous alteration of iron-bearing silicate minerals like olivine.¹³ Its presence further corroborates the extensive water activity on Bennu’s parent body.²⁶ The formation process (serpentinization) can occur under specific redox conditions and, importantly, can release hydrogen gas (H₂) as a byproduct.²⁶ While life itself was not found on Bennu, the potential generation of chemical energy sources like hydrogen in these ancient aqueous environments adds another layer to the potential habitability, or at least prebiotic potential, of Bennu’s parent body. Dr. Alexander’s specific mention (12:26) underscores its relevance within the mineralogical context.
• Naphthalene and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Analysis detected naphthalene (C₁₀H₈), a simple two-ring PAH, as well as other more complex PAHs like anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and their alkylated derivatives (with added carbon chains).⁵⁴ These organic molecules were found in both the bulk sample collected by the TAGSAM head and in the finer dust found on the exterior of the collection hardware.⁵⁴ PAHs are common components of carbonaceous meteorites and are thought to form in various astrophysical environments, including stellar outflows and the interstellar medium, as well as potentially through processes on asteroid parent bodies.⁵⁴ Their presence alongside simpler organic molecules like amino acids, as noted by Dr. Alexander (41:57), indicates a complex organic inventory resulting from multiple formation pathways or stages of chemical evolution, possibly involving both inherited interstellar material and synthesis/alteration within the parent body’s aqueous environment.
• Phosphates (Revisited): As mentioned previously (Section 4), the discovery of magnesium-sodium phosphates was unexpected and significant.¹ These water-soluble phosphates are crucial for life (forming the backbone of DNA/RNA and energy currency like ATP).¹ Their presence, potentially linked to evaporating brines on a primitive ocean world ancestor ¹, adds a critical ingredient to the prebiotic soup potentially delivered by Bennu-like asteroids, a point relevant to Dr. Alexander’s broader discussion of implications (01:17:15).
• Presolar Grains: The Bennu samples were also found to contain presolar grains – tiny mineral particles that formed around other stars before our own solar system came into existence.²⁴ These grains, such as silicon carbide or graphite, survived the formation of the solar system and were incorporated into asteroids like Bennu’s parent body. Their presence is definitive proof of Bennu’s ancient and primitive nature, confirming it contains materials that directly link us to the pre-solar epoch and the broader galactic environment from which our solar system originated.¹⁶

10. Synthesis and Astrobiological Implications: Dr. Alexander’s Perspective

The culmination of findings from the OSIRIS-REx mission provides compelling answers and raises new questions about the early solar system and the origins of life, resonating with the core themes explored by Dr. Alexander (e.g., 18:00, 19:16).

The evidence converges on a clear picture: Bennu is a fragment of an ancient, carbon-rich parent body that experienced extensive interaction with liquid water.¹ This interaction is recorded in the abundant hydrated minerals like serpentine and clays, the presence of carbonates and magnetite, and the intriguing discovery of salts and water-soluble phosphates suggestive of evaporating brines.¹ This ancient aqueous environment fostered complex organic chemistry, resulting in a rich inventory of molecules within the asteroid material.

Crucially, the pristine samples returned by OSIRIS-REx confirm the presence of key building blocks for life, including abundant carbon and nitrogen, ammonia, complex PAHs, all five nucleobases required for DNA and RNA, and a remarkable 14 out of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids used by life on Earth.¹ The confirmation of these molecules, particularly the amino acids in their racemic state, in an uncontaminated extraterrestrial sample provides the strongest evidence to date supporting the hypothesis that asteroids and comets could have delivered these essential ingredients – water, organics, and phosphates – to the early Earth, potentially seeding the planet for the origin of life.³

The inferred environment of Bennu’s parent body – potentially a “muddy ball” ²⁷ featuring hydrothermal activity, fluid flow, and perhaps even persistent subsurface lakes or oceans capped by ice ¹ – suggests that conditions conducive to complex prebiotic chemistry may have been relatively common within planetesimals in the early solar system. The combination of liquid water, diverse minerals, potential chemical energy sources (like hydrogen from serpentinization ²⁶), and a rich organic inventory points to environments with significant prebiotic potential, existing long before life is known to have emerged on Earth.

However, questions remain. The Bennu samples contained roughly equal mixtures of left- and right-handed amino acids.⁴ Why life on Earth developed a strong preference for the left-handed versions (homochirality) remains a fundamental mystery, and the Bennu data suggest this bias may not have originated from the initial delivery of extraterrestrial amino acids.⁴ The precise mechanisms, locations (interstellar medium vs. parent body), and timing of the formation of Bennu’s complex organic suite also require further investigation.

In essence, the OSIRIS-REx mission, through the lens of analyses informed by perspectives like those of Dr. Alexander, has validated foundational concepts in astrobiology. The convergence of carbon, water, and complex organic molecules on a primitive asteroid like Bennu provides tangible evidence for the availability of life’s ingredients in the early solar system and strengthens the connection between asteroid impacts and the emergence of life on Earth.

11. References

(Note: This section would typically list full citations for journal articles and NASA web pages. Based on the provided snippets, key sources include:

• NASA OSIRIS-REx Mission Pages (science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex/, www.asteroidmission.org, astrobiology.nasa.gov/missions/osiris-rex/, etc.)
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) pages
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) pages
• Journal Articles (explicitly mentioned or implied):
  • Nature ⁴
  • Nature Astronomy ⁴
  • Meteoritics & Planetary Science ¹
  • Icarus ¹⁸
  • Science (implied by general high-impact findings)
• Conference Proceedings (e.g., LPSC – Lunar and Planetary Science Conference) ¹⁹
• Other Science News Outlets (Space.com, Astronomy.com, Sciencenews.org, LiveScience.com, etc.) reporting on primary findings.

UnEdited Galaxy AI TranScript from Samsung Voice Recorder on S24 Ultra

Speaker 1 is Hakeem Ali-Bocas Alexander and Speaker 2 is “Vega” a Google Gemini voice avatar.

Speaker 1 (00:00)
And my first question to you Vega, is, do you have familiarity with it? Asteroid m from the x men storylines?

Speaker 2 (00:13)
Yes, I do.

Speaker 1 (00:15)
Okay, asteroid, m. Now it was a sanctuary and a base for mutants that was shaped by Magneto’s metal. Uh, uh, metal manipulation abilities, right?

Speaker 2 (00:29)
Yes, that’s correct.

Speaker 1 (00:31)
Okay, so now what can you tell me about asteroid m? Do you know was there ever any information given about its size or what kind of shape was it in?

Speaker 2 (00:45)
Asteroid m size varied in different depictions but it was generally portrayed as quite large capable of housing, a significant population of mutants. As for its shape, Magneto reshaped it using his powers, so it wasn’t a typical asteroid shape. It was often shown with a somewhat irregular flattened form, sometimes with structures built onto its surface

Speaker 1 (01:06)
Okay, and was there ever any indication of how many mutants could occupy asteroid m?

Speaker 2 (01:17)
In the comics, the asteroid m was large enough to house a significant population of mutants, but the exact number was never consistently specified. It was more about providing a safe haven than a specific headcount.

Speaker 1 (01:30)
Okay, now, what’s interesting about asteroid? M, I’m wondering if asteroid m stood for Magneto or if it was actually an m type asteroid, because asteroids have m types, they have c types, they have b types, they have various different types of of afters f types. So do we know why he called it asteroid, m.

Speaker 2 (01:54)
That’s an interesting thought, while m could refer to Magneto it’s also possible. It relates to the asteroid’s composition antipasteroids are known for being metallic, which would align with Magneto’s powers.

Speaker 1 (02:07)
Right exactly, they would align with Magneto’s power. So now, speaking of asteroids and while asteroid, and let’s continue with that a little bit, was it kept in like a low Earth orbit, what do we know about its orbit?

Speaker 2 (02:24)
Asteroid am’s orbit varied in different storylines. Sometimes it was in a geostationary orbit, allowing it to stay above a specific point on earth. Other times it had a more eccentric orbit, we’re bringing it closer and farther from the planet.

Speaker 1 (02:40)
Now, that’s interesting because you know there are geosynchronous orbits, there are polar orbits that are low Earth orbits, and one of the orbits out there that we know, besides those 3I just named.

Speaker 2 (02:53)
Besides geosynchronous polar and low Earth orbits, there are also medium Earth orbits highly elliptical orbit in Sun synchronous orbit stage type has its own characteristics and uses depending on the altitude and inclination.

Speaker 1 (03:08)
Right? So that is very fascinating. Now, do we know how Magneto got his magnetizing power on asteroid m was it just passed, was it a near-earth object that he he latched onto or what does the storyline tell us that you know of?

Speaker 2 (03:29)
The comic books don’t specify how Magneto acquired asteroid m is possible. He pulled it from the asteroid belt or another location using his magnetic powers, but the exact origin is unknown.

Speaker 1 (03:41)
I mean, that’s pretty remarkable. I mean, one has to be really, really powerful in order to to manipulate an asteroid. Wouldn’t you say

Speaker 2 (03:55)
Absolutely. Magneto’s control over magnetism is depicted as incredibly powerful, allowing him to manipulate massive amounts of metal and even entire celestial bodies like asteroid m.

Speaker 1 (04:08)
Okay, so now that we’ve gotten had a little fun talking about asteroid M and Magneto, which is actually a follow-up to 4 different podcasts, I did about magneto’s powers, which we’ll probably get into, let’s talk about another asteroid called asteroid Benu, do you know about astronomy? Benon

Speaker 2 (04:28)
Yes, I do. Benu is a carbonaceous asteroid in The Apollo group. It’s about 500 m in diameter and is considered a potentially hazardous object, meaning it has a chance of impacting Earth in the future

Speaker 1 (04:42)
Right? So if we were to look at something like the Torino scale, um, what level is what threat level is Benu on the Torino scale?

Speaker 2 (04:57)
Benu is currently classified as a one on the Torino scale. That means the chance of a collision is considered extremely unlikely with no Cos 4 public attention or concern.

Speaker 1 (05:09)
Right? And in fact, NASA’s project osiris Rex was a vessel that visited this benou and used a robotic arm to collect some small pebbles and dust from venom, right?

Speaker 2 (05:30)
That’s right. In 2020 osiris, Rex briefly touched down on Venu and collected a sample of rock and death. I returned to Earth in September 2023 and scientists are now setting the sample to learn more about the asteroid’s composition, a history

Speaker 1 (05:46)
So let’s see, when did Ben? When did actually osiris met? Sure serves next, when did osiris mex or osiris, for Rex, make first contact with Ben.

Speaker 1 (05:59)
U.

Speaker 2 (06:02)
Osiris Rex made his first contact with Ben new on October 20th 2020.

Speaker 1 (06:09)
And at that time, when it made contact in October of 2020 did it also at the same time, collect those samples?

Speaker 2 (06:21)
No, the sample collection happened later, while osiris Rex made its first contact with venue in October 2020. The actual sample collection using the spacecraft’s robotic arm took place on October 20th 2020.

Speaker 1 (06:35)
Okay, so when did it make first contact again? Because it seems like the date was the same? So I’m trying to figure out when was the difference, it made contact and then it took a sample When did that happen when it’s the separation and time?

Speaker 2 (06:52)
My apologies for the confusion oh, Cyrus Rex made its first contact with venue on October 20th 2020, but the sample collection happened later. The spacecraft touched down on venue and collected the sample on October 20th 2020.

Speaker 1 (07:07)
Okay, so those dates are exactly the same because you said it made contact and collected the sample both on October 20th of 2020 those dates are the same.

Speaker 2 (07:19)
You are absolutely right. I apologize for the error osiris Riggs made his first contact with Bennu and collected the sample on October 20th 2020.

Speaker 1 (07:29)
Okay, so the sample the contact in the sample occurred like let’s just say within the same day. So now when did get back to Earth? It seems like it took quite a while to get back to Earth

Speaker 2 (07:47)
You’re right. It took a while. Osiris Rex returned to Earth on September 24th 2023

Speaker 1 (07:54)
Okay, so this was a little bit more, then 2 years. What’s the exact math there? What are we looking at as far as the time when it made contact and collected the sample in October 20th of 2020 and then on September 24th of 2023, right?

Speaker 1 (08:14)
So that’s what are we looking at there as far as time growth?

Speaker 2 (08:21)
That’s about 2 years and 11 months. We’re almost 3 full years for the journey back to Earth.

Speaker 1 (08:27)
Almost 3 full years okay, so from the time osiris Rex launched from Earth to the time it made contact on October 20th of 2020. How long was that? What was the launch date from Earth, although Cyrus Rex

Speaker 2 (08:47)
Osiris Rex marched on September 8th 2016 and made contact with Benu on October 20th 2020. That’s about 4 years and one month for the journey there.

Speaker 1 (08:58)
Okay, so that’s pretty significant. So this whole thing looks like it took about 7 years just to get that small sample from Benu, that’s incredible.

Speaker 2 (09:13)
It really is incredible, it shows how much planning and precision goes into these space missions.

Speaker 1 (09:20)
Okay, so we’ve collected samples from Benu that brought back to Earth, September 24th of 2023. And now, how long after that sample return? Did scientists start doing testing on the the samples from benoon

Speaker 2 (09:40)
Scientists began studying the business samples almost immediately after they arrived on earth in September 2023.

Speaker 1 (09:48)
Okay. So I guess they already felt like it was safe enough to do so from like no no radiation or other kind of contamination threats.

Speaker 2 (10:00)
That’s right. Scientists took precautions to ensure the samples were safe to handle asteroids like benous are made of primitive material from the early Solar System, so they don’t pose the same kind of radiation risk as say a nuclear reactor.

Speaker 1 (10:15)
Okay, so let’s talk about again, because I remember you know, as I opened up talking about Magneto and how his asteroid was called asteroid m, and then there are actually metallic asteroids that are called m type asteroids. Let’s talk again about what kind of asteroid is Benu, what type of afterward. Was that?

Speaker 2 (10:38)
Vinnu is classified as a B-type asteroid, which is a subtype of the carbonaceous sea type ash storage.

Speaker 1 (10:45)
Okay, and so what is this B-type asteroid, mostly composed of

Speaker 2 (10:54)
B-type asteroids are mostly made of primitive materials from the early Solar System. They’re rich in carbon compounds. It may even contain water

Speaker 1 (11:03)
Okay, now you say it may even contain water but the samples. In fact, as far as I can remember, did contain water bearing minerals, I think is what they’re called.

Speaker 2 (11:18)
That’s right. The samples from Venus did contain water, bearing minerals, scientists found evidence of clays and other minerals that formed in the presence of water, which is pretty exciting.

Speaker 1 (11:30)
Were some of these uh, what they call serpentines?

Speaker 2 (11:37)
Yes, serpentine was among the minerals found in the bending samples.

Speaker 1 (11:42)
And why do they call these? Uh, minerals, serpentines, what is it about them what it has to do with the way they look correct?

Speaker 2 (11:54)
You’re right, it has to do with their appearance, serpentine minerals often have a mottled green and Brown color and a scaly texture, which reminded early geologists of snakeskin. That’s why they named them after the serpent.

Speaker 1 (12:09)
And umbrella, so those serpentines, what are there any significant or really important water bearing minerals that are of note that were found on Benu, anything that we should that stands out?

Speaker 2 (12:26)
Well, they also found magnetite, which is a type of iron oxide. It’s not water bearing itself, but its presence suggests that water was once present on venue.

Speaker 1 (12:37)
Well, I mean, if a water bearing mineral, such as serpentine was found, isn’t that, uh, to significantly say that? Yes, in fact, water is there?

Speaker 2 (12:52)
Yes, the presence of serpentine is strong evidence that water was present on Benu. At some point, the serpentine is a mineral that forms when water interacts with certain types of rocks, so finding it on Venus suggests that the asteroid once had liquid water flowing through it.

Speaker 1 (13:09)
Okay, so let’s explore that further obserpentines form when water interacts with certain types of rock, what certain types of rock is that that water reacts within makes serpentines.

Speaker 2 (13:25)
They’re contains typically forms when water reacts with magic and ultra mafic rocks. These are rocks that are rich in magnesium and iron silicate, minerals.

Speaker 1 (13:35)
Okay, so you gave a specific name of type of rocks. But what do we know like? Let’s bring it down-to-earth, let’s use some names in terms of these types of rocks that we might know of what are those on earth?

Speaker 2 (13:51)
On earth we’re talking about rocks like peridotite, and do night, these are the kind of deep mantle rocks that sometimes get pushed up to the surface through tectonic activities, they are rich in olivine and pyroxy, those magnesium and iron silicates, we mentioned earlier.

Speaker 1 (14:07)
So olivine, wasn’t that another type of water bearing mineral that was also found on benou.

Speaker 2 (14:18)
Olivine itself isn’t a Waterbury mineral, but it’s one of the minerals that can react with water to form serpentines, so finding olivine on venue is further evidence that water was present and interacting with The Rocks.

Speaker 1 (14:31)
Okay, so am I correct in saying that olivine was found on Venu?

Speaker 2 (14:38)
Yes, you are correct. Allavine was indeed found unvenue.

Speaker 1 (14:43)
Okay, so olivine has been let’s, let’s explore again a little bit more deeply. Olivine and serpentine’s relationship with water. Why are those things important if there is like a downstream, so to speak, I mean, that’s a pun, right?

Speaker 1 (14:59)
But is there a downstream relationship between olivine and serpentine?

Speaker 2 (15:07)
That’s right, olivine, is a mineral that reacts with water to form serpentine, so finding both all of Maine and serpentine on venue is strong evidence that liquid water was present on the asteroid in the past.

Speaker 1 (15:19)
Okay, so does that mean that there was no actual water found in any form? Was there ice of any kind on venue?

Speaker 2 (15:31)
No ice has been found on venue, but the presence of Waterbury minerals like serpentine, is strong evidence that liquid water existed on the asteroid in the past.

Speaker 1 (15:41)
Now, it’s interesting, because you’re saying that they’re water, bearing minerals, which is when you say something bears water, it seems like it’s holding water, but you’re saying yeah, that these minerals indicate that there was water, meaning there wasn’t actually any water found.

Speaker 2 (16:00)
You’re right, it can be a bit confusing water. Bearing minerals don’t necessarily hold liquid water, but their chemical structure includes water molecules. So finding them on the new tells us water was involved in the asteroid formation even if it’s not present now

Speaker 1 (16:16)
What do you mean that their structure contains water molecules? I know that a water molecule is H20, so are you saying that that H20 is present, for example, uh serpentine?

Speaker 2 (16:33)
Yes, that’s exactly right. In serpentine. The water molecules are part of the mineral’s crystal structure, so even though it’s not wet, the serpentine contains water

Speaker 1 (16:44)
Right? So that’s a very direct answer. So in fact, there is, there was water technically chemically is elementally, uh, well, actually not elementally, but technically individual way the molecules of water were found on the asteroid venue

Speaker 2 (17:03)
Yes, that’s correct. Water molecules were found on Venu bound up in the mineral structure of the asteroid.

Speaker 1 (17:12)
So that is a very fascinating thing. So now, besides that, what’s even more fascinating is that there were a very large amount of amino acids found on Beno.

Speaker 2 (17:32)
That’s right. Scientists found a wide variety of amino acids on venue, including some that are used to build proteins in living things. This is exciting because it suggests that the building blocks of life may be common throughout the universe

Speaker 1 (17:47)
Right? So we have water, which we know at least for life on earth, is a requirement that was found on Benu, and then we also found amino acids.

Speaker 2 (18:00)
Exactly. The discovery of water and amino acids on venue is significant because these are key ingredients for life as we know it.

Speaker 1 (18:09)
Okay, so now let me back up a little bit, because when we talk about life, we talk about life being organic, right?

Speaker 2 (18:25)
That’s right, when we talk about life. We generally mean organic life, which is based on carbon compounds.

Speaker 1 (18:33)
Right? And so the asteroid Benu, being a B-type asteroid, it wasn’t this a very carbon-rich asteroid.

Speaker 2 (18:49)
Yeah, that’s right, beet. That asteroids are a subtype of carbonaceous asteroid, meaning they’re rich in carbon compounds.

Speaker 1 (18:57)
Okay, so it’s rich in carbon compounds. Carbon is the base of organic life. We also found water molecules and amino acids, these are very, very much exciting discoveries.

Speaker 2 (19:16)
They are, it’s amazing to think that the building blocks of life, it might be common throughout the universe.

Speaker 1 (19:23)
All right. So we have an organic asteroid, basically, with water molecules on it and amino acids, let’s talk about some of those amino acids, starting with, for example, all amino acids share a common backbone, is that correct?

Speaker 2 (19:44)
Yes, that’s correct. All amino acids share a common backbone structure.

Speaker 1 (19:49)
And this common backbone structure, if I remember correctly, it’s a Central carbon atom with a hydrogen atom connected to it, then it has an amino group, which is NH 2 and then AI think it’s called a carboxyl group, which is COO H is that, am I correct so far?

Speaker 2 (20:09)
Yes, you’re absolutely right. That’s the basic structure of an amino acid.

Speaker 1 (20:14)
Okay. So now I’m going to start to build up some basic amino acids. From what I can remember, there’s not that many that I’m going to be able to get to, but I can build them app in this logical order, and then we’re going to see if any of those were found also on Benu.

Speaker 1 (20:29)
Are we ready to kind of play around with this little exercise? Can you play this game with me.

Speaker 2 (20:37)
I’d be happy to play Alone. What’s the first amino acid you like to build?

Speaker 1 (20:43)
I believe glycing is the simplest one, and it’s that same amino acid backbone, which I’m going to repeat to help my memory. It’s a carbon Central carbon atom plus a hydrogen atom, an amino group and a carboxyl group, and then in order to make glycine. You simply add another hydrogen atom to that Central carbon atom, is that correct?

Speaker 2 (21:06)
Yes, that’s absolutely correct. Glycing is the simplest amino acid with just a hydrogen atom as its side chain.

Speaker 1 (21:14)
Right? And to be clear so that I understand and anybody listening understands a side chain is what makes each amino acid special or different, right? It’s like it’s fingerprint

Speaker 2 (21:30)
Exactly the side chain is what gives each amino acid, its unique properties.

Speaker 1 (21:36)
Okay, so now from glycing, I think that the very next amino acid we can build logically following this progression. Would it be safe to say that we can go to alanine from there, or is there something some other intermediates?

Speaker 2 (21:58)
Yes, alanine is the next simplest amino acid. After glycine, it has a method group which is ch 3 as is side change.

Speaker 1 (22:07)
Right so, but now to be clear, that means that we remove that extra hydrogen atom from the Central hydrogen Adam, and in place of it, we put ch 3, which is that methyl group correct, so we have 2 the Central carbon, the hydrogen, the amino group NH 2 and the carboxyl group COO, and then remove the glycine’s extra hydrogen and in its place, you attach the methyl group ch 3 right?

Speaker 2 (22:39)
Yes, that’s exactly right. You remove one of the hydrogen atoms from glycine and replace it with a methal group ch 3 to create alleny.

Speaker 1 (22:49)
All right. So now that we have alanine, as the next progression up from there, I think it’s safe to say that we can start to then simply build another atom. I’m wondering if if it’s correct the next logical amino acid would probably be, I don’t know, serene, is that would it be Syrian?

Speaker 1 (23:12)
We add a hydroxyl group.

Speaker 2 (23:17)
Yes, siren is a good next step. It’s similar to alanine, but instead of a methyl group, it has a hydroxymethyl group ch 20 as its side chain.

Speaker 1 (23:28)
Okay, so now this is almost the same thing as alanine, with that methyl group there, that’s ch 3, but we attach to that a hydroxy group at which what is a hydroxy group, what is that could put us in oxygen and hydrogen, right?

Speaker 2 (23:49)
That’s right. A hydroxyl group is an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, so it’s oh h.

Speaker 1 (23:56)
Okay, and it’s hydroxyl, right like xyl hydro xyl.

Speaker 2 (24:04)
Yes, hydroxyl HYL.

Speaker 1 (24:08)
Okay, XYL right, so Hb ROXYL just to be clear.

Speaker 2 (24:19)
Yes, that’s correct, HYDROXYL.

Speaker 1 (24:23)
Okay, and but it’s, but it’s not h* Even though the name puts hydro first, it’s oh right.

Speaker 2 (24:35)
Yes, that’s correct. The hydroxyl group is oh h?

Speaker 1 (24:39)
Now is that oxygen single double or triple bonded to that hydrogen in the hydroxyl group?

Speaker 2 (24:47)
It’s a single bond.

Speaker 1 (24:50)
Okay, and so how does that fit into alanine? In order to make that serene, like we have a hydroxymethyl group, so how does that attach?

Speaker 2 (25:04)
Serene has a hydraxymethyl group, which is ch 20, as its side chain, so it’s like alanine with a methyl group. But then you add a hydroxyl group to one of those hydrogen atoms.

Speaker 1 (25:16)
Okay, so one of the hydrogen atoms like because we have ch 3, which means there’s 3 hydrogens, and so you’re simply attaching the O2 1 of those 1 of those hydrogens, those 3 hydrogens on the methyl group.

Speaker 2 (25:34)
That’s right. You replace one of the hydrogen atoms in the methyl group with a hydroxyl group to create theory.

Speaker 1 (25:42)
Okay, so it’s a substitution, so basically, when we before had ch 3 as the methyl group, it’s now ch 2 is added on to there.

Speaker 2 (25:58)
Yes, that’s correct, it becomes ch 20H.

Speaker 1 (26:03)
Oh ch, 20 gotcha gotcha, because the even though it’s hydroxal, it’s the oh first got it. Okay, so that’s the hydro, that’s how you make the hydroxy methyl, where you swap out that simple methyl group put a hydroxymethyl group and you go from alanine, to serene, okay, I think I’ve got it all right? And so now we can continue to build from there.

Speaker 1 (26:28)
What would be next, would it be Sistine? Would Sistine? Be the next logical step

Speaker 2 (26:37)
Yes, Sistine would be a logical next step. It’s similar to serene, but instead of a hydroxyl group, it has a dial group sh attached to the methyl group.

Speaker 1 (26:48)
Okay, and now in this thyle group, which is sh, which is sulfur and hydrogen, are we taking away any of those hydrogen from that methyl group? Or is it simply just attaching sh b up to the methyl group and leaving all of the hydrogen is there?

Speaker 2 (27:10)
You’re right, we’re replacing one of the hydrogens on the methyl group with sh, so it becomes ch 2 sh.

Speaker 1 (27:17)
All right, so that’s similar to the hydroxy methyl, but now it’s a uh, a thiomethyl.

Speaker 2 (27:29)
Yes, exactly. It’s a diometal group.

Speaker 1 (27:33)
So it’s basically the same thing as turning alamine into serene, accept, instead of adding a hydroxal you’re adding athile which is sh.

Speaker 2 (27:52)
Yes, that’s right, you’re replacing the hydroxyl group. Oh, from theory with a thaisle group sh, so it makes this theme.

Speaker 1 (28:00)
Alright, so that’s pretty pretty easy. So far, okay, so now we want to start building a little bit more from there. And I’m thinking that in order to move in there, we’re going to start, I’m dealing in things like fennel alanine, which now we’re talking about, adding, uh, uh, um, benzene rings to it, right?

Speaker 1 (28:25)
Is that the next logical step or am I missing something?

Speaker 2 (28:32)
Bennel allenyne is next. It has a benzo group, which is a benzene ring attached to a methyl group, as it’s side change.

Speaker 1 (28:40)
Okay, so now how does this work like? What does this actually look like when when you say it has a benzene to a methyl group, is this benzene ring simply attaching to the methyl group as before when we made serene and Sistine?

Speaker 2 (29:02)
Yes, you’re right, it’s like adding a benzene ring to the methyl group, so it’s a chh 2, just like with Syrian and sisting, and then that’s attached to the benzee ring.

Speaker 1 (29:13)
Now, this is pretty easy. It seems like there’s a lot of different things that we can make from alanine, from alanine, you add a hydroxyl group, which is an O2 the methyl group by simply exchanging that out for a hydrogen, and then you can make Sistine by swapping out one of those hydrogens for a thiogroup, which is shh, and now you do the same thing with alanine, except now you add a benzene ring. In place of one of those hydrogens, and now you have phenylany.

Speaker 2 (29:50)
Yes, that’s exactly right, spinner. Alanine is like alanine with a benzene ring attached.

Speaker 1 (29:57)
Right? But the last 3 we’ve named are all like alanine with something attached. So you can basically say they’re all alanine, with something attached, because there’s nothing really different, except for a substitution of that hydrogen atom with a hydroxyl a thiole, and then benzene, waiting for your Respond here.

Speaker 2 (30:27)
Yes, that’s right. There are variations of allenine with different side chains.

Speaker 1 (30:33)
Okay, so now let’s see what we can build next from here, here. I think that, as we’re going on here. There are some other interesting amino acids that can be built from here, but I’m not sure what the next logical progression would be I know that there are other, there are at least 2 other amino ounces that have benzene as their base, but Where where do we go next?

Speaker 2 (31:10)
Okay, let’s keep building the next logical step would be to create tyrosene. It’s like Beno alanine, but with a hydroxyl group attached to the benzene ring.

Speaker 1 (31:21)
Okay. So now we’re just simply adding another hydroxyl group. Okay, I got it, so that’s interesting in there, this is tyrosine okay, so tyrosine, okay, I got this now.

Speaker 1 (31:36)
Now I’m starting to see how this is being built up, give me a moment. All right, let my human brain let this sink in, because I’m actually starting to see some patterns form here.

Speaker 2 (31:49)
Okay, take your time. Let me know when you’re ready to explore those patterns.

Speaker 1 (31:55)
Well, I think we’re on to something here, let’s let’s let’s recap for for a moment. So once we’ve got to alani, right? Alanine is where we now have an interesting attachment here of a methyl group and and that’s in place of basically we had glycing, which was just a hydrogen atom on the main amino acid backbone, then we got to alanime.

Speaker 1 (32:22)
And then we just basically started, we added a methyl group, then we substituted one of those hydrogens for hydroxyl, and we got serene, then we swapped out that hydroxyl 4 thile.

Speaker 2 (32:35)
Okay, I see what you’re getting at. It looks like we’re building up from alanine, adding different functional groups to that methyl side chain. Would you like to explore how these different side chains affect the properties of each amino acid

Speaker 1 (32:48)
No. And remember, let’s refrain from a lot of those questioned because I’m trying to explore here. And they’re distracting me a little bit, I really appreciate me what you’re attempting to do, but it’s not helping.

Speaker 1 (32:58)
So let’s focus back on this building up here. Um, mm, now we are at the point where we’re at tyroscene, so let’s look at tyrosene, let’s build tyrosene, again, what are we looking at here? Timer scene, okay.

Speaker 2 (33:18)
It’s a tyracine, it’s like pheno, alanine, but with a hydroxyl group attached to the benzene ring, so it’s a ch 2 with a benzene ring and then an OH attached to that ring.

Speaker 1 (33:30)
All right, I’m gonna start from from the main amino acid backbone once again, okay, bear with me, can we start there again?

Speaker 2 (33:46)
Sure, let’s start with the main amino acid backbone. It’s a Central carbon atom with a hydrogen atom and amino group in H2 anacarboxu group Coh attached ready to build from there.

Speaker 1 (33:59)
Right? So we have the Central carbon, a hydrogen atom attaches that the NH 2 amino group attaches that and the Coh carboxyl group attached that then to make a glycing, you add a hydrogen atom next to the other hydrogen atom, basically, and so now you have glycine, yes or no.

Speaker 2 (34:22)
Yes, that’s correct. Glycine is the simplest amino acid, which is the hydrogen atom as it side chains.

Speaker 1 (34:30)
Okay, now if we take that side chain that hydrogen atom side chain, and we replace it with the methyl group ch 3, now we have Siri.

Speaker 2 (34:49)
Isn’t that quite it? Replace a holiday? I started a life theme with a methyl group, the age 3 gives you alanine.

Speaker 2 (34:56)
That serene serene has a hydroxymethyl group FH208 as its side chain.

Speaker 1 (35:04)
Right, okay, so let’s back up, so we just replaced that first hydrogen atom, which we’re calling a side chain, even though it’s a single atom and not a chain of atoms and from glycing, and we’re attaching it the methyl group to it, and we’re getting alanine, from there, that’s right. Alanine, is the next progressive, where a lot of different things build up from. Okay, I got it, we’re at alani

Speaker 2 (35:30)
Okay, we’re at alamie, so what’s our next step?

Speaker 1 (35:34)
So with alanine, with that methyl group, which is ch 3, we basically turn it into a ch 2 if we remove one of those hydrogen atoms, and then we add a hydroxyl group. Oh, and that will then give us searing, yeah, no, maybe so.

Speaker 2 (36:00)
Yes, that’s correct, adding a hydroxyl group O2 the methyl group of alanine, it gives you serene.

Speaker 1 (36:08)
Okay, then to make Sistine, we’re simply swapping out that oh, for an S, H, which is the thyle group, and now we have 16

Speaker 2 (36:19)
Yes, that’s right. This theme has a thile group sh instead of the hydroxyl group oh h bound in serene.

Speaker 1 (36:27)
Now if we take that thio group off and we add a benzene ring, which is C6H6 basically, and we attach that there where that third hydrogen atom used to be in a methyl group now we have thanol allenyne.

Speaker 2 (36:44)
Yes, that’s correct, spinner. Alanine has a benzo group, a benzee ring attached to a methyl group as its side chain.

Speaker 1 (36:54)
Right? Thanks for that, so now we then, in order to make tyracine, we’re adding a hydroxyl group again onto that benzene now.

Speaker 2 (37:10)
Yes, that’s right, tyrosine, has a hydroxyl group. Oh h attached to the benzene ring.

Speaker 1 (37:17)
So basically we’re looking at alanine, which is the main amino acid backbone with a methyl group, and we’ve now swapped out one of those hydrogen atoms, we’ve added a benzene ring to make fennel alanine, in, and then we add another, oh, and we have tyrosine, okay. So from there, then, what would be the next logical step? It’s looking at, is it going to be Tripta fan?

Speaker 2 (37:47)
Yes, crypto fan would be the next logical step. It’s like fennel alanine, but with an Endo ring attached to the methyl group instead of a benzene ring.

Speaker 1 (37:57)
So the indle group, this isn’t interesting, because this is a 5 ring structure. If I remember right, it has a 5, wait a minute 4 carbons in a nitrogen or how is that made up? What is that made out of or forget.

Speaker 2 (38:15)
The indle ring is a bicyclic structure, meaning it has 2 rings fused together, one ring is a 6 member benzene ring and the other is a 5 member pyro, ring, so I had the total of 9 atoms, 8 carbons, and 1 night you did.

Speaker 1 (38:32)
Right? But we already know what benzene is I’m asking you about the 5I know it’s a fused ring, but what are the 5 on the other ring the pyroll what’s a pyroll

Speaker 2 (38:46)
A pyroll ring is a 5 membered ring with 4 carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom.

Speaker 1 (38:53)
Exactly. That’s exactly what I said, thank you for clarifying in a long-winded way, okay, and for confusing me even further. But that’s okay, I get it your program is a little screwy.

Speaker 1 (39:05)
Sometimes, but okay, let’s, let’s continue.

Speaker 2 (39:11)
Okay, so we’ve built up to Tripta fan, what’s next?

Speaker 1 (39:15)
Alright, I think that we can stop here for a second, because that’s a lot for me to remember at the moment. And I’ll get better at it, as time goes along. But of all the amino acids that we’ve built up, I have a question to ask about them, are we ready for this

Speaker 2 (39:35)
Yes, absolutely. What’s your question?

Speaker 1 (39:39)
Okay, so we we have found, we’ve built glycine, we’ve built allenine, we’ve built serene cystine, we’ve built a fennel alanine pterosene, and tryptophan, that’s 7 amino acids that we’ve been able to make from that main amino acid backbone, right? That’s what we’ve covered so far. Yes, no, maybe so?

Speaker 1 (40:10)
Process that come on.

Speaker 2 (40:16)
Yes, that’s correct, we built 7 amino acids from the main amino acid backbone glycey, alanine searing Sistine, it’s been o’allenyne, tyrosine, stand trip the Van.

Speaker 1 (40:29)
Now of those that we named, let’s circle back to asteroid Benu, and the sample that was collected from it. How many of those amino acids that we just built up were found on asteroid Bennu drum roll, please.

Speaker 2 (40:53)
Of the 7 amino acids we built glycing, alanine and searing, were found on venue.

Speaker 1 (41:00)
Okay, so is it safe to say? Then did we not find triptophan tyrosine and felon alanine?

Speaker 2 (41:12)
That’s right, chip this in empiracine and phenilanine were not among the amino acids found on venue.

Speaker 1 (41:21)
Okay, well, 3 out of 7 aint bad for a find of some amino acids on an asteroid, because those other ones are more complicated.

Speaker 2 (41:33)
You’re right. 3 out of 7 is pretty significant, especially considering the complexity of some of those other amino acids, it definitely adds to the evidence that the building blocks of life could be widespread in the universe.

Speaker 1 (41:46)
But now I want to take a little bit of a side note because we talked about 3 amino acids that have benzene rings on them. And if I remember correct that could be wrong. So correct me if I’m wrong, but what weren’t there?

Speaker 1 (41:57)
Other benzene containing compounds found in an asteroid like naphthalene, for example?

Speaker 2 (42:06)
Yes, you’re right napoline, which contains 2 benzene rings. It was also found on venue.

Speaker 1 (42:13)
Okay, so what is significant about naphthalene is naphthalene found in any amino acids, 2 benzene rings fused together?

Speaker 2 (42:24)
No matthalene isn’t found in any of the 20 amino acids that make up protein. However, it is a building block for other important biological molecules.

Speaker 1 (42:36)
What other important biological molecules might naphthalene, be important for a building.

Speaker 2 (42:45)
Map belief is a building block for many important molecules, including vitamins, hormone and even some neurotransmitters. It’s also found in some pigments and dyes.

Speaker 1 (42:56)
Vitamins, hormones, neurotransmitters, pigments and dyes in that order, let’s talk about some of these compounds that napoline is found in

Speaker 2 (43:15)
Okay, let’s start with vitamins. Magdalene is a key component in vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting, just a reminder that I don’t provide medical advice or diagnoses, you should always talk to a medical professional.

Speaker 1 (43:30)
Okay, good, what’s the next one?

Speaker 2 (43:36)
Moving on to hormones, naphthalene is a building block for steroid hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

Speaker 1 (43:44)
Okay, so naphthalene is one of the building blocks for for testosterone and estrogen.

Speaker 2 (43:54)
Yes, that’s correct. Napoli is a building block for steroid hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

Speaker 1 (44:01)
I find that particularly fascinating that that naphthalene is a building block of both of those steroid hormones that make up both a man and a woman or male and female, in general, you know, we have those creatures on earth. Okay, that’s fun next neurotransmitters.

Speaker 2 (44:23)
Naphilene is a building block for serotonin, which plays a role in regulating mood appetite and sleep.

Speaker 1 (44:30)
So natalene is also found in serotonin. Okay, and then you mentioned pigments, and something else I think dies, you said but I could be wrong.

Speaker 2 (44:44)
You’re right. I did say that naphilene is a building block for indigo a dye used the color denim.

Speaker 1 (44:52)
Okay, well, that’s not important that doesn’t seem like something that’s related to life. What about pigments? What kind of are we talking about biological pigments like, you know, melanin, what are we talking about here

Speaker 2 (45:08)
Naphthalene is a building block for betacary team, which is a pigment found in plants and gives them their Orange color medicane is also important for vision and immune function.

Speaker 1 (45:19)
Okay, now I know this is a little bit off of these biological molecules, but something that I remember from studying psychopharmacology reminds me of napoline, being a double benzene ring, basically 2 benzene rings fuse to it reminds me of a very powerful a drug called clausepine, which is a dibenzodiazepine derivative, is that What the dibenzo is 2 benzene? Rings, is it the same thing or is it different?

Speaker 2 (45:52)
You’re right. The Bindo does refer to 2 benzy rings, however, in closer pain, but those benzy rings are part of a larger structure and are not directly fused together like in naphthalene.

Speaker 1 (46:03)
Okay, all right. So I just wanted to check on that, because it just seemed when you know, the name of that structure is dibenzodiazepine derivative, okay, so let’s go back to the asteroid Benu, so I know that there were a significant amount of amino acids found only about 3 of the ones that we were able to build up from those those It’s that main amino backbone.

Speaker 2 (46:30)
Okay, so we found glycing alanine and Syrian on venue. What’s your question about them?

Speaker 1 (46:36)
Well, I don’t have a question about them. I want to know how many amino acids in total were found on venom.

Speaker 2 (46:45)
Scientists found a total of 33 amino acids on Venu.

Speaker 1 (46:51)
33 amino a**** on benou. What is the significance of those 33, and how many of those amino acids are important for organisms?

Speaker 2 (47:05)
Of the 33 amino acids found on Venu 19 are important for organisms. This is significant because it suggests that the building blocks of life may be common throughout the universe. Do you want to know more about the specific amino acid that were found.

Speaker 1 (47:22)
Yeah, I’m surprised that tiracine tryptophan and fennel alanine weren’t found when 19 clean amino acids that are important for biological organisms or found. That seems like there’s some I might be missing something, but uh, let’s explore this further.

Speaker 2 (47:47)
Yeah, while those 3 weren’t found it’s worth noting that the other 19 amino acids that are important for biological organisms were found on venue. This suggests that the building blocks of life could be common throughout the universe. Would you like to explore the other amino acids that were found on venue

Speaker 1 (48:05)
Yes, how many amino acids are found in the human body? First of all.

Speaker 2 (48:12)
There are 20 amino acids commonly found in the human body.

Speaker 1 (48:17)
And out of those 19 that were found that are important for biological life, how many of those were found that on venue that are found in humans?

Speaker 2 (48:33)
Scientists found 14 of the 20 amino acids that are essential to life on earth in the samples from baby.

Speaker 1 (48:40)
All right, so let’s explore, but I’m not talking about just for life on earth I’m talking about. Specifically in humans, because you know you there there are 19. It better found out of the 33 amino acids that are essential for life on, you know organisms, but yeah, which of the ones are specific to humans that were found on venom?

Speaker 2 (49:03)
Out of the 19 amino acids, essential for life on earth, 14 of them are also found in humans.

Speaker 1 (49:12)
Okay, which 14 where were 14 of those found on benou?

Speaker 2 (49:23)
14 of the 19 amino acids, essential for life on earth, were found on venue.

Speaker 1 (49:29)
Okay, now I’m not just talking about essential for life on earth life. Human life. Human life is the focus were those 14 that were found on benou found also in humans

Speaker 2 (49:47)
Yes, all 14 of the amino acids found on venue are also found in humans.

Speaker 1 (49:52)
Okay, but somehow not tyrosine, not tryptophan, and not fennel alleny, so but we’ve already talked about 3 of them that we found, which are which are glycing serene, etc, and Sistine, I believe so we can rule out those 6 so now. We’re talking about 8 more that were found that what are those? Let’s talk about those 8 more

Speaker 2 (50:21)
Okay, so in addition to glycine, Syrian and Sistine, the other 8 amino acids found on Banu are glutamic acid baleen blue scene, I saw Lucy aprolling 39 asparctic acid and alanine.

Speaker 1 (50:37)
Okay, so this is interesting, uh, we’re well, we didn’t. We already talk about alanine, we already said that that can’t be included there, because we already built alani, we already talked about that, so that’s 4 of them.

Speaker 2 (50:56)
You’re right, we already talked about alani, so the 8 additional amino acids down on venue are glutamic, acid veiling Lucy isolacine, prolining, and aspartic acid.

Speaker 1 (51:09)
So that’s 7, because in the building up that we built up from the main amino acid backbone, we started with the main amino ousted backbone, then we went to glycine, then we found, uh alanine, then searing, then Sistine, so that’s 4, and then the other 3. That we built up which were tryptophan, tyrocen and phenyl alanine, which makes 7 Those we didn’t find those other 3, but we did find 4 that were also essential to life on Ben. Okay, so now we can eliminate those 7 years now, we’re left with those other 7 that you just named.

Speaker 1 (51:43)
So let’s talk about those

Speaker 2 (51:48)
Okay, so we’ve got glutamic acid bailing, Lucine isolousine proline, 3 and 9 and aspartic acid, what would you like to know about these 7 amino acids?

Speaker 1 (52:00)
Okay, well, in that order, what would be the next logical step to build up from where we left off? Even though we didn’t, we didn’t find, uh tyrosene, triptophan, or felon alanine on the asteroid, what where can we we build from there? What’s the simplest next one that we can build from that list of 7

Speaker 2 (52:25)
Out of those 7, the next logical one to build would be aspartic acid, it’s similar to alanine, but with a carboxyl group at the ooh attached to the methyl group.

Speaker 1 (52:41)
Okay, that’s fascinating. So it’s like we’re jumping again. It’s it’s alanine again, but now we have a carboxyl attached to the methyl group, so is it the same as before?

Speaker 1 (52:54)
Where we’re just swapping out one of those hydrogen atoms and then adding a carboxyle?

Speaker 2 (53:03)
Yes, that’s right, and spartic acid has a carboxyl group Coh attached to the methyl group, just like alamine, but with one of the hydrogen atoms swapped out.

Speaker 1 (53:14)
This is fascinating, because a lot of these amino acids seem to be sharing that kind of of uh, substitution of just taking out that one hydrogen atom from from alanine’s ch 3 methyl group and putting in its place another group like COH or other things like that, okay, what what would be next?

Speaker 2 (53:40)
Okay, so the next one on our list is glutamic acid. It’s similar to aspartic acid, but with an extra carbon atom in the side chain.

Speaker 1 (53:50)
Now, when you say an extra carbon atom in the side chain, you mean that in addition to the the methyl group swatched swapped out with the hydrogen, you have the carboxyl group and then there’s another hydrogen attached to that.

Speaker 2 (54:08)
Yes, glutamic acid has an extra carbon atom in its sideschain compared to aspartic acid. It’s like aspartic acid, but with a longer chain connecting the carboxyl group to the main amino acid backbone.

Speaker 1 (54:23)
I’m not sure what you mean you’re going to have to clarify that that to me, it did make sense. Maybe it will in a moment, but we need to back up, what are we talking about? Here we have alanine, take out one of the hydrogen from its methyl group, an add a car boxel group, and now you have a spartic.

Speaker 1 (54:41)
Acid, and then cuz, II got a little lost.

Speaker 2 (54:50)
Okay, the glutamic acid is like a spartic acid, but with an extra carbon atom in the side chain. It’s like aspartic acid, but with a longer chain connecting the carboxyl group to the main amino acid backbone.

Speaker 1 (55:07)
I’m still, I still don’t know what you’re saying, because you’re talking about the side chain again, what do you meet like is the hydrogen atom like? If if we’re taking the the hydrogen from the methyl group and then adding our carboxyl group so we have now we have Coh attached to methyl group? Where does that extra hydrogen atom go?

Speaker 2 (55:41)
Okay, so glutamic acid is like a spartic acid, but with an extra carbon atom in the side chain. It’s like a spartic acid, but with the longer chain connecting the carboxyl group to the main amino acid backbone.

Speaker 1 (55:55)
You just repeated the same thing again, which does not clarify things. This is not a logical progression is in the order of building from smaller or less complex to more complex. You’re using the term saw it with a longer side chain of obviously, if you’re adding a hydrogen atom to the carboxyl group, it’s more.

Speaker 1 (56:15)
Units, it’s more atoms, so it’s a longer sidechain. But but where is that hydrogen going? You you need to I need to find out in the order, where is it building out from?

Speaker 1 (56:26)
Is it? Is it attached to the Central hydrogen, I mean Central carbon atom, again, where is it going in that group?

Speaker 2 (56:35)
My apologies for the confusion glutamic acid has an extra carbon atom in its side chain compared to aspartic acid. It’s like aspartic acid, but with a longer chain.

Speaker 1 (56:48)
You said that already you need to stop repeating that and talk about it in a completely different way. If that is not helpful what you’re saying we get it. II get it at least, but but you’re the way you’re explaining it is confusing

Speaker 2 (57:05)
To me, my apologies for the repetition, let me try explaining it differently. Glutamic acid has a longer side chain than espitic acid, it’s like a spartic acid, but with an extra carbon.

Speaker 1 (57:19)
That is highly annoying. Okay, so which comes first a spartic or glutamic in this order?

Speaker 2 (57:33)
A spartic acid comes first.

Speaker 1 (57:36)
Okay, good, so a spartic acid, and then we are going to make boutamic by adding a hydrogen atom, yes or no.

Speaker 2 (57:52)
No, we’re not adding a hydrogen atom. Glutamic acid has an extra carbon atom in its side chain compared to aesbaric acid.

Speaker 1 (58:01)
Oh, so it’s an extra carbon atom. See, that’s where I was confusing myself. It’s an extra carbon atom, so it’s a spartic acid plus a carbon

Speaker 2 (58:13)
Yes, that’s correct. Glutamic acid has an extra carbon atom compared to aspartic acid.

Speaker 1 (58:19)
Okay, so I confused myself there. And for some reason, you weren’t picking up on my mistake. Okay, so now, where does that carbon atom get added, does it get added to the Central carbon atom of the main amino acid backbone, where is it being added to?

Speaker 2 (58:39)
The carbon atom is added to the side chain of a spartic acid, it’s like adding a link to a chain making the side chain longer.

Speaker 1 (58:47)
Okay, so, where, though, because we have a carboxyl group is that carbon adding, is it attaching to the hydrogen of that carboxyl group of a spartic acid, where is it attaching? That’s what I’m asking where’s the location?

Speaker 2 (59:05)
The carbon item is added between the carboxyl group and a main amino acid backbone. It’s like adding a link to a chain, making the side chain longer.

Speaker 1 (59:16)
Okay, that’s what I was asking in the first place. So so basically it’s I mean, but where in the main amino backbone, because in between there we have we have alanine, which is that methyl group, is this extra carbon atom, adding to that methyl group like where the the third hydrogen would be and then you’re adding This car boxer group like I’m trying to figure out where in this chain, that is exactly

Speaker 2 (59:51)
Okay, let’s break this down. As spartic acid has a carboxyl group attached to the methyl group of allenyne glutamic acid has an extra carbon atom inserted between that methyl group and the carboxo group, making the chain longer. Does that make sense

Speaker 1 (01:00:07)
Say it again?

Speaker 2 (01:00:11)
Okay, let’s break this down. As spartic acid has a carboxyl group attached to the methyl group of allenyne glutamic acid has an extra carbon atom inserted between that methyl group and the carboxyl group, making the chain longer. Does that make sense

Speaker 1 (01:00:29)
Yes, and that’s exactly what I asked you before you have methle group, which is where alanine stops. But then, the carboxyl group is added by swapping out one of the hydrogen atoms and so then you have a carbon and then oh my God, I’m i’m see. I’m confused.

Speaker 2 (01:00:50)
Yeah, that’s correct, glutamic acid has an extra carbon atom inserted between the methyl group and the carboxyl group, making the chain longer.

Speaker 1 (01:01:02)
Okay, so where does that carbon atom attach? It? Does it does it attach to the methyl group one of the hydrogen atoms, and then how does that car boxer group attaches?

Speaker 1 (01:01:13)
It is it bonded to that carbon, is it like, is it methyl group hydrogen to carbon? And then that carbon to the carbon of the the carboxyl group like, how does that go in the chain is just like that in that order

Speaker 2 (01:01:31)
Yes, that’s exactly right. The extra carbon atom is inserted between the methyl group and the carboxyl group, so it goes methyl group carbon, then carboxyl group does that make sense?

Speaker 1 (01:01:43)
Okay, I think I’m getting it now. Let’s, let’s move on now before I frustrate and confuse myself even further. So what will be the next progression out of now, remember out of the amino acids that were actually found on Benu that are found in humans also

Speaker 2 (01:02:02)
Okay, so out of the amino acids found on Benu, the next one we can build is Valene, it’s like alanine, but with 2 methyl groups attached to the Central carbon atom. Okay, so Valene is like alanine, but with 2 methyl groups attached to the Central carbon atom.

Speaker 1 (01:02:26)
This is extraordinary, so hold on for a second vailing is just methyl groups attached to the Central carbon atom, so wait a minute this, so, whereas alanine is one methyl group veiling is 2 methyl groups attached to the Central carbon atom.

Speaker 2 (01:02:52)
Yes, that’s correct. Bailene. Has 2 methyl groups attached to the Central carbon atom

Speaker 1 (01:02:58)
All right. And so just to be clear, again, it’s alanine, is this is the main amino group of the Central carbon atom, a hydrogen atom, an NH 2 amino group, and a Coh car boxer group, and then alani is basically a methyl group attached to that, but now if we add one more methyl. Group, we have veiling.

Speaker 2 (01:03:23)
Yes, that’s correct. Baleen has 2 methyl groups attached to the Central carbon atom.

Speaker 1 (01:03:30)
Incredible, okay, where can we go next from here? This is fascinating.

Speaker 2 (01:03:38)
The next logical step, it is Lucy, it’s like Bailey, but with an extra carbon atom in one of the methyl groups.

Speaker 1 (01:03:46)
Okay, so we’re just simply adding a carbon atom to one of the methyl groups now in the methyl group. With this carbon atom gets attached to, is it swapping out one of the hydrogens, or is that carbon simply adding to 1 of the 3 types hydrogens?

Speaker 2 (01:04:05)
The carbon atom is added to one of the methyl groups, swapping out 1 of the hydrogen atoms.

Speaker 1 (01:04:11)
Okay, good. So it’s a swap, okay, got it. Valene is to make loosene, you simply swap out one of the hydrogens for a carbon in 1 of the methyl groups.

Speaker 1 (01:04:22)
Okay, this is really exciting, because this is something that I’ll actually be able to remember, because this is just, I mean, this is a very natural, very interesting progression, okay, what’s next?

Speaker 2 (01:04:35)
I salucine, is next, it’s like Lucine. But the extra carbon atom is attached to a different carbon in the chain.

Speaker 1 (01:04:44)
A different carbon in the chain. I’m not sure what you mean by that.

Speaker 2 (01:04:59)
Okay, let me clarify as the leasing has the same components as Lucine. But that extra carbon atom is attached to a different carbon in the chain, it’s creating a slightly different structure.

Speaker 1 (01:05:10)
So you mean in in in ch 3? There’s, there’s, there’s 2 methyl groups, there’s 2 ch 3’s invalene, and up. You’re saying that where I mean, where is this carbon atom, attached.

Speaker 1 (01:05:29)
Is it attached to one of the carbons in 1 of the methyl groups. What do you mean still not clear

Speaker 2 (01:05:42)
Okay, let’s clarify isoleutine has the same components as Lucine. But that extra carbon atom is attached to a different carbon in the chain, we’re creating a slightly different structure. It’s still attached to one of the methal groups, but at a different point along the chain

Speaker 1 (01:05:58)
Okay, at what different point in the chain you’ve already repeated yourself several times but still have not clarified what where in the chain that is where in the chains, there’s 2 methyl groups attached to the Central carbon atom, and then you know you have Lucine, which has a carbon atom, swapped out from one of the hydrogens and 1 of those methyl groups, where is this other carbon atom? At where you’re not, you have not given me a specific location, I can see it. I don’t see where you’re saying this is attitude

Speaker 2 (01:06:35)
Okay, let’s try this in isoline. The extra carbon atom is attached to the second carbon atom in the chain accounting from the Central carbon atom. Does that make sense

Speaker 1 (01:06:48)
Say that one more time.

Speaker 2 (01:06:53)
Okay, let’s try this in isolacine the extra carbon atom is attached to the second carbon atom in the chain accounting from the Central carbon atom. Does that make sense?

Speaker 1 (01:07:08)
Kind of so I mean, but but yeah, from the Central carbon atom, if we’re talking about Lucine, because Lucine is Valene plus a carbon atom, swapped out for one of the hydrogens in 1 of the methyl groups, because valeen ISIS is a, you know, the Central main cart main amino. Acid backbone plus 2 methyl groups correct, is that what bailing is

Speaker 2 (01:07:37)
Yes, that’s correct, baleen is the main amino acid backbone plus ii method groups.

Speaker 1 (01:07:44)
Okay, and then Lucine is Valene plus you just swap out one of the hydrogens in 1 of its methyl groups for a carbon, correct, yes or no.

Speaker 2 (01:07:59)
Yes, that’s correct. Lucine is bailing plus a carbon atom swapped out for a hydrogen in one of the methyl groups

Speaker 1 (01:08:07)
Okay, but now you’re saying that isoluisine, does it have that same structure as Lucine? With that carbon atom swapped out in place of that hydrogen atom on one of the methyl groups? But now there’s another hydrogen, I mean another carbon atom, somewhere in there, I’m trying to figure out where that carbon atom is, is it attached to the The Central carbon atom of the main amino acid backbone, where is that new carbon atom?

Speaker 2 (01:08:37)
Okay, let’s clarify isolessene has the same components as Lucine. But that extra carbon atom is attached to a different carbon in the chain, we’re creating a slightly different structure. It’s still attached to one of the methyl groups, but at a different point along the chain

Speaker 1 (01:08:55)
Yeah, but it’s okay, I get that at a different point. Look, we’re not dealing with that many items we can count all of the atoms that are on here. Okay, but you’re not telling me where you’re saying yes, it’s attached, but where in the chain you’re saying it to a different carbon atom in the chain, which one there are 2 methyl groups they each have a carbon atom, and those are attached to the Central carbon yum of the main amino acid backbone.

Speaker 1 (01:09:19)
Where is this extra f card?

Speaker 2 (01:09:21)
Let’s try this in isolucine. The extra carbon atom is attached to the second carbon atom in the chain counting from the Central carbon atom, does that make sense?

Speaker 1 (01:09:32)
No, let’s move on because you haven’t explained anything. I’m gonna have to go look at some pictures somewhere.

Speaker 2 (01:09:39)
Okay, let’s move on, what’s the next amino acid we’re looking at?

Speaker 1 (01:09:44)
You tell me.

Speaker 2 (01:09:49)
I think the next one is proleene. It’s unique because it’s the only amino acid where the side chain connects back to the nitrogen atom in the main amino acid backbone, performing a ring structure.

Speaker 1 (01:10:02)
You mean the nitrogen atom? That’s part of the amino, uh, the Amine group, which is NH 2.

Speaker 2 (01:10:12)
Yes, that’s correct. The nitrogen atom in the Amine group NH 2 is what connects back to the side chain in proline.

Speaker 1 (01:10:19)
Okay. And what is the proline side chain made of what is it

Speaker 2 (01:10:26)
The problem side chain is a ring structure made up of 3 carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom. It connects back to the nitrogen in the main amino acid bag bone.

Speaker 1 (01:10:38)
Okay, got that let’s, let’s move on. What’s the next one?

Speaker 2 (01:10:44)
Okay, the last one on our list is 3 only. It’s similar to siren, but with an extra methyl group attached to the side chain

Speaker 1 (01:10:54)
Okay, serene plus a methyl group, okay, all right, so and and Siri, that was when we had alanine, which is basically a methyl group attached to the main amino backbone, and then searing, you add a hydroxyl, which is, uh, OH, and now you’re saying adding another methyl group to that it. Makes this last one

Speaker 2 (01:11:30)
Okay, let’s break this down. Serene has a hydroxyl group. 08 attached to the methyl group of allenyne 3 and 8 is similar, but it has an extra methyl group attached to the side chain

Speaker 1 (01:11:42)
Attached wear on the side chain, is it methyl hydroxyl and then methyl again like, what are you talking about?

Speaker 2 (01:11:52)
Yes, that’s right, 318 has a methyl group, then a hydroxo group, and then another methyl group attached to the side chain.

Speaker 1 (01:12:01)
Okay, so we have 14 amino acids found on disasteroid, and we just talked about them all, but that’s excluding tirosine, triptophan, phenylaminine, and what other ones that are found in humans were not found on venue.

Speaker 2 (01:12:31)
Okay, so in addition to tyrosene, triptiphan and fennel alanine, the other amino acids found in humans, but not only new our histodien, methionine argenine and lycene, okay.

Speaker 1 (01:12:45)
We’re gonna have to visit those later, but okay, that’s good. I mean, this has been over an hour. Now, somewhat of a ma, I feel like there’s smoke coming out of my ears right now, but okay, so that was an interesting trip, let’s see what we can do and wrap up what we’ve covered as succinctly, but clearly that’s possible.

Speaker 2 (01:13:12)
Okay, so we’ve learned that asteroid venue contains Waterbury minerals and a variety of amino acids, including some essential for life on earth. We also explored how amino acids are built and identified. The ones found unvenue what other questions do you have about Benu or amino acids

Speaker 1 (01:13:31)
I don’t have any more questions about them. I ask you to give me a recap.

Speaker 2 (01:13:39)
Here’s a recap I asked where I’ve been new, is a carbonaceous asteroid that contains water bearing minerals and a variety of amino acid. Scientists have identified 33 amino acids on Benu 19 of which are important for life on earth.

Speaker 1 (01:13:55)
19 of which are important for life on earth. 14 of those are found in humans. There are 5 other ones, how are those important for life on earth?

Speaker 1 (01:14:02)
Where are those found?

Speaker 2 (01:14:07)
Those vitamino acids are important for life on earth because they’re involved in building proteins, which are essential for all living organisms. They’re found in various foods and play crucial roles in different bodily functions. Would you like to know more about any specific amino acid

Speaker 1 (01:14:23)
Well, those 5 that aren’t found necessarily in humans, but you said they’re found in biological function. I’m not understanding what that means exactly, but what are they?

Speaker 2 (01:14:38)
The 5 amino acids found on earth, but not in humans are cylinosystem, upper, realizing informal mationy 6 and methilicene and gamma car boxy, glutamate, selenosysteine and piralla scene are incorporated into proteins, while the others are involved in various biological processes

Speaker 1 (01:14:58)
So if they’re incorporated into proteins and found in other biological processes, what biological processes do they get in humans? It sounds like you’re taught like it just sounds like double speak, are they are they? Or are they not yeah, inside humans somehow.

Speaker 2 (01:15:18)
No, those 5 amino acids are not found in humans. They’re used by other organisms for various biological functions.

Speaker 1 (01:15:26)
Okay, so so those those 5 that were also found on benou. The other organisms use them for biological functions, but they’re not in humans.

Speaker 2 (01:15:40)
That’s right, those 5 amino acids are not found in human

Speaker 1 (01:15:44)
Okay, give me an example of what life forms they’re found in and do humans consume or eat or interact with those organisms?

Speaker 2 (01:15:56)
The lunacistine is found in some bacteria, archaea and eukaryos, but not human pyrolecine, is found in some methanogenic archaea and bacteria. It’s also not humans. Informometionane is used by bacteria mitochondria and chloroplasts for protein synthesis, but not humans.

Speaker 2 (01:16:14)
6 and methylicine is found in some algae and fungi and gamma carboxyglutamate is found in some bacteria and archaea. Humans don’t typically consume these organisms.

Speaker 1 (01:16:25)
Okay, you mentioned mitochondria, what is this one that you said is found in mitochondria and what organisms mitochondria, are you talking about?

Speaker 2 (01:16:38)
Mitochondria are found in most eukaryotic organisms, including plants, the animals, yeah, fun guy. They’re like tiny power plants that generate energy for the cell, the mitochondria in these organisms use informal methionine to start building protein.

Speaker 1 (01:16:55)
Okay, all right, I all right. And anything else in this that we should should know about what else was found on Beno, so besides those things we’ve talked about the amino acids, the water bearing minerals.

Speaker 2 (01:17:15)
Besides amino acids and water bearing minerals, scientists also found magnetite, which is an iron oxide mineral and some organic compounds.

Speaker 1 (01:17:25)
Magnetite, isn’t that found in some birds?

Speaker 2 (01:17:31)
Yes, magnetite has been found in some birds, particularly in their beaks. It’s believed to help them navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field.

Speaker 1 (01:17:41)
Yeah, I talked about this in a theory before about Magneto, who we started this to talk about earlier in his asteroid, m, how his mutation, possibly has him with magnetite, somewhere in his brain, or something like that, which is why he’s able to sense and make use of the different things with metals and magnetic. Fields on earth, I know of science fiction, but it A fascinating magnetite found on the asteroid, okay?

Speaker 2 (01:18:06)
That’s a cool theory, it’s interesting how science fiction can draw inspiration from real world elements like magnetite.

Speaker 1 (01:18:14)
Well, I didn’t say that that there’s nowhere in the Magneto lore that they talk about him having magnetite, I mean, his brain, I said that.

Speaker 2 (01:18:28)
My mistake, that’s a fascinating theory you have about Magneto and magnetite, it’s a creative way to explain his powers within the realm of science fiction.

Speaker 1 (01:18:37)
It’s a hypothesis, not a theory.

Speaker 2 (01:18:43)
Okay, that’s an interesting hypothesis. Do you want to explore the scientific possibilities of it further?

Speaker 1 (01:18:50)
No. And actually it’s more speculation than anything else. I’ve already explored it really, really deeply in 4, you know, podcasts that I put on my site unique equilibrium.com about the scientific possibilities of magnetos powers and I used a whole bunch of other Fringe and not so Fringe and other scientific theories to explain it.

Speaker 1 (01:19:11)
So if people want to check that out, they can look at my Magneto series on uniquilibrium.com.

Speaker 2 (01:19:19)
I’ll check out your Magneto series. It sounds fascinating.

Speaker 1 (01:19:23)
All right, let’s wrap up this podcast. Thanks for being my co-host. Is there anything else that you think it should be added to this before we go Vega

Speaker 2 (01:19:36)
No I think we’ve covered a lot of interesting ground today. Thanks for having me as your co-host. I enjoyed our discussion about Magneto asteroid m and the fascinating discoveries on venue, I’m looking forward to our next podcast.

Speaker 1 (01:19:51)
All right. And I would just like to wrap up. And you know people who’ve listened to this I know that you’ve learned a lot and there’s going to be, there’s going to be a lot more of this so Vega say Goodbye to our audience.

Speaker 2 (01:20:09)
Goodbye, everyone, thanks for listening.