From Metabolomics to Astrochemistry Tracing the First Building Blocks of Life

On September 24, 2023, in the desert of Utah, USA: A small space capsule carrying an exceptionally precious cargo safely landed on the dusty ground: freshly returned from space, NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe brought back approximately 120 grams of rock and dust material from the asteroid Bennu. Scientists eagerly awaited these samples, as they originate from a cosmic relic dating back to the early days of our solar system. Through detailed analysis of the material from Bennu, researchers hope to gain insights into its primordial history and, more broadly, to better understand the mysteries surrounding the emergence of life on Earth.​

They anticipate that these samples contain traces of chemical processes that once laid the foundation for life on our planet. Deciphering Bennu's secrets requires more than advanced space travel; it demands sophisticated analytical techniques like those developed and employed by Prof. Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, director of the independent research group “Analytical Biogeochemistry” at Helmholtz Munich. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), his team examines the molecular signature of these samples, opening new perspectives on the origins of organic chemistry in the universe.​

Bennu belongs to a rare class of asteroids considered primitive and carbon-rich. Long before the OSIRIS-REx mission, scientists had found indications through telescopes and spectrometers that Bennu possesses a chemical composition originating from the dawn of the solar system. This assumption was confirmed when the OSIRIS-REx probe reached the asteroid after a two-year journey through space and conducted detailed analyses of its surface: Bennu is rich in carbonaceous compounds and contains minerals indicating past contact with water. This makes it a kind of cosmic time capsule, offering insights into the chemical processes of that era billions of years ago. To conduct more extensive studies on Earth, the probe mapped the asteroid, selected a suitable sampling area, and used a special “Touch-and-Go” technique to collect dust and small rock fragments from Bennu's surface.​

Initial analyses of the samples from the OSIRIS-REx mission have already revealed a surprisingly large variety of organic compounds, including amino acids, DNA building blocks, and water-bearing salts. “These findings suggest that Bennu once contained liquid water on its parent body,” says Schmitt-Kopplin. “Water and heat – such as from hydrothermal activity – are considered crucial prerequisites for the development of complex chemical processes that are also the foundation of life on Earth.”  

The detailed examination of Bennu's samples presents extraordinary challenges for scientists. Firstly, the material is scarce – after all, the OSIRIS-REx mission brought only about 120 grams of rock and dust back to Earth. Each analysis must therefore be conducted in close coordination within the consortium to avoid unnecessary consumption of the valuable samples. Another challenge is preventing contamination of the asteroid material by Earth's environment. The samples from space must be protected as much as possible from contact with Earth's atmosphere and biosphere to ensure that the organic molecules found genuinely originate from Bennu and were not introduced from the terrestrial environment.​

All this requires extreme care and highly precise analytics capable of deciphering the smallest chemical signals without altering the sample itself. Extremely sensitive detection methods are also necessary because the samples contain a highly complex mixture of organic molecules and mineral components that differ significantly in structure from terrestrial material. “Most of these chemical compounds are previously unknown,” describes Schmitt-Kopplin the challenge. “Standard methods of chemistry and geology quickly reach their limits here.”

In addition to investigating the microbiome, Schmitt-Kopplin’s team can also detect such changes in cell cultures, breath condensate, urine, or blood samples. The scientists search for molecular markers that can indicate a disease at a very early stage – long before any symptoms appear. The same analytical methods used to reconstruct the chemical evolution of asteroids are employed here to detect early metabolic changes in the human body associated with the onset of disease. The aim is to treat related conditions more precisely, earlier, and in a personalized way with targeted medication.

“The fact that we were able to develop these ultra-precise analytical methods and combine them with NMR spectroscopy is due in part to the creativity and dedication of every team member,” says Schmitt-Kopplin. “But an equally important factor is the interdisciplinary orientation of Helmholtz Munich. As one of Europe’s leading biomedical research centers, it offers a unique infrastructure to translate basic research findings into practical applications. Our work benefits greatly from this environment, which fosters collaboration among chemists, biologists, medical scientists, and data specialists.”

He especially values the close cooperation with other scientific institutions, including the Technical University of Munich, where he teaches in the field of food chemistry and microbiome research, and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, with which Schmitt-Kopplin advances astrochemistry projects as a visiting scientist. These interdisciplinary synergies make it possible to open new areas of research and develop methods that go beyond the boundaries of individual disciplines.

The research on the Bennu samples has only just begun. In the coming years, scientists will continue to study the unique organic molecules found on the asteroid. The aim is not only to understand the chemical evolution of the solar system but also to explore possible parallels with the origins of life on Earth.

“New analytical techniques with even greater sensitivity and improved detection limits could soon help us decipher molecular structures that have never been documented in any terrestrial database. Especially in medicine, metabolomics, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy are opening up new possibilities.”

Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin

The organic mix found on asteroids and on Earth forms the largest chemical library of novel chemistry we are just beginning to understand. The long-term vision is to further develop molecular analytics so that it not only reconstructs past processes but also predicts and even controlls new chemical reactions. Thus, pioneering research on Bennu is not just a glimpse into our own past and that of the solar system – it is likely to spark new impulses for the future of health sciences.

Latest update: April 2025.