The Mystery of Ribose: Seeds of Life from the Cosmos!

 

Where did the spark of life first ignite in the vast darkness of the universe? This question has haunted scientists for centuries. However, a discovery by NASA announced in December 2025 has lifted the veil from this mystery. In the samples brought from the surface of Asteroid Bennu, sugars considered the foundation of life have been found, which could rewrite the entire story of life’s arrival on Earth.

1. Samples from Bennu and Historical Research

Dr. Yoshihiro Furukawa of Tohoku University, Japan, and his team conducted a microscopic analysis of the 121.6 grams of samples brought to Earth by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. In these samples, which landed on 24 September 2023, scientists discovered 'Ribose' (a 5-carbon sugar) and 'Glucose' (a 6-carbon sugar). This is the first time in history that sugar has been found in samples directly brought from an extraterrestrial body.

2. 'RNA World': The Cosmic Swiss Army Knife

This discovery provides strong support to the 'RNA World Hypothesis'. Scientists believe that before DNA and proteins existed, there was an era of RNA on Earth.

·         Versatile Role: Just as a Swiss Army Knife contains many tools, RNA could store Genetic Information and also act as a Catalyst for chemical reactions.

·         The Missing Link: Amino Acids and Nucleobases had already been found on Bennu; now, with the discovery of Ribose, the entire 'Molecular Toolkit' for creating RNA is complete. Interestingly, Ribose was found but Deoxyribose (a part of DNA) was not, proving that RNA likely came first.

3. Convergence of Ancient Knowledge and Modern Science

Regarding the origin of life, our Charaka Samhita mentions the Panchamahabhuta (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space). Modern science also states that we are made of Stardust (Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, etc.). The journey from the famous Miller-Urey Experiment of 1953 to today's asteroid research shows that the formation of Organic Molecules from inorganic matter is a natural process of the universe.

4. Methodology: Searching for Chemical Signatures

Dr. Furukawa's team used the highly complex Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) method. The samples were dissolved in liquid, heated into vapor, and the weight of each molecule and its 'Retention Time' were measured. This analysis proved that Ribose has been preserved and remains Chemically Active on Bennu for billions of years.

5. Pioneers of Science: Furukawa and Lauretta

The hard work of two great scientists lies behind this success:

·         Dr. Yoshihiro Furukawa: Who has been studying how life’s molecules are formed by recreating space-like conditions in the laboratory since 2009.

·         Dr. Dante Lauretta: The Principal Investigator of the OSIRIS-REx mission, who struggled for 7 years to prepare NASA for this mission.

6. Future Direction: A Blessing or a Curse?

The discovery of Bennu is not just history; it is a roadmap for the future:

·         Synthetic Biology: Scientists are now creating synthetic RNA in labs, which could revolutionize cancer treatment and the development of new vaccines in the future.

·         Risks: The creation of Biological Weapons or damage to global Biodiversity are also risks associated with this technology.

Conclusion:

Asteroid Bennu teaches us that life is perhaps not just Earth's own invention, but a collective creation of the entire universe. If the seeds of life are scattered across space, then we can never be alone in this infinite cosmos.

Mars: Mankind's Next Address?

 

    Mars has always been a subject of curiosity for humans.Scientists believe that if there is a possibility of life on any planet after Earth, it is Mars.

Let’s explore some of its exciting aspects:

1. Evidence of Water on Mars

    Water is essential for life. Evidence suggests that in the past, Mars had rivers, lakes, and perhaps even vast oceans.Even today, water is present in the form of ice at the Martian poles.NASA's rovers have also expressed the possibility of liquid water existing beneath the Martian surface.

2. Atmosphere and Life

    The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than Earth's and consists of 95% carbon dioxide. There is very little oxygen. However, NASA’s 'MOXIE' device recently succeeded in producing oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, which will be crucial for future human habitation.

3. Could Microbes Exist There?

    Scientists are not looking for large animals or aliens on Mars; they are searching for microbes. Methane gas has been found in Martian soil, which on Earth is produced by living organisms. Therefore, it is believed that bacteria might still be alive beneath the surface.

4. Similarities Between Earth and Mars

The possibility of life on Mars is higher because it is similar to Earth in many ways:

• Length of Day: A day on Mars is 24 hours and 39 minutes, nearly the same as Earth.
• Seasons: Like Earth, Mars also experiences seasons such as winter and summer.
• Axial Tilt: Mars is tilted 25 degrees on its axis, while Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees.

Challenges of Human Habitation

If we go to live there, we will face several major challenges:

• Radiation: Mars lacks a protective magnetic field like Earth, resulting in very high levels of lethal radiation.
• Cold: The average temperature on Mars is as low as -60°C.
• Food: The soil contains toxic elements called perchlorates, making direct farming impossible.

Farming and Future Missions

How will farming work on Mars?

Martian soil, known as 'Regolith', lacks nutrients. To grow food, the following methods will be used:

• Greenhouses: Since open-air farming is impossible, glass domes or greenhouses will be built to maintain Earth-like pressure and oxygen.
• Hydroponics: This method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil will be ideal.
• Fertilizer: Human waste can be purified and used as fertilizer.
• Light: Because Mars is far from the sun, special LED lights will provide the necessary energy for plants.

SpaceX Starship: The Martian Vehicle

Elon Musk’s 'Starship' is the most powerful rocket to date. Its key features include:

• Reusable: It can return to Earth and be reused, reducing space travel costs by 100 times.
• Capacity: It can carry more than 100 passengers at once.
• In-situ Fuel: To return, it will use Martian carbon dioxide and ice to create methane fuel.

Travel Time

    When the two planets are at their closest, the journey takes about 6 to 9 months. This opportunity only occurs once every 26 months.

A Self-Sustaining City

Architects are working on blueprints for a 'self-sustaining city:

• Vertical City (Nüwa): Homes will be carved into massive cliffs to protect residents from radiation and meteors.
• 3D Printing: Robots will build houses using local Martian soil.
• Energy: Power will be generated through vast solar farms and small nuclear reactors (Kilopower).
• Recycling: Water and air will be 100% recycled.

 

What Will Life Be Like on Mars?

• Your Weight: Martian gravity is only 38% of Earth's. If you weigh 100 kg on Earth, you will weigh only 38 kg on Mars.
• Blue Sunset: Due to fine dust particles in the atmosphere, sunsets on Mars appear blue.
• Lava Tubes: Humans may live in natural volcanic caves (lava tubes) for protection from radiation.
• Slow Internet: Communication with Earth takes between 3 to 22 minutes.A "Hi" on WhatsApp might get a reply half an hour later!
• Age: A year on Mars is 687 days. You would celebrate your birthday roughly every two Earth years!

Earth vs. Mars Comparison

Feature	Earth	Mars
Air to Breathe	Yes (Oxygen)	No (Carbon Dioxide)
Average Temp	15°C	-60°C
Gravity	100%	38%
Year Length	365 Days	687 Days
Sunset Color	Red / Orange	Blue

NASA's Artemis Mission: Humanity's Return to the Moon

 

                 NASA's Artemis Mission is the largest project in the history of space science to date. Its primary objective is to send humans back to the Moon and establish basic facilities for permanent habitation there. The program is named after Artemis, the goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology, who is considered the twin sister of Apollo. Through this mission, NASA is set to create history by landing the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface. This is not limited to just a lunar visit; it is an attempt to clear the path for future Mars missions by discovering how to utilize the water and ice located at the Lunar South Pole.

        To complete this ambitious mission, NASA has developed the world’s most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), and an advanced spacecraft named Orion. The mission began in 2022 with the successful test of Artemis-1, in which an uncrewed craft orbited the Moon and returned safely to Earth. The next step is Artemis-2, where four astronauts will orbit the Moon and return. Subsequently, through the Artemis-3 mission, humans will step onto lunar soil again after decades. During this entire process, a space station called the Lunar Gateway will also be built, which will serve as a lab and habitation for astronauts while staying in the Moon's orbit. India is also playing an important role in this global endeavor. Under the Artemis Accords signed between India and the USA, both countries will provide mutual cooperation in space exploration, under which Indian astronauts may also join this mission in the future.

            The reason for choosing the Lunar South Pole is that sunlight is constantly available there, and there is a strong possibility of water in craters that remain permanently shadowed. If they succeed in separating oxygen and hydrogen from this water, rocket fuel can be produced on the Moon itself, which will bring a major revolution in the world of space exploration. For this mission, NASA, in collaboration with the company Axiom Space, has developed special new types of spacesuits called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU). These suits are many times more advanced than the old suits of the Apollo missions because they are designed to withstand the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Lunar South Pole. The specialty of this suit is that it gives astronauts more freedom of movement, allowing them to walk and bend easily on the lunar surface. These suits do not just provide safety but function like a mini-spaceship that helps keep astronauts alive for hours on the Moon.

            On the other hand, the most important aspect of the Artemis mission is the Lunar Gateway, which will be a small space station orbiting the Moon. This Gateway will function as a temporary home and laboratory for astronauts while in lunar orbit. SpaceX's Starship is also an extremely vital part of this mission because NASA has selected it as the Human Landing System (HLS) to land astronauts on the Moon. It is the most powerful and fully reusable rocket to date, which, due to its massive size, can carry many astronauts and a large amount of equipment. The water discovered on the Moon will prove to be as precious as gold for this mission, as it is the main foundation for permanent human habitation. In this way, the Moon will act as a "Cosmic Gas Station," where crafts can be refueled for the journey to Mars.

     NASA has selected four astronauts for the Artemis II mission: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover (the first Black astronaut), Mission Specialist Christina Koch (the first female astronaut), and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen. These four talented astronauts will travel to the far side of the Moon during an approximately 10-day journey. The names of the astronauts who will land on the lunar surface in the Artemis III mission have not been announced yet, but there will be diversity there as well. These astronauts are not only scientists but also trained test pilots who have been given specialized training to survive in extreme conditions. They will land on the Lunar South Pole and collect samples to be brought back to Earth for examination. The courage of these astronauts will open the way for ordinary people to go to the Moon in the future.

---