In other words, Bennu's samples provide further evidence that life's building blocks formed early in the solar system and could have been transported to Mars, other planets, moons, or asteroids capable of supporting prebiotic chemistry. It was reported this week there's strong evidence of liquid water, not just frozen ice, on the Red Planet.

A NASA spacecraft has returned asteroid samples that hold not only the pristine building blocks for life but also the salty remains of an ancient water world.

All forms of Earth life have specific chemicals in their makeup, such as amino acids and sugars. Scientists have known that asteroids hold molecules believed to be the precursors to these chemicals. By studying the Bennu samples, they hope to gain more insight into how these ingredients could have evolved.