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OSIRIS-REx Samples Show Bennu's Presolar Stardust, Interstellar Organics, and Fast-Than-Expected Weathering
- Scientists from an international team analyzed pristine samples collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission from asteroid Bennu, returned to Earth in 2023.
- The mission aimed to study Bennu's material because meteorites alter upon entering Earth's atmosphere, but these samples remained unchanged since arrival.
- Researchers found that Bennu formed over four billion years ago, likely in the outer Solar System, underwent aqueous alteration, and contains presolar stardust grains older than our sun.
- Two papers published on August 22, 2025, described Bennu's chemical transformation by water and space weathering, with Barnes stating, "This is work you just can't do with telescopes."
- These findings reveal Bennu as a cosmic time capsule with building blocks of life and water-bearing minerals, advancing understanding of solar system origins and potential sources of Earth's water.
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33 Articles
33 Articles
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der Standard DE120 grams of dust from the asteroid Bennu brought a Nasa probe to Earth. His investigation tells the story of a celestial body older than the Earth
·Vienna, Austria
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources33
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 25%
C 67%
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