Discover the Ancient Stardust of Asteroid Bennu: A Window into Pre-Solar System Origins

Scientists studying samples from the asteroid Bennu have made incredible discoveries. These samples contain diverse materials, some predating even the sun. Recent research reveals that Bennu serves as a time capsule for the early solar system’s materials.

“Bennu is a fascinating time capsule,” remarks Pierre Haenecour from the University of Arizona, who helped analyze these samples. The samples were collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2020, capturing dust that formed in our solar system, along with organic matter from interstellar space. Some stardust is even older than the sun itself!

Bennu’s materials have journeyed long distances to be part of what is now called a “parent asteroid.” This parent body broke apart millions of years ago in a collision between Mars and Jupiter. “The Bennu sample is a remnant of materials floating around the solar system during its early days,” Haenecour explains. Many grains withstand extreme heat and impacts, maintaining their identities despite many transformations.

One study in Nature Astronomy indicates that ice within the parent asteroid melted and reacted with dust, forming about 80% of Bennu’s minerals. Some grains, like silicon carbide, have distinct chemical signatures that tell us about the stars they originated from—stars that we can no longer observe.

These presolar grains are exceedingly tiny, often less than a micrometer. Finding them is like searching for a needle in a haystack, but they help scholars trace the ancient origins of materials found in Bennu.

Another study published in Nature Geoscience highlights how the asteroid’s surface has been altered by space weathering. Over millions of years, micrometeorite impacts and solar winds shaped its surface, leading to microscopic craters. This weathering happens faster than previously thought, according to Lindsay Keller, a scientist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. “Understanding space weathering can help us grasp how other asteroids have evolved as well,” she noted.

The extreme conditions in space make it hard for researchers to gather data on many asteroids. As meteorites often burn up in the atmosphere, collecting samples directly from space is crucial. Haenecour emphasizes that studying Bennu up close allowed scientists to gather insights that meteorite studies cannot offer.

As we explore more about Bennu, it deepens our understanding of the solar system’s history. “We are uncovering answers we have wanted for so long,” Jessica Barnes from the University of Arizona adds, expressing excitement about these findings. Through these analyses, we get a clearer view of our cosmic past.

To learn more about the ongoing discoveries regarding asteroids, you can explore NASA’s official updates on their mission [here](https://science.nasa.gov/missions/osiris-rex/). These insights not only reveal the nature of asteroids but also illuminate the beginning of our solar system.

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