* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, July 4, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Kennedy Publishing, MGA Entertainment Launch Yummiland Magazine – License Global

    Kennedy Publishing, MGA Entertainment Launch Yummiland Magazine – License Global

    MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE 🙏 Veteran entertainment columnist and talent manager Lolit Solis has passed away. She was 78 years old. https://tinyurl.com/6kumarkx | LatestChika.com – Facebook

    Beloved Entertainment Icon Lolit Solis Passes Away at 78 – A Life Remembered with Love and Respect 🙏

    Neil Young Plays Rare Full-Band ‘Ambulance Blues’ With The Chrome Hearts – Yahoo

    Neil Young Stuns Fans with Rare Full-Band Performance of ‘Ambulance Blues’ Alongside The Chrome Hearts

    BTS Announce Their Big Return and Yes, They Already Have Some Major Plans in the Works – Yahoo

    BTS Announce Their Big Return and Yes, They Already Have Some Major Plans in the Works – Yahoo

    Nantucket Dance Festival opens July 8 – The Inquirer and Mirror

    Nantucket Dance Festival Launches with Thrilling Performances Beginning July 8

    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment’s ‘Mandala Murders’ Premieres July 25 – About Netflix

    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse: Dive into the Chilling World of ‘Mandala Murders’ Premiering July 25

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Environmental cognitive distance, R&D capability distance, and supply chain green technology innovation – Nature

    Bridging Gaps: How Environmental and R&D Differences Drive Green Technology Innovation in Supply Chains

    LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuksoo: “Our Next-gen Substrate Technology Will Change the Industry Paradigm” – TechPowerUp

    LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuksoo: “Our Next-Gen Substrate Technology Will Revolutionize the Industry” Revolutionizing the Future: LG Innotek’s CEO Unveils Game-Changing Next-Gen Substrate Technology

    Inspira Technologies Secures Landmark $22.5M Deal: Major Revenue Breakthrough After FDA Clearance – Stock Titan

    Inspira Technologies Secures Landmark $22.5M Deal: Major Revenue Breakthrough After FDA Clearance – Stock Titan

    Meiwu Technology Company Limited and Shenzhen Zhinuo – GlobeNewswire

    Meiwu Technology Company Limited and Shenzhen Zhinuo – GlobeNewswire

    Owls inspire new revolutionary noise reduction technology – KTEN

    Owls inspire new revolutionary noise reduction technology – KTEN

    New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

    Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Kennedy Publishing, MGA Entertainment Launch Yummiland Magazine – License Global

    Kennedy Publishing, MGA Entertainment Launch Yummiland Magazine – License Global

    MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE 🙏 Veteran entertainment columnist and talent manager Lolit Solis has passed away. She was 78 years old. https://tinyurl.com/6kumarkx | LatestChika.com – Facebook

    Beloved Entertainment Icon Lolit Solis Passes Away at 78 – A Life Remembered with Love and Respect 🙏

    Neil Young Plays Rare Full-Band ‘Ambulance Blues’ With The Chrome Hearts – Yahoo

    Neil Young Stuns Fans with Rare Full-Band Performance of ‘Ambulance Blues’ Alongside The Chrome Hearts

    BTS Announce Their Big Return and Yes, They Already Have Some Major Plans in the Works – Yahoo

    BTS Announce Their Big Return and Yes, They Already Have Some Major Plans in the Works – Yahoo

    Nantucket Dance Festival opens July 8 – The Inquirer and Mirror

    Nantucket Dance Festival Launches with Thrilling Performances Beginning July 8

    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment’s ‘Mandala Murders’ Premieres July 25 – About Netflix

    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse: Dive into the Chilling World of ‘Mandala Murders’ Premiering July 25

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Environmental cognitive distance, R&D capability distance, and supply chain green technology innovation – Nature

    Bridging Gaps: How Environmental and R&D Differences Drive Green Technology Innovation in Supply Chains

    LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuksoo: “Our Next-gen Substrate Technology Will Change the Industry Paradigm” – TechPowerUp

    LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuksoo: “Our Next-Gen Substrate Technology Will Revolutionize the Industry” Revolutionizing the Future: LG Innotek’s CEO Unveils Game-Changing Next-Gen Substrate Technology

    Inspira Technologies Secures Landmark $22.5M Deal: Major Revenue Breakthrough After FDA Clearance – Stock Titan

    Inspira Technologies Secures Landmark $22.5M Deal: Major Revenue Breakthrough After FDA Clearance – Stock Titan

    Meiwu Technology Company Limited and Shenzhen Zhinuo – GlobeNewswire

    Meiwu Technology Company Limited and Shenzhen Zhinuo – GlobeNewswire

    Owls inspire new revolutionary noise reduction technology – KTEN

    Owls inspire new revolutionary noise reduction technology – KTEN

    New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

    Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Osiris-Rex: NASA reveals evidence of water and carbon in sample delivered to Earth from an asteroid

October 15, 2023
in Science
Osiris-Rex: NASA reveals evidence of water and carbon in sample delivered to Earth from an asteroid
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Osiris-Rex: NASA reveals evidence of water and carbon in sample delivered to Earth from an asteroid

The Osiris-Rex sample return capsule shortly after touching down in the Utah desert. Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

On September 24 this year, a NASA capsule parachuted down to Earth carrying a precious cache of material grabbed from an asteroid. The space agency has now revealed images and a preliminary analysis of the space rocks it found after lifting the lid off that capsule.

The mission to the asteroid was called Osiris-Rex, and in 2020, it collected a sample of material from the asteroid Bennu. Afterward, it traveled back to Earth and released the capsule containing the rocks into our atmosphere three weeks ago.

The fine black dust and small coal-like rocks shimmering in the capsule are beautiful—and somewhat unassuming. But this handful of space rock has the potential to answer questions about not only how the Earth was created, but also how water arrived here and how life got started.

At the NASA press conference on October 11 held to reveal details about the sample, Dr. Francis McCubbin hinted that, with careful storage and preparation, the material could be analyzed and used in experiments for years to come.

“Scientists that aren’t even born yet, (will be able to) answer questions about the universe using technology that has not even been invented,” said the astromaterials curator at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, where the Bennu sample is being stored.

Why collect asteroid samples?

Sometimes material from space comes to Earth without our help, arriving as meteorites. NASA has hundreds of meteorite samples in its collection, which are believed to have come from asteroids. Useful analysis can be carried out on these samples.

However, it’s often not possible to track down which asteroids these meteorites came from. This limits the potential of the resulting science. Meteorites are also contaminated by their journey through the atmosphere and onto the Earth. The Osiris-Rex sample, in contrast, is “pristine.” We can be sure any discoveries made from this sample tell us about Bennu.

Some of the finer dust in the Bennu sample would never have been able to form a meteorite and fall to Earth. Going and retrieving it is the only way we would ever have seen this type of material.

This is not the first asteroid sample delivered to Earth. Two Japanese space agency (Jaxa) missions, Hayabusa 1 and 2, made deliveries of asteroid material in 2010 and 2020. However, this is the first US mission to do so. It also returned with significantly more material than the Hayabusa missions.

Osiris-Rex delivered an estimated 250g of material, compared to Hayabusa 2’s 5g. This means the sample can be distributed to scientists around the world and put on display in museums for the public to enjoy. It also means that some larger rock fragments were included, which gives a unique opportunity to examine how different minerals are arranged in bigger chunks of the asteroid. This unlocks even more scientific potential.

Osiris-Rex: NASA reveals evidence of water and carbon in sample delivered to Earth from an asteroid

Magnification of a tiny grain from the sample. The small bright specks in the image on the right (under UV light) reveal the presence of organic compounds. Credit: NASA

What have they found?

Bennu is what is known as a “carbonaceous,” or C-Type, asteroid. These contain a large proportion of carbon and “volatiles”—compounds that can be readily vaporized, like water. These asteroids are believed to be relics from the formation of the solar system, and so can help explain how the planets, including Earth, came to be.

Analysis of the main portion of the sample has taken longer than expected to get started, but it’s a nice problem to have. The sample collection technique was so successful that the sample was “spilling out” of the container within the return capsule. Because every grain is precious, all of this bonus material must be meticulously collected before the sample canister itself can be opened and preparation of the main body of the sample can begin.

Still, there have already been some exciting results from the initial analysis. Water has been found locked inside clay minerals from Bennu, which is an incredibly important discovery. One proposed mechanism for how water came to be on Earth and the other inner planets is that water was trapped inside clay minerals like these, which then formed into rocks that eventually formed planets during the birth of the solar system.

There’s abundant carbon in the sample—nearly 5% by weight—and sulfur. Both elements are essential for life. Carbon is the key ingredient in the organic compounds that make biology possible. Sulfur is an important component of amino acids, which form proteins.

Asteroids like Bennu are thought to have “seeded” Earth with prebiotic compounds: the building blocks of life. Magnetite (an iron oxide) found in the sample has been linked to chemical reactions crucial for the evolution of life. As Dr. Daniel Glavin, Osiris-Rex sample analyst, summarized: “We picked the right asteroid. And not only that, we brought back the right sample.”

What next?

As well as helping answer the big questions of how we and our planet came to be here, finding water on asteroids is also destined to be a part of our future. Water can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen, which can then be used as rocket fuel. While still some way off, spaceship refueling stations are moving out of the realms of science fiction and into reality.

There’s only so much fuel you can take with you on a rocket. Far better to take just what you need to get off the planet and then fuel up in space for the rest of your journey.

Water can also be used for life support in future bases on the moon and Mars. So it’s crucial to understand where we can access water in space, and how to extract it. The water on asteroids is one potential source.

Asteroids, once known best for their likely part in the demise of dinosaurs, are enjoying some positive time in the spotlight, showcasing their part in humanity’s past, present and future.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.The Conversation

Citation:
Osiris-Rex: NASA reveals evidence of water and carbon in sample delivered to Earth from an asteroid (2023, October 14)
retrieved 14 October 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-10-osiris-rex-nasa-reveals-evidence-carbon.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Phys.org – https://phys.org/news/2023-10-osiris-rex-nasa-reveals-evidence-carbon.html

Tags: OSIRIS-RExRevealsscience
Previous Post

NASA journeys to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche

Next Post

Hotter, drier summers will make European craft beers less ‘hoppy’—new study

Downtown Louisville, Ky., gets new lifestyle hotel – hotelmanagement.net

Downtown Louisville Welcomes Exciting New Lifestyle Hotel

July 4, 2025
Romer: Finding common ground in a divided world – VailDaily.com

Romer: Building Bridges to Unite a Divided World

July 4, 2025
The Republican Budget Bill Is an Economy Killer – Bloomberg.com

The Republican Budget Bill Is an Economy Killer – Bloomberg.com

July 4, 2025
Kennedy Publishing, MGA Entertainment Launch Yummiland Magazine – License Global

Kennedy Publishing, MGA Entertainment Launch Yummiland Magazine – License Global

July 4, 2025
Trump says his 6th phone call with Putin this year ‘didn’t make any progress’ – PBS

Trump says his 6th phone call with Putin this year ‘didn’t make any progress’ – PBS

July 4, 2025
Environmental cognitive distance, R&D capability distance, and supply chain green technology innovation – Nature

Bridging Gaps: How Environmental and R&D Differences Drive Green Technology Innovation in Supply Chains

July 4, 2025
Penn State Ranks Inside Top Five in EA Sports College Football 26, QB Drew Allar Makes Rating Jump – Yahoo Sports

Penn State Ranks Inside Top Five in EA Sports College Football 26, QB Drew Allar Makes Rating Jump – Yahoo Sports

July 4, 2025
Church adds Mass ‘for care of creation’ to missal, pope to celebrate – usccb

Pope Introduces New Mass Dedicated to Caring for Creation

July 4, 2025
How UMich computer science students are navigating a shifting job market – The Michigan Daily

How UMich computer science students are navigating a shifting job market – The Michigan Daily

July 4, 2025
Genoa Central Junior High Student Places in the 2025 Soybean Science Challenge – TXK Today

Genoa Central Junior High Student Excels in 2025 Soybean Science Challenge

July 4, 2025

Categories

Archives

July 2025
MTWTFSS
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031 
« Jun    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (704)
  • Economy (731)
  • Entertainment (21,619)
  • General (15,707)
  • Health (9,768)
  • Lifestyle (735)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (730)
  • Politics (738)
  • Science (15,947)
  • Sports (21,228)
  • Technology (15,714)
  • World (711)

Recent News

Downtown Louisville, Ky., gets new lifestyle hotel – hotelmanagement.net

Downtown Louisville Welcomes Exciting New Lifestyle Hotel

July 4, 2025
Romer: Finding common ground in a divided world – VailDaily.com

Romer: Building Bridges to Unite a Divided World

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version