ASTEROID BENNU OFFERS CLUES ABOUT ORIGINS OF SOLAR SYSTEM, LIFE ON EARTH

New Bennu studies by scientists uncover biological sugars, ancient gum-like material and rare stellar dust.

- CORRESPONDENT

The asteroid Bennu is turning out to be a remarkable time capsule, offering scientists rare clues about the origins of our solar system and the molecular seeds that may have helped spark life on Earth.

As researchers continue analysing the pristine material brought home by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, three new papers published in Nature Geoscience and Nature Astronomy have unveiled discoveries that are as surprising as they are profound: essential biological sugars, a strange gum-like substance never before seen in space rocks, and an unusually high concentration of dust forged in ancient supernova explosions.