A sample of asteroid dust, collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission during its touchdown on asteroid Bennu in 2020, has arrived at the Natural History Museum in London. The 100-milligram sample is considered extremely valuable because it is untouched material from the asteroid, free from contamination by Earth’s atmosphere or human hands. Scientists aim to study the dust using various techniques, including electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, to gain insights into the composition, formation, and history of asteroid Bennu.
Orbiting the Sun approximately 120 million kilometers away, Bennu is of significant interest to scientists as it is believed to be an untouched time capsule from the early solar system, providing clues about the origins of Earth and life. However, it is also considered the “most dangerous” asteroid in the solar system due to its potential threat to Earth.
The arrival of this special sample at the Natural History Museum marks a unique opportunity for researchers to study the black, rocky powder in detail. The extraterrestrial grains will undergo a series of experiments and tests to expand knowledge about how asteroids like Bennu formed, their material composition, and whether they played a role in bringing the building blocks of life to Earth. Dr. Ashley King, a meteorite researcher at the Natural History Museum, expressed excitement about being among the first to study the Bennu samples and emphasized the significance of understanding their mineralogy and chemical composition.
The research on Bennu’s samples is expected to be thrilling, given that the asteroid is believed to have originated from material dating back approximately 4.56 billion years, providing valuable insights into the early history of the solar system. Scientists anticipate that the study of this pristine asteroid dust will contribute to a deeper understanding of the solar system’s formation and evolution.
Read Now:Charles Munger, Longtime Partner of Warren Buffett, Passes Away at 99
