Bennu’s Bounty: Uncovering Sugars, Space Gum, and Stardust in Asteroid Samples

SpaceTime with Stuart Gary - Series 28 Episode 145

In this episode of SpaceTime , we explore groundbreaking discoveries that deepen our understanding of the origins of life and the dynamics of our galaxy.

Sugars and Stardust: Insights from Asteroid Bennu

NASA's Osiris Rex mission has returned samples from the asteroid Bennu, revealing the presence of biologically essential sugars, including ribose and glucose, along with a unique gum-like substance never before seen in astromaterials. These findings, published in Nature Geoscience and Nature Astronomy , suggest that the building blocks for life were widespread throughout the early solar system. The discovery of ribose supports the RNA world hypothesis, indicating that RNA might have been the first genetic material. Additionally, the presence of glucose hints at the early energy sources available for life on Earth.

Stars Defying the Black Hole

Astronomers have observed numerous stars in stable orbits around Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. This discovery, reported in Astronomy and Astrophysics , challenges previous assumptions that these objects were merely clouds of dust on a collision course with destruction. Instead, the new data from the ERIS Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph reveals a dynamic and stable environment around the black hole, providing a unique laboratory for studying interactions between black holes and stars.

Martian Mystery Solved?

A new radar technique employed by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has cast doubt on the existence of a suspected underground lake beneath the Martian South Pole ice cap. Initial signals that suggested the presence of liquid water have been reinterpreted as possibly being layers of rock and dust. This innovative approach opens new avenues for investigating subsurface resources on Mars, which could have significant implications for future exploration.

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✍️ Episode References

Nature Geoscience

Nature Astronomy

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Geophysical Research Letters

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