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Asteroid Bennu samples: uses in research

Also: OSIRIS-REx, Bennu

NASA's OSIRIS-REx returned about 120 g from asteroid Bennu in 2023, the largest asteroid sample yet.

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  1. 2025 Ammonia and nitrogen-rich organics on BennuSalts left by an ancient brine

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astrobiology

lab astrobiology 2025

Ammonia and nitrogen-rich organics on Bennu

Glavin and colleagues found Bennu samples rich in volatiles, with more carbon, nitrogen and ammonia than Ryugu samples and most meteorites.

As reported in: Glavin, Dworkin, Alexander et al. (2025). Abundant ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter in samples from asteroid (101955) Bennu. Nature Astronomy. doi:10.1038/s41550-024-02472-9

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planetary science

lab planetary science 2025

Salts left by an ancient brine

McCoy and colleagues reported sodium-bearing phosphates, carbonates, sulfates, chlorides and fluorides in Bennu samples, formed as salty water evaporated.

As reported in: McCoy, Russell, Zega et al. (2025). An evaporite sequence from ancient brine recorded in Bennu samples. Nature. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08495-6

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