Scientists Reveal Origin of Asteroid Bennu
Researchers trace asteroid Bennu and Ryugu to a shared ancient cosmic reservoir near the water-ice line.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Space
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Scientists have determined that asteroid Bennu formed from material in the same cosmic reservoir as asteroid Ryugu and CI meteorites. The findings follow the analysis of 120 grams of material returned to Utah by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission.
Why it matters
Understanding these chemical signatures helps explain how material was distributed across the solar system during its infancy. This discovery reveals how Jupiter's rapid formation acted as a barrier that structured the composition of nearby objects.
The study analyzed isotopes of iron, titanium, and chromium within 120 grams of retrieved material. Researchers compared these signatures against existing samples from Ryugu and CI meteorites to confirm a shared origin.
The players
NASA
The United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for conducting the OSIRIS-REx mission.
OSIRIS-REx
A NASA spacecraft mission designed to study asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth for scientific analysis.
ETH Zurich
A prestigious public research university in Switzerland that leads advanced studies in science and technology.
The details
The material originated near the water-ice line, a boundary where water vapor freezes within the early solar disk. Scientists from ETH Zurich determined that Jupiter's quick development redirected dust and particles, influencing how these objects coalesced.
Timeline
4.5 billion years ago, the solar system formed.
One million years after the Sun's birth, Jupiter began restructuring solar material.
In 2023, the asteroid samples landed in Utah.
The Big Picture
This discovery updates our understanding of the formation of the solar system by mapping the movement of dust near the water-ice boundary. It disproves simpler models of material distribution by highlighting the massive role played by Jupiter's gravitational barrier.
This research provides a more detailed blueprint of the early solar environment, potentially refining how scientists search for water and life-supporting elements in space. These insights help build better models for identifying future space resources.
The takeaway
These findings underscore how volatile the early solar system was during its first million years. Researchers continue to use these samples to bridge the gap between our current planetary layout and the chaotic conditions of the early solar disk.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing exploration and research in the Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
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