NASA Asteroid Bennu Sample Contains Stardust Older Than Sun

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully collected approximately 120 grams of material from the asteroid Bennu, which has provided scientists with an unprecedentedly pristine sample of the early Solar System. Analysis of the sample revealed the presence of presolar grains—stardust older than the sun itself—originating from dying stars predating our Solar System, as well as diverse materials including organic matter from the interstellar medium and high-temperature grains formed near the sun. Researchers, including Professors Jessica Barnes and Sara Russell, suggest Bennu's parent asteroid likely formed in the outer Solar System, possibly beyond Saturn's orbit, offering a rare glimpse into the environment during the birth of the sun and planetary formation. Evidence of ancient water-driven chemical reactions dating back over 4.5 billion years was also found, indicating processes that occurred before Earth's formation. These findings not only deepen understanding of the Solar System's origins but also raise new questions about its formation and evolution. The pristine condition of the samples and their diverse composition make Bennu a unique window into the materials and processes that shaped our cosmic neighborhood.