Earth Microbes Discovered in Asteroid Ryugu Sample, Raises Contamination Concerns

Earth Microbes Discovered in Asteroid Ryugu Sample, Raises Contamination Concerns

ByNews Polite

A study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science has reported the discovery of terrestrial micro-organisms in a sample returned from asteroid Ryugu by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission. According to researchers, these microbes, identified as Earth-based in origin, had colonised the sample after its return to Earth in December 2020. The findings…

Mars’ Moons Might Have Been Created From Asteroids Coming Too Close to the Red Planet

Mars’ Moons Might Have Been Created From Asteroids Coming Too Close to the Red Planet

ByNews Polite

The moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, could have formed from the remnants of an asteroid that was destroyed by the planet’s gravitational forces. Researchers from NASA and Durham University utilised advanced computer simulations to explore how such an event might have unfolded. These findings present a compelling new explanation…

Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit

Earth’s Temporary Second Moon 2024 PT5 Bids Farewell as It Exits Orbit

ByNews Polite

Earth recently captured a small asteroid known as 2024 PT5, temporarily transforming it into a second moon. This rare event was confirmed by astronomers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Complutense University of Madrid, offering a glimpse into these elusive “mini-moons” that Earth occasionally holds within its orbit. However,…

Asteroid Discovery Suggests Ingredients for Life on Earth Came From Space

Asteroid Discovery Suggests Ingredients for Life on Earth Came From Space

ByNews Polite

Two organic compounds essential for living organisms have been found in samples retrieved from the asteroid Ryugu, buttressing the notion that some ingredients crucial for the advent of life arrived on Earth aboard rocks from space billions of years ago. Scientists said on Tuesday they detected uracil and niacin in…

Asteroid Ryugu Sample Has Dust Grains Older Than Our Solar System

Asteroid Ryugu Sample Has Dust Grains Older Than Our Solar System

ByNews Polite

Examining samples from asteroid Ryugu, scientists have made a startling discovery. They have spotted microscopic grains of ancient materials that are even older than our Solar System. Located in the near-Earth solar orbit, asteroid Ryugu is shaped like a spinning top and orbits the Sun every 16 months. The Hayabusa2…

NASA’s James Webb Telescope Damaged After Being Hit By Space Rock: Report

NASA’s James Webb Telescope Damaged After Being Hit By Space Rock: Report

ByNews Polite

The world’s largest and most powerful space telescope by NASA, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), has suffered massive damage from an asteroid strike in May.  The telescope was built by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency…

Asteroid Bennu’s Surface Like a Pit of Plastic Balls, NASA’s Spacecraft Almost Sank Into It, Say Scientists

Asteroid Bennu’s Surface Like a Pit of Plastic Balls, NASA’s Spacecraft Almost Sank Into It, Say Scientists

ByNews Polite

While scientists believed that asteroid Bennu had a smooth and plain surface, they were recently astonished to learn the true nature of its exterior. An analysis of the data gathered by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft revealed that Bennu’s surface consists of loosely packed particles that resemble a pit filled with plastic…