Recently, scientists have been able to use a new synchrotron-based analysis to study the composition of asteroid Bennu. This analysis has allowed us to gain a better understanding of the asteroid’s composition and how it formed. By using the synchrotron’s X-ray beam, scientists were able to measure oxygen isotopes in Bennu’s mud-like surface material. This data will help us to better understand the asteroid’s origin and its potential to seed organic molecules to Earth. With this data, we can also begin to understand the implications of Bennu on our understanding of the solar system and the origins of life.

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source: Phys.org