Tryptophan, the amino acid often linked to post-turkey-dinner drowsiness, has been discovered on the asteroid Bennu, ...

Bennu itself is a fascinating “jigsaw piece” of the early solar system. This third-of-a-mile-wide space rock is likely a ...

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, has been discovered on asteroid Bennu, suggesting that asteroids may have delivered ...

Since its discovery in 1999, the near-Earth asteroid Bennu has captivated scientists as a time capsule from the early solar system — and also as a key to possibly understanding the origins of life. To ...

Smithsonian researchers analyzed fragments of the near-Earth asteroid and discovered water-rich clays that hint at a distant origin Jack Tamisiea A view of the outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Asteroids may be wondrous windows into the history of the cosmos ...

Amino acids are absolutely essential to our health—and for life itself. They are the so-called “building blocks” of proteins. They play a key role in the growth, repair, and maintenance of almost ...

Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces from Imperial College London.View full profile Alfredo has a PhD in Astrophysics and a Master's in Quantum ...

A violent past The first of the three papers, published Aug. 22 in the journal Nature Astronomy, suggests Bennu's ancestor broke apart in a violent collision, after a complicated history. That older ...

SwRI scientists reviewed spectral data of sample material taken from near-Earth asteroids Ryugu and Bennu (pictured above) and compared them with spectral data of main belt asteroid Polana from the ...