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Sugars, Gum, Stardust Found in NASA's Asteroid Bennu Samples

Sugars, Gum, Stardust Found in NASA's Asteroid Bennu Samples

5 comments

·December 5, 2025
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jagged-chisel

> … gum-like material […] was likely formed in the early days of the solar system

> … consists of polymer-like materials extremely rich in nitrogen and oxygen.

voidUpdate

The title probably wants the original quotes put back in

cnnlives86

As I’ve been reading findings of extraterrestrial organic molecules recently, I wonder: do we know there was no contamination?

I’m going to be sad if it turns out someone sneezed into it and was afraid to tell their manager.

reactordev

>”Once soft and flexible, but since hardened, this ancient “space gum” consists of polymer-like materials extremely rich in nitrogen and oxygen. Such complex molecules could have provided some of the chemical precursors that helped trigger life on Earth”

That would be some stale big league chew if that were the case. By orders of billions of years. Making it the oldest wad of big league chew we know of in existence. ;)

soco

I think the article does a good job clarifying in simple words those questions risen by the slightly click-baity title.