Phosphate In NASA's OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Suggests Ocean World Origins (space.com) 19
Early analysis of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu has revealed unexpected evidence of magnesium-sodium phosphate, suggesting Bennu might have originated from a primitive ocean world. Space.com reports: On Earth, magnesium-sodium phosphate can be found in certain minerals and geological formations, as well as within living organisms where it is present in various biochemical processes and is a component of bone and teeth. According to a NASA press release, however, its presence on Bennu surprised the research team because it wasn't seen in the OSIRIS-REx probe's remote sensing data prior to sample collection. The team says its presence "hints that the asteroid could have splintered off from a long-gone, tiny, primitive ocean world." "The presence and state of phosphates, along with other elements and compounds on Bennu, suggest a watery past for the asteroid," said Lauretta. "Bennu potentially could have once been part of a wetter world. Although, this hypothesis requires further investigation."
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft obtained a sample of Bennu's regolith on October 20, 2020 using its Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), which comprises a specialized sampler head situated on an articulated arm. Bennu is a small B-type asteroid, which are relatively uncommon carbonaceous asteroids. "[Bennu] was selected as the mission target in part because telescopic observations indicated a primitive, carbonaceous composition and water-bearing minerals," stated the team in their paper. [...] Further analysis on the samples revealed the prevailing component of the regolith sample is magnesium-bearing phyllosilicates, primarily serpentine and smectite -- types of rock typically found at mid-ocean ridges on Earth. A comparison of these serpentinites with their terrestrial counterparts provides possible insights into Bennu's geological past. "Offering clues about the aqueous environment in which they originated," wrote the team.
While Bennu's surface may have been altered by water over time, it still preserves some of the ancient characteristics scientists believe were present during the early solar system's days. Bennu's surface materials still contain some original features from the cloud of gas and dust from which our solar system's planets formed -- known as the protoplanetary disk. The team's study also confirmed the asteroid is rich in carbon, nitrogen and some organic compounds -- all of which, in addition to the magnesium phosphate, are essential components for life as we know it on Earth.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft obtained a sample of Bennu's regolith on October 20, 2020 using its Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), which comprises a specialized sampler head situated on an articulated arm. Bennu is a small B-type asteroid, which are relatively uncommon carbonaceous asteroids. "[Bennu] was selected as the mission target in part because telescopic observations indicated a primitive, carbonaceous composition and water-bearing minerals," stated the team in their paper. [...] Further analysis on the samples revealed the prevailing component of the regolith sample is magnesium-bearing phyllosilicates, primarily serpentine and smectite -- types of rock typically found at mid-ocean ridges on Earth. A comparison of these serpentinites with their terrestrial counterparts provides possible insights into Bennu's geological past. "Offering clues about the aqueous environment in which they originated," wrote the team.
While Bennu's surface may have been altered by water over time, it still preserves some of the ancient characteristics scientists believe were present during the early solar system's days. Bennu's surface materials still contain some original features from the cloud of gas and dust from which our solar system's planets formed -- known as the protoplanetary disk. The team's study also confirmed the asteroid is rich in carbon, nitrogen and some organic compounds -- all of which, in addition to the magnesium phosphate, are essential components for life as we know it on Earth.
In other words (Score:2)
Waterworld?
Re:In other words (Score:5, Interesting)
Waterworld?
Most simulations of planetary formation result in Earth as a Europa-like waterworld with oceans hundreds of kilometers thick.
The mystery is not why Earth has so much water but why it has so little.
The prevailing theory is the water was lost during the collision with Theia [wikipedia.org].
The oceans were vaporized, and the debris formed our moon. It is plausible that some of the debris was ejected further into space and became Bennu and other NEOs.
Re: (Score:3)
Was magnesium-sodium phosphate found on the Moon?
Re: In other words: Alien poop (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
More like Wateroid. An asteroid the size of Ceres could have had an ocean or ocean layer when it was still hot from the radioactivity of formation. It might even still have such.
Am I the only one? (Score:2)
You've got a near Earth trajectory rock with evidence of water world origin. Earth is a water world. It doesn't seem like a huge stretch that this was either part of Earth at some point or part of the same body of materials that coalesced to form Earth.
Re: (Score:1)
You've got a near Earth trajectory rock with evidence of water world origin. Earth is a water world. It doesn't seem like a huge stretch that this was either part of Earth at some point or part of the same body of materials that coalesced to form Earth.
Exactly what I thought! Einstein showed the curvature of space time so the asteroid is probably what's left of planet Earth in an alternate space time line where they got 4 more years of Biden.
Re: Am I the only one? (Score:1)
I'm guessing your auto correct is fixing bin Laden to Biden, you know how that works (or not)
Re: (Score:2)
Demonic possession, he was able to enter Biden's body because there was no soul occupying it.
Re: (Score:2)
You've got a near Earth trajectory rock with evidence of water world origin. Earth is a water world. It doesn't seem like a huge stretch that this was either part of Earth at some point or part of the same body of materials that coalesced to form Earth.
Can we use isotopic ratios to identify the planet, or at least rule out specific origins? That's how we know that a given meteorite comes from Mars.
water is H2O (Score:2)
ASPERITE (Score:2)
You don't imagine that when the Moon (Luna) was knocked-off Earth that it was the only object to be sent out by the impactor? Many smaller ones would be as well, though most would have been recaptured by Earth's or Luna's gravity well.
Re: (Score:2)
Was there water on earth at the point when the moon was formed though?
Re: (Score:2)
Ceres is an Example (Score:3)
We have very good evidence that brine exists on the asteroid/dwarf planet Ceres. Such chemistry does not actually require "an ocean" just liquid water.
Re: Ceres is an Example (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
If they don't find water this could indicate that there's an alternative method for phosphates to be created.
High energy impactor + Theia (Score:3)