Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, has been found to exist on #Bennu, a small #asteroid that swings by our #planet about every six years.

The discovery stems from an unprecedented sample collected by the OSIRIS-REx mission, which landed a #spacecraft on the asteroid in 2020, captured 121.6 grams of rocks and dust, and safely returned the cache to Earth in 2023.

Studying Bennu is important because its composition reflects that of the early solar system, giving scientists a glimpse into the beginnings of #life.

Finding tryptophan in the Bennu asteroid is a big deal, because #tryptophan is one of the more complex amino acids, and until now it had never been seen in any #meteorite or space sample.

The presence of tryptophan in an asteroid supports the idea that the recipe for life might not have begun only on Earth. Seeing it form naturally in space tells us that these ingredients were already being made out in the early Solar System. That would have made it easier for life to get started.

#astrobiology
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/27/science/tryptophan-asteroid-bennu-nasa-sample

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, has been found to exist on #Bennu, a small #asteroid that swings by our #planet about every six years.

The discovery stems from an unprecedented sample collected by the OSIRIS-REx mission, which landed a #spacecraft on the asteroid in 2020, captured 121.6 grams of rocks and dust, and safely returned the cache to Earth in 2023.

Studying Bennu is important because its composition reflects that of the early solar system, giving scientists a glimpse into the beginnings of #life.

Finding tryptophan in the Bennu asteroid is a big deal, because #tryptophan is one of the more complex amino acids, and until now it had never been seen in any #meteorite or space sample.

The presence of tryptophan in an asteroid supports the idea that the recipe for life might not have begun only on Earth. Seeing it form naturally in space tells us that these ingredients were already being made out in the early Solar System. That would have made it easier for life to get started.

#astrobiology
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/27/science/tryptophan-asteroid-bennu-nasa-sample

#FindsFriday!
An arrowhead made of #meteorite iron: around 1,500 BC, a meteorite struck #Estonia. A fragment of it arrived - presumably in the baggage of an amber trader - at what is now Lake Biel, #Switzerland. An arrowhead was then made there from the cosmic iron.
From Mörigen, 900-800 BC.

📷 me

#FindsFriday!
An arrowhead made of #meteorite iron: around 1,500 BC, a meteorite struck #Estonia. A fragment of it arrived - presumably in the baggage of an amber trader - at what is now Lake Biel, #Switzerland. An arrowhead was then made there from the cosmic iron.
From Mörigen, 900-800 BC.

📷 me

Perseverance Rover Encounters a Possible Meteorite.

https://science.nasa.gov/blog/a-stranger-in-our-midst/

Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

#Perseverance #MarsRover #M2020 #NASA #science #Space #Exploration #Solarocks #Mars #Blog #Meteorite #iron #nickle #MastCam

🧵 (2/2)

BOILERPLATE :

1) Reply to this post to be eligible to win.

2) No purchase or other action required.

3) In one week, on September 1st, I will use a random number generator to select one winner from everyone who replies.

4) I will announce the winner and contact them via private message or email to work out the shipping details. Shipping is free, but I will need a valid shipping address to send it to.

Good luck!

#meteorites #meteorite

🧵 (1/2) FREEBIE METEORITE! ☄️

I'm giving away a free #meteorite to one of my Mastodon friends. It could be you.

This will not be one of those gimmicky social media promotions where I make you do a bunch of dumb shit to win.

The meteorite won't be big or expensive. But, it will be a genuine sample-sized space rock from the Asteroid Belt. Also comes with a little display case, ID label, and info sheet (see photo).

I will pick one random person (continued in next post) ...