British News Agency

In a statement from NASA, it was announced that initial analyses of the 4.5 billion-year-old Bennu asteroid sample, collected from space and brought to Earth by NASA, have revealed a high content of carbon and water.

Over the first two weeks, scientists conducted analyses on this material using methods such as scanning electron microscopy, infrared measurements, X-ray diffraction, and chemical elements. These analyses indicated the asteroid is rich in carbon and water.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, "The OSIRIS-REx sample is the largest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever sent to Earth and will help scientists explore the origins of life on our own planet for future generations."

The statement noted that further investigation is needed to understand the nature of the carbon compounds found, but the initial discovery holds promise for future analyses of asteroid samples. The secrets hidden in the rocks and dust of the asteroid will be studied over decades and will provide insights into how the solar system formed, how the building blocks of life could have been transported to Earth, and what measures need to be taken to prevent asteroid collisions.