OSIRIS‑REx Finds Sugars, Complex Organics and Presolar Stardust in Bennu Samples
NASA's OSIRIS‑REx returned samples from asteroid Bennu contain essential sugars such as ribose and glucose, a suite of complex organic materials (including a sticky 'space gum'), and presolar dust linked to ancient supernovae. Findings offer direct chemical evidence bearing on prebiotic chemistry and early solar system processes.