Unexpected Discoveries Found in Early Analysis of Bennu Sample, According to French Cosmochemist

French cosmochemist Guy Libourel and his team at the Valbonne lab in France are analyzing 100 milligrams of tiny grains from NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return mission to the asteroid Bennu. The analysis has revealed surprises, including the presence of iron oxide, sulfides, manganese, magnesium, and silicate serpentines that indicate the presence of water on Bennu. The samples, which date back 4.567 billion years, are being analyzed using a newly improvised method of cathodoluminescence, allowing researchers to study the mineralogy in detail. The pristine nature of the samples, preserved in nitrogen, provides a unique opportunity to understand the primitive character of Bennu.