A new study by geochemists from the University of Chicago has proven that the asteroid Bennu is indeed mysteriously throwing pebbles into space. The scientists’ job was: published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
In 2019, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft orbited the asteroid Bennu and recorded the celestial body launching rocks into space. Scientists still do not understand why such activity occurs.
The scientists analyzed the Aguas-Zarcas meteorite in their study. The high-carbon composition of the meteorite indicates that it was formed from a carbon-rich asteroid.
“We tried to isolate very small minerals from a meteorite by freezing it with liquid nitrogen and then dropping it into warm water to destroy it. This method works for most meteorites, but Aguas Zarcas behaved strangely – we found a few pebbles that didn’t break,” he said.
The scientists used CT scans to compare the pebble with the rest of the meteorite. All components are flattened – they would normally be spherical.
The scientists speculated that the pebble experienced something that the rest of the meteorite did not experience. Computer models developed by the research team showed that the asteroid from which the Aguas-Zarcas meteorite emerged may have collided with something.
“Then large temperature differences can break up the deformed rock at the impact site as the asteroid rotates. This continuous thermal cycle makes the rock brittle and then splits into pebbles that are thrown by Bennu,” the scientists explained.
If the researchers’ description is confirmed, the Aguas Zarcas meteorite will be the first evidence of meteorites launched by asteroids.
Source: Gazeta
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