Discovering the Surprising Finds of 'Space Gum' from New Analysis of Bennu Asteroid

The near-Earth asteroid Bennu, rich in carbon, remains a valuable source of clues about the early solar system and the origins of life. Over two years ago, a robotic mission delivered samples from Bennus surface, providing scientists with material that could reveal how asteroids may have contributed to life on Earth billions of years ago.

Recent studies have uncovered remarkable properties in Bennus material, including biologically important sugars, an unexpected amount of supernova dust, and a mysterious substance NASA calls "space gum."

OSIRIS-REx Brings Bennu Samples to Earth

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, part of the first U.S. mission to collect and return an asteroid sample, delivered Bennu material to Earth in September 2023. Launched in 2016, the missions full name is Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer. In October 2020, OSIRIS-REx gathered rocks and dust from Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid, and safely returned them via a capsule that landed in Utah.

Insights from Bennus Material

Initial analyses of the samples, released in January 2025, suggested that asteroids could have carried the building blocks of life to Earth. While no direct evidence of life was found, the findings indicated that conditions necessary for life were widespread in the early solar system. Ongoing research continues to reveal more about the origins of life.

Japanese scientists detected ribose, a sugar essential for RNA, and glucose, a key energy source for living organisms, marking the first discovery of glucose in asteroid material. These findings hint at the widespread availability of life-supporting molecules in space.

Meanwhile, NASA researchers examined presolar grainsdust from stars older than the solar system. These grains provide insight into Bennus parent body, which likely formed in a protoplanetary disk surrounding young stars.

The Mystery of 'Space Gum'

California-based researchers discovered a soft, gum-like substance in Bennus samples, unlike anything previously observed in space rocks. This pliable material, formed during the early solar system as Bennus parent asteroid developed from the solar nebula, contains polymer-like compounds rich in nitrogen and oxygen. NASA believes this "space gum" may have played a role in the emergence of life on Earth.

OSIRIS-REx Continues as OSIRIS-APEX

In December 2023, OSIRIS-REx was renamed OSIRIS-APEX and set on a mission to asteroid Apophis, which will pass close to Earth in 2029. The spacecraft will spend 18 months mapping Apophis surface and analyzing its composition, contributing to planetary defense strategies and expanding our understanding of potentially hazardous asteroids.

Author: Zoe Harrison