Latest news with #Ryugu
NHK
5 days ago
- Science
- NHK
Japanese researchers: Rock samples from asteroid oldest found in solar system
Researchers in Japan are claiming a landmark discovery. They say rock samples retrieved from an asteroid are the oldest ever found in the solar system. Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 brought the samples back from asteroid Ryugu. They measure less than 0.1 millimeters each. The researchers come from institutions including Hokkaido University. They say the rock was formed in high temperatures 4.5673 billion years ago, shortly after the birth of the solar system. They also say the rock is older than Ryugu, which is made of minerals that formed by reacting with water about 4.562 billion years ago. They add that the asteroid was likely formed somewhere farther from the sun. Associate Professor Kawasaki Noriyuki of Hokkaido University says the findings shed light on how raw materials in the solar system behaved and formed astral objects.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Like finding a tropical seed in Arctic ice': How a surprise mineral could change the history of asteroid Ryugu
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A rogue mineral found in a dust grain from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu, which was visited and sampled by the Japanese Hayabusa2 mission in 2020, could upend decades of perceived wisdom about the conditions in which some asteroids formed. The mineral in question is named "djerfisherite" (pronounced juh-fisher-ite) after the American mineralogist Daniel Jerome Fisher, is an iron-nickel sulfide containing potassium. It is typically found on asteroids and in meteorites called "enstatite chondrites." These are quite rare and formed in the inner solar system some 4.6 billion years ago, in temperatures exceeding 662 degrees Fahrenheit (350 degrees Celsius). So, imagine the surprise of researchers, led by planetary scientist Masaaki Miyahara of Hiroshima University in Japan, when they found djerfisherite in a grain sampled from Ryugu — a carbon-rich CI chondrite that instead formed in cooler conditions in the outer solar system. "Its occurrence is like finding a tropical seed in Arctic ice — indicating either an unexpected local environment or long-distance transport in the early solar system," said Miyahara in a statement. As a CI chondrite, Ryugu was thought to have experienced a very different history when compared to enstatite chondrites. Ryugu is believed to have once been part of a larger protoplanet, but was blasted off due to an impact at some point in the solar system's history. Born in the outer solar system, that parent body would have been relatively abundant in water- and carbon dioxide-ice. Enough heat should have also been generated within the body through the radioactive decay of radioisotopes locked up in its rocks — that would've melted the ice. Taking place about 3 million years after the parent body formed, that resulting liquid would have chemically altered Ryugu's composition. But importantly, temperatures from such radioisotopic heating are not expected to have exceeded 122 degrees F (50 degrees Celsius). And yet, somehow, there is a grain of djerfisherite in Ryugu samples. One possibility is the djerfisherite is not native to Ryugu, and is rather connected to the impact of an enstatite chondrite. The alternative is that the djerfisherite formed in situ on Ryugu — but this could only have occurred in potassium-bearing fluids and iron–nickel sulfides at temperatures greater than 662 degrees Fahrenheit. Isotopic data could offer a decent idea as to the origin of the djerfisherite, but that data is currently lacking, so there's no way to say for sure. However, based on their analysis, Miyahara's team leans towards the likelihood that the djerfisherite somehow indeed formed in situ on Ryugu. How the conditions arose to make this possible remains, however? That's a mystery for now. "The discovery of djerfisherite in a Ryugu grain suggests that materials with very different formation histories may have mixed early in the solar system's evolution, or that Ryugu experienced localized, chemically heterogeneous conditions not previously recognized," said Miyahara. "This finding challenges the notion that Ryugu is compositionally uniform and opens new questions about the complexity of primitive asteroids." RELATED STORIES — Asteroid Ryugu holds secrets of our solar system's past, present and future — Japan's priceless asteroid Ryugu sample got 'rapidly colonized' by Earth bacteria — Asteroid Ryugu contains dust older than the solar system Scientists will now be rushing to re-analyze their samples from Ryugu to try and learn whether this discovery of djerfisherite is a one-off, or whether there is more evidence that supports its in-situ formation. In doing so, scientists won't just solve a mystery. They will also come to better understand where and how different minerals formed in the protoplanetary disk around the young sun 4.6 billion years ago, how those minerals subsequently mixed and coalesced to form asteroids and planets, and how subsequent chemical reactions on those bodies produced more minerals. In doing so, they can chart the chemical evolution of the solar system. The discovery of djerfisherite was reported on May 28 in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science.
India Today
30-06-2025
- Science
- India Today
Scientists baffled by discovery of unexpected mineral on asteroid Ryugu
The discovery of these salt minerals has broader implications for understanding the role of water. (Photo: Nasa) Hayabusa2 returned samples from asteroid Ryugu providing new mineral insights Djerfisherite found in Ryugu challenges previous formation assumptions Mineral usually forms in reduced environments unlike Ryugu's known conditions The rocks and soil samples from asteroid Ryugu have provided new insights into the nature of primitive asteroids and the formation of the Solar System. A research team from Hiroshima University has identified the mineral djerfisherite, a potassium-containing iron-nickel sulfide, in a sample from this C-type asteroid. This discovery, published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, challenges existing paradigms since djerfisherite was not expected to form under the conditions present on Ryugu. "Djerfisherite is a mineral that typically forms in very reduced environments, like those found in enstatite chondrites, and has never been reported in CI chondrites or other Ryugu grains," explained Masaaki Miyahara, the study's lead author. This unexpected presence raises questions about Ryugu's formation, suggesting either an unusual environment or a long-distance transport process early in the solar system's history. The presence of djerfisherite suggests the possibility of mixed material formation histories in the early solar system, or that Ryugu experienced distinct, localised chemical conditions. "The discovery of djerfisherite in a Ryugu grain suggests that materials with very different formation histories may have mixed early in the solar system's evolution, or that Ryugu experienced localised, chemically heterogeneous conditions not previously recognised," Miyahara elaborated. A research team at Hiroshima University discovered the presence of the mineral djerfisherite. (Photo: Hiroshima University) Ryugu, a part of a larger parent body formed between 1.8 and 2.9 million years after the solar system's beginning, originated in its outer regions. This parent body contained water and carbon dioxide in ice form. Heating by radioactive decay melted the ice, which generally remained below 50C. This environment contrasts with enstatite chondrites, where djerfisherite is known to form from high-temperature gases. Djerfisherite's formation could result from two processes: intrusion from another source during Ryugu's parent body's formation or intrinsic formation when Ryugu's temperature exceeded 350C. Preliminary evidence favours the intrinsic formation hypothesis, prompting further isotopic studies to explore the origins of this and other Ryugu grains. The next research steps aim to reconstruct the early mixing processes and thermal histories of small bodies like Ryugu. "Ultimately, our goal is to reconstruct the early mixing processes and thermal histories that shaped small bodies like Ryugu, thereby improving our understanding of planetary formation and material transport in the early solar system," stated Miyahara. This discovery not only challenges the current understanding of Ryugu's compositional uniformity but also opens new avenues for research into the complexity and formation of primitive asteroids, potentially reshaping longstanding theories about material transport in the early solar system. The rocks and soil samples from asteroid Ryugu have provided new insights into the nature of primitive asteroids and the formation of the Solar System. A research team from Hiroshima University has identified the mineral djerfisherite, a potassium-containing iron-nickel sulfide, in a sample from this C-type asteroid. This discovery, published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, challenges existing paradigms since djerfisherite was not expected to form under the conditions present on Ryugu. "Djerfisherite is a mineral that typically forms in very reduced environments, like those found in enstatite chondrites, and has never been reported in CI chondrites or other Ryugu grains," explained Masaaki Miyahara, the study's lead author. This unexpected presence raises questions about Ryugu's formation, suggesting either an unusual environment or a long-distance transport process early in the solar system's history. The presence of djerfisherite suggests the possibility of mixed material formation histories in the early solar system, or that Ryugu experienced distinct, localised chemical conditions. "The discovery of djerfisherite in a Ryugu grain suggests that materials with very different formation histories may have mixed early in the solar system's evolution, or that Ryugu experienced localised, chemically heterogeneous conditions not previously recognised," Miyahara elaborated. A research team at Hiroshima University discovered the presence of the mineral djerfisherite. (Photo: Hiroshima University) Ryugu, a part of a larger parent body formed between 1.8 and 2.9 million years after the solar system's beginning, originated in its outer regions. This parent body contained water and carbon dioxide in ice form. Heating by radioactive decay melted the ice, which generally remained below 50C. This environment contrasts with enstatite chondrites, where djerfisherite is known to form from high-temperature gases. Djerfisherite's formation could result from two processes: intrusion from another source during Ryugu's parent body's formation or intrinsic formation when Ryugu's temperature exceeded 350C. Preliminary evidence favours the intrinsic formation hypothesis, prompting further isotopic studies to explore the origins of this and other Ryugu grains. The next research steps aim to reconstruct the early mixing processes and thermal histories of small bodies like Ryugu. "Ultimately, our goal is to reconstruct the early mixing processes and thermal histories that shaped small bodies like Ryugu, thereby improving our understanding of planetary formation and material transport in the early solar system," stated Miyahara. This discovery not only challenges the current understanding of Ryugu's compositional uniformity but also opens new avenues for research into the complexity and formation of primitive asteroids, potentially reshaping longstanding theories about material transport in the early solar system. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Deep space asteroid sample contains unexpected ingredient
On December 5, 2020, a small capsule jettisoned from Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft as it made a scheduled flyby over Earth. The payload landed in the Australian outback as planned, capping a 6-year roundtrip journey to survey the asteroid Ryugu. Since then, researchers including a team at Hiroshima University, have analyzed the unprecedented mineral samples collected from the distant space rock. But according to their most recent findings, published in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science, one of those minerals defies planetary scientists' previous theories on Ryugu's creation. The consequences may help clarify the solar system's evolution, and the surprising complexities inside some of its most primitive asteroids. To understand Ryugu, it's important to first understand its origins. Researchers believe the half-mile wide, 496-million-ton rock belongs to a parent body that formed 1.8–2.9 million years after the birth of our solar system. This asteroid family—likely Eulalia or Polana—coalesced from icy mixtures of carbon dioxide and water at the outer edges of the solar system. Over millions of years, radioactive elements decayed and generated heat inside the parent body to likely reach around 122 degrees Fahrenheit. It's believed that a catastrophic impact with another asteroid created the carbon-heavy Ryugu, which is composed of rocks similar to the CI chondrite meteorites that frequently streak through Earth's atmosphere. But while CI chondrites are commonplace, enstatite chondrites are not. These rare asteroids form under extremely high temperature conditions inside the solar system's inner region. Enstatite chondrites contain different minerals such as djerfisherite, a potassium-laden iron-nickel sulfide. Based on everything scientists know about asteroids, Ryugu shouldn't include an ingredient like djerfisherite—but it does. 'Its occurrence is like finding a tropical seed in Arctic ice,' said Masaaki Miyahara, a science and engineering associate professor Hiroshima University and one of the study's co-authors. Miyahara and colleagues spotted Ryugu's djerfisherite while using field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM) to better understand how terrestrial weathering affected the asteroid's mineral layers. According to Miyahara, the discovery 'challenges the notion that Ryugu is compositionally uniform' and opens new questions about primitive asteroid evolution. Experts know from past experiments that djerfisherite can be created when potassium-rich fluids and iron-nickel sulfides interact at temperatures over 662 degrees Fahrenheit. Given their understanding of enstatite chondrites, this led Miyahara's team to two potential explanations. 'The discovery of djerfisherite in a Ryugu grain suggests that materials with very different formation histories may have mixed early in the solar system's evolution, or that Ryugu experienced localized, chemically heterogeneous conditions not previously recognized,' explained Miyahara. Early evidence suggests the latter theory is more likely, but researchers can't be sure solely based on the currently available information. Regardless, the discovery revealed that the solar system's earliest eras hosted some unexpected deep space interactions. Moving forward, the team hopes to conduct isotopic studies on the samples to narrow down the minerals' origins. Meanwhile, the sample's delivery probe Hayabusa2 is currently en route for a 2031 rendezvous with its next asteroid—a small, rapidly spinning rock known as 1998 KY.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unknown strain of bacteria found on China's Tiangong Space Station — and it's developing resistance to space
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have discovered a new microbe never-before-seen on Earth inside China's Tiangong space station. The new strain of bacteria, named Niallia tiangongensis after the space station, is a variant of a soil-dwelling terrestrial microbe that can cause sepsis, and was found inside one of the station's cabins. Now, a new analysis of the strain has revealed that the bacterium isn't only one of a kind, but has also picked up some key adaptations that could be helpful in future space missions. The researchers published their findings March 3 in the journal International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. "Understanding the characteristics of microbes during long-term space missions is essential for safeguarding the health of astronauts and maintaining the functionality of spacecraft," the researchers wrote in the study. The new strain was found in samples collected in 2023 by the crew of the Shenzhou-15 mission, who swabbed the space station's modules with sterile wipes before freezing them for transport. Related: Purple bacteria could be key to finding extraterrestrial life on exoplanets After being sent back to Earth, analysis revealed that the bacteria was closely related to Niallia circulans, a rod-shaped, spore-propagating bacteria that typically dwells in soil, sewage and food, and can cause sepsis in immunocompromised patients. RELATED STORIES —If life can exist in your stomach, it can exist on Mars. Here's what it might look like. —Samples of 'alien' asteroid Ryugu are crawling with life — from Earth —Little Green Men? Nope, Extraterrestrial Life May Look More Like Pasta. However, the new strain had also picked up a few new adaptations to survive the harsh conditions of space. These include genes that code responses to oxidative stress, repair the bacteria from radiation damage, and enable it to form biofilms by breaking down gelatin to extract carbon and nitrogen. It's not yet clear if the new strain could cause harm to humans, but the researchers hope that by studying it further they could learn more about how it, and others, survive; as well as the best ways to prevent human astronauts from any risks associated with space-adapted bugs. This isn't the first microbe to have made the evolutionary leap to survive beyond our planet, either. In 2018, NASA scientists discovered four previously unknown strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria hiding inside the International Space Station's toilets, each with a suite of new adaptations to help them survive in outer space.
