Is there something also happening at Science group, something positive? In Science Advances Vol. 10, Issue 39, two things positive:
De Sanctis, M. C. Baratta, G. A. Brucato, J. R. et al. Recent replenishment of aliphatic organics on Ceres from a large subsurface reservoir 25 Sep adp3664
Spitzer, F. Kleine, T. Burkhardt, C. et al. The Ni isotopic composition of Ryugu reveals a common accretion region for carbonaceous chondrites 27 Sep adp2426
As if Bennu (and to a lesser extent Ryugu) did not contain enough organics and other life requirements. De Sanctis et al. claim the organics on (1) Ceres must be even more than we perceive- perhaps 10-30 more organics than first assumed using the Dawn spacecraft. Why? The destruction rate (lysis) of organic compounds at such conditions on Ceres is still high. In order to see the organics we saw, they must be recent, and being replenished from some source. Assuming the source is below the surface, that reservoir must be big. Really big.
C-complex asteroids, and the carbonaceous-chondrite meteorites from them, trace the origins of the Solar System (including some signs of the presolar nebula, and grains from older star systems). But meteorites fall to Earth with no outward signs of their origin and history- they’re random samples. Can the Ryugu sample help us fit together the meteorite puzzle? Spitzer et al. say yes. Given key elements and isotopes, we’re starting to see something emerging. The outer Solar System was a soup, which formed the C-asteroids and meteorites. Yet within that vast region, we see some processes.
Organics and organic-rich asteroids/meteorites: they’re not just academic, or even potential resources. These traces of the early Solar System speak of our very origins and heritage.