Meteorites & Asteroids Archives

Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA)

Artemis & Lunar Exploration, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Career Opportunities, Comets and Asteroids, Courses, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Moon, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report

ETMA: Extraterrestrial Materials Academy

by Keith CowingDecember 4, 2025December 4, 2025

The Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA) is scheduled for June 8–August 15, 2026, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, Texas, in partnership with the University of Houston–Clear Lake […]

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Sample Return, Status Report

Antarctic Search for Meteorites Program (ANSMET) 2025-26 Field Season Cancellation

by Keith CowingDecember 3, 2025

Antarctic Meteorite Newsletter – Volume 48 No. 2 November 2025

A team of Japanese and US scientists have discovered the bio-essential sugars ribose and glucose in samples of asteroid Bennu that were collected by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. This finding builds on the earlier discovery of nucleobases (the genetic components of DNA and RNA), phosphate, and amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) in the Bennu samples, showing that the molecular ingredients of life could have been delivered to early Earth by meteorites. Download this graphic from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio website: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14932 NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Dan Gallagher

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Icy Worlds, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return

Sugars And Stardust Found In NASA’s Asteroid Bennu Samples

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2025December 2, 2025

The asteroid Bennu continues to provide new clues to scientists’ biggest questions about the formation of the early solar system and the origins of life.

Chignik, Sol 680 "Hydrated" class Al203 ~ 17-29 wt.% -- NASA

Analog Studies, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Findings Suggest The Mars Was Warmer And Wetter Millions Of Years Ago

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2025December 2, 2025

Rocks that stood out as light-colored dots on the reddish-orange surface of Mars now are the latest evidence that areas of the small planet may have once supported wet oases […]

Free organic volatiles and IOM thermal degradation products liberated by flash heating to ~610 °C of Bennu samples.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Prebiotic Organic Compounds In Samples Of Asteroid Bennu Indicate Heterogeneous Aqueous Alteration

by Keith CowingNovember 25, 2025November 25, 2025

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission characterized the asteroid Bennu and delivered pristine samples of its regolith to Earth.

Using a NASA Tricorder to scan for life signs aka biosignatures - Astrobiology.com and Grok

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Machine Learning To Scan For Signs Of Extraterrestrial Life

by Keith CowingNovember 19, 2025

A machine learning framework can distinguish molecules made by biological processes from those formed through non-biological processes and could be used to analyze samples returned by current and future planetary […]

2.5 billion year old microbial structures -- The black features within this thin slice of rock are 2.5-billion-year-old microbial structures. This study suggests that the organic matter preserved within this complex microbial community may have been produced by photosynthetic microorganisms. Image credit: Andrea Corpolongo

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Chemical Evidence Of Ancient Life Detected In 3.3 billion-year-old Rocks

by Keith CowingNovember 18, 2025November 18, 2025

Pairing cutting-edge chemistry with artificial intelligence, a multidisciplinary team of scientists today published fresh chemical evidence of Earth’s earliest life – concealed in 3.3-billion-year-old rocks – and molecular evidence that […]

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover acquired this close-up view showing the cavernous weathering texture of an unusually shaped rock, “Phippsaksla,

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report

Perseverance Encounters A Possible Meteorite On Mars

by Keith CowingNovember 18, 2025November 18, 2025

During the rover’s recent investigation of the bedrock at “Vernodden,” Perseverance encountered an unusually shaped rock about 80 centimeters across (about 31 inches) called “Phippsaksla.”

The locations of oxychlorine detections on the surface of Mars. Details of the locations, specific species, and detection methodology in Table 1.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving

Oxychlorine Species On Mars: A Review

by Keith CowingNovember 17, 2025November 17, 2025

Oxychlorine species (mainly perchlorate and chlorate) have been identified at multiple locations on the surface of Mars by both orbiter and in situ rovers. They have also been found in […]