Asteroids

Scientists suggest that asteroid impacts created hot, chemical-rich environments that could have kick-started life on Earth. A new review led by recent Rutgers graduate Shea Cinquemani highlights impact-generated hydrothermal systems as potential cradles for life's building blocks. These systems may have persisted for thousands of years, providing ideal conditions for early biology.

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The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile has detected a 710-metre-wide asteroid that rotates once every 1.9 minutes, faster than previously thought possible for its size. Named 2025 MN45, it is the quickest-spinning asteroid over 500 metres across ever observed. Astronomers say its speed suggests it is a single solid rock or even metal, not a loose rubble pile.

Scientists have analyzed rare carbonaceous chondrites to uncover the composition of carbon-rich asteroids, identifying potential resources for future space exploration. The study, led by researchers at the Institute of Space Sciences, suggests certain asteroid types could yield water and materials, though large-scale mining remains challenging. Published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the findings highlight promising targets for missions to the Moon and Mars.

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New studies suggest that explosions of comets or asteroids above Earth's surface, known as touchdown airbursts, may have occurred more often and caused widespread destruction than previously recognized. Led by UC Santa Barbara's James Kennett, researchers have identified markers of these events in diverse locations, from ocean sediments to ancient ruins. These findings highlight the potential climate and societal impacts of such invisible cosmic threats.