Bennu samples point to formation near the water-ice line

Analysis of 120 g of Bennu material returned by OSIRIS-REx suggests the asteroid formed near the young solar system's water-ice line rather than in the distant outer region. Iron, titanium and chromium isotopes match Ryugu and CI meteorites, indicating a shared dust reservoir shaped by Jupiter.

• OSIRIS-REx returned about 120 g of Bennu material in 2026
• Isotopic fingerprint matches asteroid Ryugu and CI meteorites
• Researchers link Bennu's origin to the water-ice line
• Jupiter may have acted as a barrier and mixed dust at that boundary