1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,560 Okay, so picture this. 2 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:05,340 You're an archeologist, but you're not digging in the Earth. 3 00:00:05,340 --> 00:00:09,720 You're digging in space, and you've just stumbled upon 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,240 like a perfectly preserved time capsule, 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:13,960 older than our planet itself. 6 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:14,880 Wow. 7 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:16,240 That's what we're talking about today. 8 00:00:16,240 --> 00:00:19,000 Bennu, the asteroid that's basically, 9 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,820 it's like a cosmic window into the birth of our solar system. 10 00:00:21,820 --> 00:00:22,900 Okay. 11 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:24,560 Welcome to Cosmos in a Pod, 12 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:26,240 the Space and Astronomy series. 13 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:29,140 Please like, comment, share, and subscribe. 14 00:00:29,140 --> 00:00:31,400 So what makes Bennu so special? 15 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,720 Well, to understand that we need to bring in our expert. 16 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,840 So what's the big deal about Bennu? 17 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,400 Why are scientists so excited about this particular asteroid? 18 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,120 It's all about something we call pristine material. 19 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,920 You see, most meteorites that we find here on Earth 20 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,720 have gone through this fiery ordeal, right? 21 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:50,480 They enter our atmosphere, they get scorched, 22 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:51,520 they get altered. 23 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,800 But Bennu, it's been out there virtually untouched. 24 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:55,640 Really? 25 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:57,360 For 4.6 billion years. 26 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:58,200 Wow. 27 00:00:58,200 --> 00:00:59,720 It's like a cosmic deep freezer, 28 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:00,920 preserving the ingredients 29 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:02,600 of our solar system's earliest days. 30 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:03,960 So it's like the original recipe. 31 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:04,800 Right, exactly. 32 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,240 Not like a burnt meteorite you might find in a museum. 33 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:08,080 Exactly. 34 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,200 This is like the raw ingredients, 35 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:11,680 still fresh from the cosmic oven. 36 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,760 Precisely, and that's exactly why NASA launched 37 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:16,200 the OSIRIS-REx mission. 38 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:17,760 Oh right, to grab a piece of it. 39 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,560 Yeah, to grab a piece of Bennu, 40 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,440 bring it back to Earth for analysis. 41 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:22,400 So we have some here. 42 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:23,240 We do. 43 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:24,780 It's like having a piece of the solar system's 44 00:01:24,780 --> 00:01:26,680 birth certificate right here in our labs. 45 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,240 Wow, that's some seriously valuable cosmic cargo then. 46 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,600 But I'm curious, why go through all the trouble 47 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,600 of sending a spacecraft millions of miles 48 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,860 just to get a handful of space rock? 49 00:01:37,860 --> 00:01:40,600 What secrets can Bennu actually reveal? 50 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,420 Well for starters, it helped us understand 51 00:01:42,420 --> 00:01:44,160 the origins of our own planet. 52 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:45,000 Okay. 53 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:46,580 Scientists believe that Earth early on 54 00:01:46,580 --> 00:01:48,520 was bombarded by asteroids. 55 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:49,360 Right. 56 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:50,880 And some theorize that those impacts 57 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:52,560 might have delivered water. 58 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:53,400 Wow. 59 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:54,960 The water that fills our oceans. 60 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,320 And maybe even the organic molecules that make up, 61 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,480 that are the building blocks of life. 62 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:02,560 Hold on, are you saying that the water we drink, 63 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,320 like the very essence of life on Earth 64 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,140 might have come from an asteroid like Bennu? 65 00:02:07,140 --> 00:02:08,320 It's a wild thought. 66 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:09,620 That's a pretty wild thought. 67 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:12,020 But it is one of the most exciting questions 68 00:02:12,020 --> 00:02:14,680 that scientists are trying to answer by studying Bennu. 69 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,200 And the samples collected by OSIRIS-REx, 70 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,740 they contain water-rich minerals. 71 00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:23,540 These could hold clues about the source of Earth's water. 72 00:02:23,540 --> 00:02:25,720 So it's like a cosmic detective story. 73 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:26,560 It is. 74 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:28,040 We're looking for clues on Bennu 75 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,120 to solve the mystery of Earth's origins. 76 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:31,440 Yeah, precisely. 77 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,240 And it's not just about water. 78 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,480 Bennu also contains organic compounds. 79 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:36,320 Uh-huh. 80 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:37,260 Including amino acids, 81 00:02:37,260 --> 00:02:39,720 which are the building blocks of proteins, 82 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:41,920 essential for life as we know it. 83 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:44,240 Finding these on Bennu suggests that the ingredients 84 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,560 for life might be more common in the solar system 85 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:48,200 than we previously thought. 86 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:49,200 That's amazing. 87 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:50,660 So by studying Bennu, 88 00:02:50,660 --> 00:02:53,040 we're not only learning about our own past, 89 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:54,320 but we're also getting a glimpse 90 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,040 at the potential for life elsewhere in the universe. 91 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:57,960 Absolutely. 92 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,200 The discoveries from Bennu have broadened our understanding 93 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,160 of the conditions that might have existed 94 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:04,840 in the early solar system. 95 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,920 Conditions that could have been favorable 96 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:08,960 for the emergence of life. 97 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:10,360 It's a fascinating puzzle, 98 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,660 and we're just starting to put the pieces together. 99 00:03:12,660 --> 00:03:14,280 This is already blowing my mind. 100 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:15,720 And we're just getting started. 101 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,920 Can you tell us a little more about this daring mission 102 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:19,280 to collect samples from Bennu? 103 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:20,680 What did it actually involve? 104 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,420 Okay, so imagine this. 105 00:03:22,420 --> 00:03:25,240 A robotic arm reaching out from a spacecraft, 106 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,720 gently touching the surface of an asteroid 107 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,640 millions of miles away, 108 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:33,600 and scooping up this precious sample. 109 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:34,600 Millions of miles away. 110 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:35,440 Millions. 111 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,440 It took years of planning. 112 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,640 Incredible precision to pull this off. 113 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:40,800 It sounds like something straight out 114 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:41,860 of a science fiction movie. 115 00:03:41,860 --> 00:03:42,700 It does. 116 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:46,140 Were there any unexpected challenges 117 00:03:46,140 --> 00:03:47,840 or surprises along the way? 118 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:48,680 Oh, absolutely. 119 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:50,280 One of the biggest surprises came 120 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,000 when they opened up the sample capsule back on Earth. 121 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,320 Not only did they find the expected rock and dust, 122 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,640 but there was this bonus layer of loose material 123 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,760 that had been kicked up during the collection process. 124 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,600 It was like Bennu had given us an extra gift. 125 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:06,920 A little something extra to study. 126 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,440 An extra gift from an asteroid. 127 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,520 Now I know they found water and organic compounds, 128 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,340 but what else can this cosmic time capsule tell us? 129 00:04:15,340 --> 00:04:19,160 The Bennu sample is like a treasure trove of information. 130 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,880 They found volatile chemicals like ammonia, 131 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,640 which suggests that Bennu formed far away from the sun. 132 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:28,360 Think about it, maybe out near Neptune. 133 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:29,240 Wow. 134 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,600 And then it eventually migrated inward. 135 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,080 So Bennu has traveled billions of miles 136 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:35,560 across the solar system 137 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,020 to end up right in our cosmic backyard. 138 00:04:38,020 --> 00:04:40,640 And we managed to snag a piece of it. 139 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:41,880 Exactly. 140 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:43,240 And it gets even more incredible. 141 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,760 They even found pre-solar grains. 142 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:46,800 Pre-solar grains. 143 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:48,480 Okay, I'm gonna need you to break that down 144 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:49,360 for me and our listeners. 145 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:50,200 What are those? 146 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,080 These tiny grains are older than our sun itself. 147 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:53,920 Really? 148 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,760 They're like microscopic time capsules 149 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:57,920 from before our solar system even existed. 150 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,240 Wait, older than the sun? 151 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:00,560 How is that even possible? 152 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,080 It's mind boggling, isn't it? 153 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,840 These grains formed in the aftermath of previous stars. 154 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:05,680 Oh wow. 155 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:07,600 Remnants of ancient stellar explosions 156 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,560 that seeded the interstellar cloud 157 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,280 from which our solar system eventually formed. 158 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:13,880 They're like little bits of star dust 159 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,480 carrying the legacy of previous generations of stars. 160 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,400 Yeah, it really is amazing. 161 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,880 By studying these pre-solar grains, 162 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,220 scientists can get a glimpse into the conditions 163 00:05:24,220 --> 00:05:28,020 that existed in the universe before our sun was even born. 164 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:30,240 It's like reading a history book written in star dust. 165 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:31,080 That's incredible. 166 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,000 It makes you realize that we're all connected 167 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,360 to this vast cosmic history. 168 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,860 That the atoms in our bodies were once part of stars 169 00:05:37,860 --> 00:05:40,080 that lived and died billions of years ago. 170 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:41,160 Exactly. 171 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:42,720 And Bennu is helping us understand 172 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,020 how those atoms came together to form the planets, 173 00:05:45,020 --> 00:05:47,200 the water, and ultimately the life we see today. 174 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,200 Okay, so we've talked about water, organic compounds, 175 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,600 pre-solar grains, all incredibly fascinating. 176 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,500 But I wanna go back to those water rich minerals 177 00:05:55,500 --> 00:05:56,340 for a second. 178 00:05:56,340 --> 00:05:58,800 I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the idea 179 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,560 that the water we drink might've come from asteroids. 180 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,740 Is there really strong evidence to support that, Piri? 181 00:06:05,740 --> 00:06:09,200 It's a hotly debated topic in the scientific community, 182 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:10,520 but the evidence from Bennu 183 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,080 is certainly adding fuel to the fire. 184 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,520 The types of water rich minerals found on Bennu 185 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,680 are similar to those found in carbonaceous 186 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,220 chondrite meteorites, which are thought to be 187 00:06:20,220 --> 00:06:23,680 some of the most primitive objects in the solar system. 188 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,040 And the isotopic ratios of the water molecules on Bennu 189 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,960 closely match those found in Earth's oceans. 190 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:31,840 Isotopic ratios, okay. 191 00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:33,120 I'm gonna need you to break that down for me 192 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:34,000 like I'm five years old. 193 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,200 Okay, imagine water molecules like little fingerprints. 194 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:38,040 Okay. 195 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,200 Each type of water, whether it's from Earth, 196 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,320 an asteroid, or a comet, has a unique fingerprint 197 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,120 based on the ratio of different isotopes of hydrogen 198 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:47,800 and oxygen in the water molecules. 199 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,920 So by comparing these fingerprints, 200 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,540 scientists can trace the origins of Earth's water. 201 00:06:52,540 --> 00:06:53,380 Exactly. 202 00:06:53,380 --> 00:06:55,280 And the fact that Bennu's water fingerprint 203 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:57,880 matches that of Earth's oceans so closely 204 00:06:57,880 --> 00:06:59,760 suggests that asteroids like Bennu 205 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,440 could have been a major source of our planet's water. 206 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:03,480 Wow. 207 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,280 So it's possible that billions of years ago, 208 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:10,900 Earth was a dry, barren world, and then bam, 209 00:07:10,900 --> 00:07:13,440 asteroids like Bennu came crashing in, 210 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,120 delivering the water that would eventually 211 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,920 fill our oceans and make life possible. 212 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,260 It's a dramatic scenario, but one that's gaining 213 00:07:20,260 --> 00:07:23,140 more and more support from the scientific community. 214 00:07:23,140 --> 00:07:25,000 Of course, there's still a lot we don't know 215 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:26,840 about the details of how this all happened, 216 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:30,240 but Bennu is providing us with some critical clues. 217 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,240 It's like a cosmic puzzle, 218 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,300 and we're slowly piecing together the image. 219 00:07:35,300 --> 00:07:36,920 But I'm also curious about Bennu's journey 220 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:38,080 through the solar system. 221 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:39,680 You mentioned that it might have originated 222 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,320 out near Neptune. 223 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,140 How did it end up in our neighborhood? 224 00:07:43,140 --> 00:07:44,600 That's another great question. 225 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,820 Scientists believe that Bennu's parent body, 226 00:07:46,820 --> 00:07:49,060 a much larger asteroid, was shattered 227 00:07:49,060 --> 00:07:52,200 billions of years ago, probably due to a collision 228 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:53,520 with another object. 229 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,400 This collision sent fragments like Bennu 230 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,500 scattering throughout the solar system, 231 00:07:57,500 --> 00:07:59,400 some of them eventually ending up in orbits 232 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:00,960 that brought them close to Earth. 233 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,240 So Bennu is like a cosmic wanderer, 234 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,680 a piece of a much larger story that's been unfolding 235 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,760 for billions of years. 236 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:09,080 It's amazing to think about the journey 237 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:10,440 it's taken to get here. 238 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:13,520 And speaking of journeys, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, 239 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,520 now renamed OSIRIS-APEX, is on a new mission 240 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,040 to rendezvous with another near-Earth asteroid, 241 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,120 Apophis, in 2029. 242 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,480 Apophis, now that's an asteroid I've heard of. 243 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,300 Wasn't there some concern a while back 244 00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:27,120 that it might pose a threat to Earth? 245 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,720 Yeah, there was a brief period of concern 246 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,600 when initial observations suggested a small possibility 247 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,560 of an impact in 2029. 248 00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:37,920 However, further analysis, more refined observations 249 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,000 have ruled out any chance of a collision 250 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,240 in the foreseeable future. 251 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,160 Phew, that's a relief. 252 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,800 But why send a mission to study Apophis if it's not a threat? 253 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,000 Well, even though Apophis isn't going to hit us, 254 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,360 it's still an incredibly valuable target 255 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:53,000 for scientific study. 256 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,440 By studying Apophis up close, we can 257 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:57,840 learn more about its composition, structure, 258 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,200 and how it interacts with the sun's gravity. 259 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,200 This information will not only help us understand 260 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,320 Apophis better, but also improve our knowledge 261 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:05,840 of asteroids in general, which is 262 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:07,640 crucial for planetary defense. 263 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,080 So it's not just about scientific curiosity. 264 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,800 It's about protecting Earth from potential asteroid threats 265 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:13,600 in the future. 266 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:14,520 Absolutely. 267 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:16,400 The more we understand about asteroids, 268 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,120 the better prepared we'll be to deal with any potential hazards 269 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:20,320 they might pose. 270 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:23,640 OSIRIS APEX will be our eyes and ears on Apophis, 271 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,640 giving us valuable data that will help us refine our models 272 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:28,360 and improve our ability to predict 273 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,240 the trajectories of these celestial objects. 274 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,520 So we're not just learning about the past with Bennu. 275 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,640 We're also preparing for the future with Apophis. 276 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,560 It's amazing how these missions connect our understanding 277 00:09:39,560 --> 00:09:42,240 of the universe with the practical concerns 278 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:43,760 of protecting our own planet. 279 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,000 And that's the beauty of space exploration. 280 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,080 It pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, 281 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,600 it inspires innovation, and ultimately helps us 282 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,640 understand our place in the cosmos. 283 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,000 This is mind blowing stuff. 284 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,560 And I'm sure our listeners are just as captivated as I am. 285 00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:57,720 Before we move on, though, I want 286 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,720 to take a moment to reflect on everything we've learned 287 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,960 so far, from Bennu's origins in the early solar system 288 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,320 to its potential role in bringing water and water 289 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,320 to Earth to the ongoing mission to study Apophis. 290 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,320 It's been an incredible journey. 291 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,520 What stands out to you as the most significant takeaway 292 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:13,320 from all of this? 293 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,360 For me, it's the realization that we're not just observers 294 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:17,320 of the universe. 295 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,320 We're participants in a grand cosmic story that's 296 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,840 been unfolding for billions of years. 297 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,720 Every atom in our bodies, every drop of water we drink, 298 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:28,720 every grain of sand on the beach, 299 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,880 it all came from somewhere. 300 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:32,640 And it all has a story to tell. 301 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,640 Bennu is a reminder of that connection, a tangible piece 302 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:39,240 of the universe's history that we can hold in our hands 303 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,000 and study in our labs. 304 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:41,640 You know, it's funny. 305 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,920 We started this deep dive talking about Bennu 306 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,840 as a time capsule from the early solar system. 307 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,160 But it's more than that. 308 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:50,640 It's a reflection of ourselves, of our place 309 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,760 in the grand scheme of things. 310 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:54,080 That's a great observation. 311 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,240 We think of space exploration as this outward thing, 312 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,520 distant stars and galaxies. 313 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:01,840 But it also turns the mirror back to the past. 314 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,680 It turns the mirror back on us, making 315 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:06,680 us think about our own origins, our connection 316 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:07,600 to the universe. 317 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,440 It's humbling to think that we're 318 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,560 made of the same stuff as stars. 319 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:14,520 And the water we drink might have come from asteroids. 320 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,480 It really puts things in perspective. 321 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:17,000 It does. 322 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,040 It makes you realize that we're not just living on Earth. 323 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:21,240 We're a part of it. 324 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,560 And we're a part of something much, much larger, 325 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:27,160 something that's been unfolding for billions of years. 326 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,120 It makes you wonder, what does it all mean? 327 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:32,640 What's the point of this whole grand cosmic story 328 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:34,560 that we're just a tiny part of? 329 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:36,960 That's the question that philosophers and scientists 330 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:38,960 have been asking for centuries. 331 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,680 And while there might not be a single definitive answer, 332 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:45,840 I think that search for the answer is what drives us, 333 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,360 what makes us human, that curiosity, 334 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,720 that desire to understand, the need 335 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,080 to make sense of our place in the universe. 336 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,280 Those are the things that propel us forward, 337 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,920 both as individuals and as a species. 338 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,200 It's like we're programmed to explore, to learn, 339 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,800 to push the boundaries of what we know. 340 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:06,920 And in doing so, we discover not only 341 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,560 the wonders of the universe, but also the wonders 342 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:10,480 within ourselves. 343 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:12,200 I think that's a beautiful way to put it. 344 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:13,880 The more we learn about the universe, 345 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:15,560 the more we learn about ourselves. 346 00:12:15,560 --> 00:12:18,280 And the more we appreciate this interconnectedness 347 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,920 of everything, from the smallest subatomic particle 348 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:23,480 to the largest galaxy. 349 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:24,440 It's awe-inspiring. 350 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,800 It makes you want to keep exploring, to keep learning, 351 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,200 to keep asking questions. 352 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:29,760 And that's what we should be doing. 353 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,600 The universe is full of mysteries, 354 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:33,560 and it's up to us to unravel them. 355 00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:36,600 Who knows what incredible discoveries are out there? 356 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,360 I can't wait to find out. 357 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,480 But for now, I think we've reached the end of our deep dive 358 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:42,200 into Bennu. 359 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:43,080 Yeah. 360 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:44,640 It's been an incredible journey. 361 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,120 And I want to thank you for being such a fantastic guide. 362 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:48,960 The pleasure was all mine. 363 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,160 I always enjoy sharing my passion for the universe. 364 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,680 And I know our listeners are grateful for your insights. 365 00:12:53,680 --> 00:12:55,640 So before we sign off, what's one final thought 366 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,480 you'd like to leave our listeners with? 367 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,120 Keep looking up at the stars. 368 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,880 Keep asking questions. 369 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,680 And never lose your sense of wonder. 370 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:05,680 The universe is full of amazing things. 371 00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:07,680 And there's always something new to discover. 372 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:08,760 Beautifully said. 373 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:10,800 And for those of you who want to continue exploring 374 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,800 the mysteries of the universe with us, 375 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,960 be sure to follow us on social media handle 376 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:17,520 and subscribe to Cosmos, Linda Podd, and our YouTube channel 377 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,560 for more fascinating deep dives. 378 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:27,960 Until next time, keep exploring.