News

A three panel image featuring a launch of a spacecraft, a robotic arm touching a rocky surface and a man pumping his fist into the air in celebration.

Oct. 7, 2026

Tenacity, triumph and discovery: Looking back at OSIRIS-REx at mission's end

Asteroid Bennu's rugged surface baffled NASA. We finally know why

Scientists pinpoint the sweet spot where ingredients for life can survive around new-forming stars

BBC Sky at Night

Old Main building on the UArizona campus

Jan. 5, 2026

This asteroid is spilling secrets about the origin of life on Earth

National Geographic

Scientists pinpoint the sweet spot where ingredients for life can survive around new-forming stars

Jan. 15, 2026

BBC Sky at Night

This asteroid is spilling secrets about the origin of life on Earth

Jan. 5, 2026

National Geographic

OSIRIS-REx sample holds DNA sugar: What this means

Dec. 3, 2025

FOX 10 Phoenix

Scientists found tryptophan, the 'sleepy' amino acid, in an asteroid. Here's what it means

Nov. 27, 2025

CNN

Earth fills most of the image, a moody blue globe mostly covered with tiny blueish white clouds like carpet pile or sheep’s wool. In the foreground, the instrument panel is dark enough to be nearly in silhouette, like a city skyline. A tall thin rectangle juts up from the left side of the panel, like a tall building, which is part of the SamCam. In the center, a shorter, squatter polygon shape is the OLA instrument. A slightly lighter colored Y shape lays on its side in front of the OLA.

OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft takes selfie with Earth during flyby

Nov. 25, 2025

The spacecraft of the U of A-led OSIRIS-APEX mission performed a "slingshot" maneuver around Earth as part of its journey to catch up with its mission target, asteroid Apophis.

New research reveals that the asteroid Bennu likely originated on outskirts of the solar system

Aug. 28, 2025

Smithsonian Magazine

Asteroid Bennu contains dust older than the solar system itself – and traces of interstellar space

Aug. 25, 2025

Live Science

Media

Asteroid Bennu's rugged surface baffled NASA. We finally know why

Scientists pinpoint the sweet spot where ingredients for life can survive around new-forming stars

This asteroid is spilling secrets about the origin of life on Earth

Scientists pinpoint the sweet spot where ingredients for life can survive around new-forming stars

This asteroid is spilling secrets about the origin of life on Earth

OSIRIS-REx sample holds DNA sugar: What this means

Scientists found tryptophan, the 'sleepy' amino acid, in an asteroid. Here's what it means

OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft takes selfie with Earth during flyby

A mission to a distant asteroid just got an unexpected surprise

This asteroid holds material older than the sun itself

Meet 3I/Atlas, an object from another solar system

New research details compounds that make up asteroid Bennu

Asteroid Bennu contains stardust that's older than the solar system

New research reveals that the asteroid Bennu likely originated on outskirts of the solar system

Asteroid Bennu contains dust older than the solar system itself – and traces of interstellar space