Last fall, NASA's OSIRIS-Rex mission successfully retrieved samples from the asteroid Bennu - a daring and incredible scientific achievement. Some of these samples, which date back to the formation of the solar system, are now at the National Museum of Natural History. Unaltered by Earth’s atmosphere, they will provide Smithsonian scientists the chance to help solve mysteries around the origins of Earth, the solar system, and even life itself.

Join Kirk Johnson (Sant Director, NMNH) in conversation with Tim McCoy (Research Geologist and Curator of Meteorites, NMNH), Mike Ackerson (Curator of the National Rock and Ore Collection, NMNH), and Erica Jawin (Postdoctoral Research Geologist, National Air and Space Museum) to find out what we can learn from the sample, the exciting science surrounding the museum's Our Unique Planet initiative, and how scientists are studying Bennu to answer big questions about Earth’s deep history. 

Stay after the discussion to touch a meteorite!

Register here.

Mosaic Image of Asteroid Bennu: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona