Organic Material on Ceres Likely Delivered by Outer Asteroid Belt Impactors

New research suggests that organic compounds on the dwarf planet's surface originated from asteroid impacts rather than internal processes.

A study using AI analysis of NASA's Dawn spacecraft data found organic material on Ceres likely came from impacting asteroids in the outer asteroid belt.
Researchers identified two previously unknown organic-rich sites near the Ernutet crater, confirming that such deposits are rare on Ceres.
The study ruled out cryovolcanism, a process where brine rises to the surface, as the source of the organic material.
Simulations suggest low-speed impacts from nearby asteroids allowed organic compounds to survive the collisions.
The findings highlight the role of asteroid impacts in delivering life-building molecules to planetary bodies in the Solar System.