Water Found on Asteroids for the First Time

Discovery made using data from retired SOFIA mission sheds light on solar system's water distribution.

Water molecules have been detected on the surface of asteroids Iris and Massalia, marking the first time such a discovery has been made in space.
The discovery was made using data from the now-retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), operated by NASA and the German Aerospace Center.
This finding sheds light on the distribution of water in the solar system and could provide insights into how water was delivered to Earth.
The presence of water on asteroids suggests that silicate asteroids, previously thought to be dry, may conserve water over time.
The research opens up new possibilities for understanding the potential for life in our solar system and beyond.