双语新闻：科学家在NASA带回的小行星样本中发现了水和碳的证据
On the 11th local time, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the first time publicly displayed samples brought back from the surface of the asteroid Bennu. The sample weighs about 250 grams and includes various sizes of rock and dust particles. At a press conference held at Johnson Space Center on Wednesday, NASA said it had found carbon and hydrated minerals in the samples. Analysis of the "Bennu" rock with an electron microscope revealed that water was locked in the crystal structure of the clay minerals.
当地时间11日，美国国家航空航天局首次公开展示此前从小行星“贝努”表面带回的样本。这个样本重约250克，包括各种大小岩石、尘埃颗粒。11日当天，在约翰逊航天中心举行的发布会上，美国航天局表示，已经在样本中发现碳和水合矿物。用电子显微镜对“贝努”岩石进行分析后发现，黏土矿物的晶体结构中锁有水。
NASA said the amount of carbon found in Bennu's samples was higher than expected, and further research is needed to confirm the nature of the carbon compounds found. Research in the coming decades will uncover the secrets contained in the rock and dust of Bennu, helping to understand how the solar system formed, how life on Earth developed, and what steps need to be taken to avoid asteroid impacts.
美航天局表示，贝努样本中发现的碳含量比预期还高，仍需进一步研究来确认所发现的碳化合物的性质。未来几十年的研究将揭开贝努小行星的岩石和尘埃中蕴含的秘密，从而帮助了解太阳系如何形成、地球上的生命如何孕育，以及需要采取哪些措施避免小行星撞击地球。
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the Bennu sample is the largest carbon-rich asteroid ever returned to Earth and will help scientists study the origin of life on Earth. Missions like Osiris-Rex will also improve understanding of asteroids that could threaten Earth.
美航天局局长比尔·纳尔逊表示，贝努小行星样本是迄今返回地球的最大的富含碳元素的小行星样本，将帮助科学家们研究地球生命起源。奥西里斯-REx等探测任务还将增进对可能威胁地球的小行星的了解。
A NASA spacecraft collected the dust and chunks from Asteroid Bennu three years ago and dropped them off on Earth last month.
三年前，美国宇航局的一艘宇宙飞船从小行星本努收集了尘埃和大块物质，并于上个月将它们送回了地球。
Associate Professor Michelle Thompson on the NASA mission says they are excited about the early results from the samples.
参与NASA任务的副教授米歇尔·汤普森表示，他们对样本的早期结果感到兴奋。
The one-billion-U.S.-dollar, seven-year NASA mission aims to learn how the solar system and Earth in particular formed.
十亿年——美国。美国国家航空和宇宙航行局(NASA)耗资10亿美元、历时7年的这项任务旨在了解太阳系，尤其是地球是如何形成的。
当地时间11日，美国国家航空航天局首次公开展示此前从小行星“贝努”表面带回的样本。这个样本重约250克，包括各种大小岩石、尘埃颗粒。11日当天，在约翰逊航天中心举行的发布会上，美国航天局表示，已经在样本中发现碳和水合矿物。用电子显微镜对“贝努”岩石进行分析后发现，黏土矿物的晶体结构中锁有水。
NASA said the amount of carbon found in Bennu's samples was higher than expected, and further research is needed to confirm the nature of the carbon compounds found. Research in the coming decades will uncover the secrets contained in the rock and dust of Bennu, helping to understand how the solar system formed, how life on Earth developed, and what steps need to be taken to avoid asteroid impacts.
美航天局表示，贝努样本中发现的碳含量比预期还高，仍需进一步研究来确认所发现的碳化合物的性质。未来几十年的研究将揭开贝努小行星的岩石和尘埃中蕴含的秘密，从而帮助了解太阳系如何形成、地球上的生命如何孕育，以及需要采取哪些措施避免小行星撞击地球。
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the Bennu sample is the largest carbon-rich asteroid ever returned to Earth and will help scientists study the origin of life on Earth. Missions like Osiris-Rex will also improve understanding of asteroids that could threaten Earth.
美航天局局长比尔·纳尔逊表示，贝努小行星样本是迄今返回地球的最大的富含碳元素的小行星样本，将帮助科学家们研究地球生命起源。奥西里斯-REx等探测任务还将增进对可能威胁地球的小行星的了解。
A NASA spacecraft collected the dust and chunks from Asteroid Bennu three years ago and dropped them off on Earth last month.
三年前，美国宇航局的一艘宇宙飞船从小行星本努收集了尘埃和大块物质，并于上个月将它们送回了地球。
Associate Professor Michelle Thompson on the NASA mission says they are excited about the early results from the samples.
参与NASA任务的副教授米歇尔·汤普森表示，他们对样本的早期结果感到兴奋。
The one-billion-U.S.-dollar, seven-year NASA mission aims to learn how the solar system and Earth in particular formed.
十亿年——美国。美国国家航空和宇宙航行局(NASA)耗资10亿美元、历时7年的这项任务旨在了解太阳系，尤其是地球是如何形成的。
