ShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Ask any audiophile, and theyll tell you the same thing: premium sound quality still comes from wired headphonesand if you want to get the most out of your investment while out and about, you should look into DAPs, a.k.a. digital audio players. With the headphone jacks death on smartphones, getting an optimized on-the-go listening experience isnt as easy as it used to be. It doesnt matter if you have access to lossless audio if youre just going to degrade it using Bluetooth. If youre looking for that old-school iPod Touch experience given fresh life with the latest high-resolution technology, theres only one way to go: tap into a DAP like our best overall, the FiiO M23.Whether youre looking for the most versatile portable player, a desktop music streamer that can be the centerpiece of a home setup, or the best budget device, these are the best DAPs for every type of user.Best overall: FiiO M23Best desktop: FiiO R9Best under $500: HiBy R5 Gen 2Best budget: Hidizs AP80 Pro-XHow we chose the best DAPsOver my years working in tech journalism, Ive developed a passion for great sound. As an apartment dweller until 2019, I was limited to in-ear monitors and headphones, so I skipped right over loudspeakers and dove deep into personal audio equipment. Ive been lucky enough to test dozens of different headphones, earphones, and devices that drive them. Ive learned and experienced far more than I ever expected to, but the depths of my audio geekery allowed me to develop a discerning eye to sort the stupendous from the snake oil.For this article, I researched the major digital audio players released over the last several years. I began with an eye toward features and components: the on-paper specs that made certain options stand out from others. I then compared those early choices with real user impressions on audio enthusiast sites like Head-Fi and r/headphones, smaller communities like Facebooks ChiFi Audio Reviews, and retailers like Amazon. This refined the list because what looks good on paper doesnt necessarily translate into a great product. Finally, I relied on my own first-hand experience, as well as the pedigree of the brands producing each DAP.The best DAPs: Reviews & RecommendationsThese standalone devices have a sole purpose: playing music. Some portable music players do this with audio files you need to load yourself. Others come with operating systems (most often Android-based) and support streaming services like Spotify or TIDAL. They can also range widely in cost, some focusing on accessible budget pricing and others taking the form of genuine luxury items. However, they all strive to deliver the highest sound quality, exceeding what you could hope for from a smartphone and headphone adapter.If youre on the hunt for an aural upgrade, were here to help and have collected top-tier options. Even with those considerations in mind, settling on one of the best portable players can be confusing without doing lots of researchwhich is exactly what were here for. Weve done the digging, so you dont have to. Here are the best digital audio players available today that offer far more features than the MP3 players they call ancestors.Best overall: FiiO M23ProsGreat balance of features and priceSnappy performanceSupports balanced and single-ended headphonesHigh power outputConsSlightly less battery than the last generationRather bulkyWhy it made the cut: The FiiO M23 is the successor to the M11Plus (our previous best overall pick) and offers major improvements without any increase in price. Its a killer value.SpecsPrice: $699.99Screen size: 5.5-inch HD (1440720) IPS panelConnectivity: Balanced (2.5mm/4.4mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 5.0 (SBC/AAC/aptX HD/LDAC)Music streaming: YesOutput power: 1000mw per channelDAC: AKM AK419EQ + AKM AK4499EX DACBattery life: 10.5 hoursThe FiiO M23 is the successor to the M11Plus, released in 2021. That model was our pick for the best overall DAP, and the M23 one-ups it in more ways than one. Its more powerful, more stylish, has a better DAC, global EQ, and more, all without raising the price.If youre looking for the best balance of price and features, the M23 is easily the best pick right now under $1,000. In fact, you could easily spend more and get less. This digital audio player massively increases the power from the last generation. Its total output is an impressive 1000mW, enough to drive even the most demanding headphones. Because it has multiple gain modes, it works just as well with sensitive in-ear monitors.This model also comes with enhanced components for better audio than ever before. FiiO is again working with AKM, one of the worlds premier manufacturers of digital-to-analog converters, following an unfortunate fire that limited its production. The M23 uses the same combination of dual DACs found in FiiOs high-end K9 desktop DAC/amp and Q15 portable DAC: the AK4191EQ and AK4499EX. These DACs can reproduce audio up to 32-bit, 384kHz, and DSD up to DSD256. It also comes with AKMs new DWA Routing Technology to decrease any potential background noise for improved dynamic range.Its amplifier circuitry is also improved. While the M11Plus utilized a THX AAA 78 amplifier, the M23 features the upgraded THX AAA 78+, opening the door to its higher power output. THXs AAA amplifier series is renowned for its incredible cleanness. Zero hiss, zero background noise, and utter neutrality describe its sound profile. This DAP will not color your listening experience unless you take advantage of its system-wide EQ.And since it runs Android, youll also have access to all of your favorite streaming apps, including Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, and more. Its Snapdragon 660 processor is unchanged from the last generation and is admittedly getting long in the tooth. However, music listening and web browsing are still responsive enough to deliver a satisfying experience. You can get more power and features if you pay more, but in most cases, its well into the realm of diminishing returns beyond the M23. Just like the M11Plus, its a fantastic value that balances sound quality, features, responsiveness, and, most importantly, price with ease.Suppose you dont need more power and the latest chipsets. In that case, there are still people selling the FiiO M11 Plus (shown above), as well as the Chinese personal audio specialists even more budget M11S for those looking to really stretch that performance-to-price ratio. On the other end of the spectrum, FiiO offers a fancier flagship worth exploring if you only own hard-to-drive summit-fi headphonesthe $1,799 flagship M17, a handheld that packs the power of a desktop amp into a transportable form.Best desktop: FiiO R9Tony Ware ProsFantastic connectivityWorks great for headphones or full speakersConvenient touch interfaceMassive power outputConsLarge footprintNot portableWhy it made the cut: This flagship media streamer transcends traditional players by becoming a desktop device, complete with a powerful amp, great DAC, and tons of connectivity.SpecsPrice: $1,499.99Screen size: 6-inch IPS FHD (2160 x 1080) portrait panelConnectivity: Balanced (4.4mm/XLR), single-ended (6.35mm), Bluetooth 5.1 (AAC/SBC/aptX/aptX HD/LDAC/LHDC), RCA, Optical, Coaxial, HDMI in, HDMI out (ARC), USB-A, USB-C, 100M Ethernet,Music streaming: YesOutput power: 7300mWDAC: Dual ES9038Pro DACsBattery life: N/AThe FiiO R9 is one of the more unique digital audio players you can buy. Its a hybrid, an aluminum monolith with colorful LED accents that blurs the lines between a traditional audio player and an exceptionally powerful, high-resolution DAC/amp. This network player features a six-inch touchscreen (shown above with its protective shipping panels still intact) and an Android 10 operating system that can connect to the internet for streaming services and apps, like most portable players, but its not designed to be portable. The media streamer is made to live on your desktop near your computer or wherever you plan to listen to music, and it will connect to and drive just about anythingincluding your soundbar (via ARC), a preamp/AV receiver, or an existing powered speaker setup. Andwith a trio of headphone outputs (two of them balanced) delivering punchy lows, textured mids, and quick, controlled transientsit ensures that any cans can.While it might seem counterintuitive to put an Android player on your desktop, the magic of the R9 lies in how well-designed it is. Just like portable players, having a separate device dedicated purely to music is naturally appealing for its dedication to pristine sound quality. Being able to tap and swipe instead of changing windows (and destroying your workflow) winds up feeling more convenient and intuitive. And if you prefer to set it up away from physical sources or use it when the Wi-Fi router is down, you can simply stream to it from your smartphone using your choice of high-res codecs. We already enjoy using an ASUS Zenfone 10 when testing Bluetooth devices (because what is an inexpensive, easily pocketed Android smartphone if not a DAP itself), and the R9 experience is equally intuitive and efficient, but with added levels of All-to-DSD and Parametric EQ music-first processing. Conversely, you can use the R9 to connect to AirPlay devices (like an iPhone) as a source, as well as Bluetooth devices as a destination.FiiO took the kitchen sink approach to the R9, and its a better product because of itoffering both a polished look and sound. If theres a feature you can think of, it probably has it. Between its tremendous power and connectivity, as well as its dual top-tier ES9038Pro DACs and eight-channel THX-788+ amplifier (featuring five levels of gain), its designed with circuit boards full of discrete components that allow it to be the centerpiece of your home listening experience. You can connect a Blu-ray player for advanced resolution audio via HDMI, play hi-rez downloads and rips off a MicroSD card, use the device as an endpoint to access a Roon music server, or opt for (semi-)analog with a turntable that offers USB output. And thats just some of the I/O. Really the only thing the R9 cant do is power passive speakers. If the R9 sounds appealing but its out of your budget, the FiiO R7 is a great alternative. Coming in at around half the price, its screen is small, it drops power output to a still respectable 3.6 watts, and it loses the HDMI ports but maintains all of the same appeal otherwise. Both the R7 and R9 are destined to impress with linear performance in versatile packaging.Still consider a handheld DAP the best splurge for you and open to splashing out a few thousand to lug around some luxury? If its refined industrial angles you crave, the Astell&Kern A&ultima remains one of the most distinctive DAP lines with the best design, and the SP3000 continues the companys tradition of high-resolution listening and the best high-end builds.Best under $500: HiBy R5 Gen 2ProsUnique sound tuning thats very accessibleGood power outputGood connectivityCompact and convenient sizeConsSlower processorAging specsWhy it made the cut: The HiBy R5 Gen II is a killer value, combining good power output, connectivity, and features for well under $500.SpecsPrice: $349.99Screen size: 4.7-inch (1280720) IPS panelConnectivity: Balanced (2.5mm/4.4mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 4.2 (SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX HD/UAT/LDAC),Music streaming: YesOutput power: Up to 475mWDAC: Dual ES9219C DACsBattery life: 35 hours (10 hours in Class A mode)If youre looking for a quality DAP that wont break the bank, the HiBy R5 Gen II is well worth considering. At only $349 and sometimes less (weve seen it as low as $279 after a $70 instant coupon), this player offers audiophile-grade sound quality and some truly fantastic features. It combines support for up to 32-bit/768kHz files with an impressively low 130dB signal-to-noise ratio for complete clarity across its 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm connections. If youd rather stream your music, it also supports MQA so you can enjoy TIDAL to its fullest or simply download Spotify and other streaming apps through the Google Play Store.The R5 Gen II is compact, with a size thats pocketable but still easy to use. Despite its stature, it offers a surprising amount of power with up 320mW in its default mode or 475mW in Class A mode. The first setting nets you the best battery life at 28 to 35 hours, while Class A mode instantly enhances the sound with added fullness and headroom.Whats especially nice about the R5 is HiBys unique approach to equalization. Rather than rely on confusing frequency band sliders like most EQs, the R5 uses sound characteristics to describe what youre adjusting. Want your sound brighter and more detailed or bassy and dark? Theres a slider for that. Want more texture and detail in the bass or vocals to be more forward or back in the mix? There are sliders for those too and more besides. Its a much more accessible and fun approach to customizing your sound. The R5 isnt without its downsides. The technology driving it and its OS version are getting old, so you shouldnt plan on much more than listening to music or checking the occasional email with this device. But as a DAP, its responsive enough, fun, and sounds greatmaking it our best value pick.Best budget: Hidizs AP80 Pro-XProsSupremely pocketableGood output power at this priceVery user-friendly EQ8x MQA decodingBuilt-in step counter and ebook reader, if you want to leave your smartwatch and Kindle at homeConsPlays local files only in normal modeComparatively low battery lifeNo onboard storageWhy it made the cut: The Hidizs AP80 Pro-X cant stream music, but it offers a highly customizable sound with lots of versatility.SpecsPrice: $189.99Screen size: 2.5-inchConnectivity: Balanced (2.5mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 4.1 (including AAC, aptX, LDAC, UAT codecs)Music streaming: NoOutput power: 190mW (balanced), 70mW (single-ended)Battery life: 9 hours (balanced), 13 hours (single-ended)The Hidizs AP80 Pro-X is unlike any other DAP on this list and is excellent value for its budget price. Coming in at $189, it is the only portable music player we feature that is unable to connect natively to major streaming services. But dont let that fool you, as the AP80 Pro-X has a lot going for it that makes it well worth considering for music lovers on a budget.Much of the magic of the AP80 Pro-X comes from its simplicity. It runs the HiBy OS, which does not have access to the Google Play Store but is fast and responsive, avoiding the pitfall of sluggishness plaguing so many digital audio players. It can accept MicroSD cards up to 512GB, holding up to a couple of thousand albums (including files up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256). And it delivers those files with plenty of power across its 3.5mm single-ended (70mW) and 2.5mm balanced (190mW) connections.If you want to listen to streaming services, youll need a smartphone or computer. When connected to an internet-enabled source, the AP80 Pro-X can act as a DAC, receiving that audio and sending it through (complete with 8x MQA decoding) to your headphones. It functions similarly to a dongle DAC or a wireless Bluetooth receiver (supporting AAC, aptX, LDAC, UAT codecs) but with all the features and enhanced sound quality of this much more sophisticated player. It also offers expansive sound customization with sliders dedicated to specific descriptors, like bass extension and note thickness. Its a unique, user-friendly touch other DAP manufacturers could learn from.At $189, the AP80 Pro-X offers quite a lot, but its not without its sacrifices. It doesnt come with onboard storage to begin uploading your files immediately. The battery life is also only so-so. But with a one-hour complete recharge time, downtime shouldnt be much of an issue, and the AP80 Pro-X (shown above with the equally approachably priced MP145 planar-magnetic IEMs) offers far, far more than the cheap digital music players of old and lets you relish all the details.Things to consider before buying one of the best DAPsLike most things within the audio hobby, choosing the right DAP isnt as simple as finding whats popular and assuming it will work for you. Prices scale into thousands of dollars; unsurprisingly, those expensive products tend to get rave recommendations. Based on positive feedback alone, you might assume you must spend $1,000 for a great experience. Instead, the much wiser choice is to work backward from the features you need and find the best digital audio player that fits your budget. Heres what to look for before committing to a purchase:ConnectivityThe first thing to consider with any DAP is its connectivity options. Some DAPs are limited solely to single-ended (standard 3.5mm) connections. Others offer 4.4mm or 2.5mm balanced connectionsports that split the signal into left and right channels for reduced distortion, improved clarity, and increased power delivery. Even if your current headphones use a standard 3.5mm jack, its worth considering whether a balanced earphone may be in your future. Since balanced outputs tend to offer more power, it is a useful option if youre listening to harder-to-drive headphones.One important thing to remember is that, due to their size, the best hi-res players typically lack support for the large 6.35mm jacks common to over-hear headphones. Using a DAP with cans like these is still possible, but youll need an adapter to make the connection. This flexible option from Sennheiser is an excellent choice and comes in at just under $20.Connectivity doesnt stop at the wire, however. Some DAPs also support Bluetooth to send and/or receive audio, as well as Wi-Fi for higher-resolution/bandwidth audio. If you want your device also to drive true wireless earbuds or the best portable speakers, youll need to be sure it supports Bluetooth as a feature. Its important to acknowledge that, while convenient, Bluetooth isnt the highest-fidelity option. However, pairing earbuds and a DAP that support the LDAC codec is a solid listening experience, and aptX Lossless, while on very few components currently, has potential.Output powerRight up there with connectivity options is how much power the portable DAP can produce. This isnt usually an issue for small, easy-to-drive in-ear monitors, but it is a major consideration if youre considering over-ear headphones. Audiophile-grade cans often require the extra power of a dedicated headphone amplifier to sound their best, and a DAP that doesnt produce enough power to drive them is bound to disappoint.This information is usually found on the specification list for most players and is rated in milliwatts (mW) or volts RMS (VRMS). It is typically rated against a certain resistance measured in ohms: 70mw@32, for example. The amount of output power can also vary between the balanced and single-ended (3.5mm) outputs. So, its important to consider which port youll be using and not just assume the highest possible output power is what youll be getting.Since headphones have an incredibly wide range of power demands, offering specific advice without knowing which will be used is impossible. Generally, 50mW of output power is sufficient for most earphones. Headphones can be more demanding. To be safe, run your headphones through a headphone power calculator to find out exactly how much power output you should be targeting.If you plan to listen to a mix of in-ear and over-ear headphones, consider looking for a DAP with high- and low-gain modes for less hiss and more fine-tuned volume adjustment. A very high-output player may work great for a demanding pair of audiophile headphones but could make listening to sensitive multidriver earbuds difficult with very touchy volume controls. Being able to swap between low- and high-gain modes can be game-changing to the versatility of a DAP.Support for streaming services and file typesDigital audio players come in two varieties: simple music-file players and smart devices supporting online streaming. If youre a die-hard fan of lossless audio with a deep catalog of hi-res audio files, youll probably be happy with a standard dumb DAP that has the sole job of making your music sound great.If youre a fan of TIDAL or Spotify, youll need a DAP that can connect to the internet and has a display capable of navigating these apps. That means running some version of Android and, usually, a more complicated and expensive device. Smart audio players often feel like smartphones designed around playing music, which can be both good and bad (if youre looking for that kind of convergence device, check out something with an upgraded integrated DAC/amp, like the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro). On the plus side, DAPs that support streaming services give you access to huge music libraries and the ability to pick up where you left off across different devices. The downside is that, since the focus is on audio quality, the actual computer side of the device is often several generations old, including the operating system. Many smart DAPs feel sluggish compared to similarly priced smartphones.The other thing to consider is what file formats the device can play back. To stream the highest quality tracks from TIDAL, your DAP must support decoding those files. TIDALs top streaming tier features MQA, or Master Quality Authenticated, tracks that use a proprietary compression algorithm that only some players can fully decode, usually at an additional cost. Likewise, if youre playing local files, youll want to be sure the device supports the format of your library (FLAC, ALAC, DSD, WAV, etc.).Battery lifeFinally, the last thing to consider when purchasing a DAP is how long you can expect it to play between recharges. Somewhat counterintuitively, the fancier DACs often offer worse battery life due to their large screens, Android operating systems, and more powerful digital signal processing options/amplifier output. Any DAP worth investing in will last at least through a workday of listening. If you dont mind plugging in overnight, this will likely be sufficient.Along with this, look closely at how long the player takes to recharge. The Hidiz AP80 Pro-X comes in on the low end for battery life but takes only an hour to fully recharge, which means a quick plug-in throughout the day will likely close the gap in usability for extended listening sessions. If you anticipate having to plug in, also check if the device can still be used while charging.FAQsQ: What is a DAP? The acronym DAP stands for Digital Audio Player. These standalone devices aim to play your music back at the highest quality. While many audiophile products pair with a smartphone via USB, DAPs remove your phone from the equation entirely. Instead, theyre entirely built around sound quality, including components and designs engineered to maximize the listening experience. The best-known DAP is probably the original Apple iPod. Since those small MP3 players, many listeners have become content with the ease of listening wirelessly through their smartphones. This isnt a great solution for audio enthusiasts and music fans with favorite wired headphones. A DAP can be the perfect answer for them, creating a portable hi-fi system that allows them to carry a top-tier listening experience everywhere they go. Q: Are DAPs worth it? If you love music, it makes sense to have a device dedicated to it. While its certainly possible to listen through your smartphone, its an incredibly complex device trying to do multiple things simultaneously. Audio performance is important to smartphone engineers, but its hardly the top concern when compared to everything else a modern smartphone is responsible for: operating system performance, multiple radios, adaptive refresh rates, complex camera systems, running apps at once, notifications, and, of course, call quality. This is also reflected in the components and, well, the lack of a headphone jack. A DAP, on the other hand, is designed entirely around sound quality. They often feature high-quality DACs (digital-to-analog converters) and higher output power. These improved components make an audible difference in sound quality, improving clarity and dynamic range and allowing it to drive a wide range of headphones. Like a desktop computer, removing the audio processing from the electrically noisy circuit board of a smart device can also remove a potential source of interference.Ultimately, one of the key reasons many buy a DAP is to invest in a portable foundation for their listening experience. Investing in a dedicated portable audio player is rarely necessary in this day and age, the same way its not necessary to buy the $899 Bluesound SOUNDBAR+ when you can buy one of the best soundbars under $500 and get many of the same featuresunless youre specifically slowly working up to a full music-centric wireless surround sound system. Rather than purchase a tethered DAC that will let your phone do the heavy lifting, a DAP becomes a touchstone to the audio hobby thats personal to each listener. Q: How much do DAPs cost? Digital audio players span the gamut in price. Basic Bluetooth MP3 players can be found on Amazon for less than $50. Others, like the premium Astellu0026Kern Au0026ultima SP3000, can cost several thousand dollars. Its not usually necessary to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a digital audio player. Still, they can become quite expensive, easily reaching $3,000-$5,000 with more advanced features and luxuries like copper enclosures. As a rule, DAPs that support Android will be more expensive than those that do not. Likewise, DAPs that support more connectivity options, like balanced versus just single-ended headphones, will also be more expensive. Within this framework, there can be a wide range of prices, so its important to look at what features you need and desire most and choose the option that works for you.Its important to remember that hi-fi can be an expensive hobby. The cost ceiling stretches far higher than most listeners would ever consider spending. Just because a DAP is twice as expensive does not mean its twice as good. Final thoughts on the best DAPsBest overall: FiiO M23Best desktop: FiiO R9Best under $500: HiBy R5 Gen 2Best budget: Hidizs AP80 Pro-XDeciding on a DAP can be intimidating. With prices extending into hundreds of dollars and beyond, the pressure to make the right decision is high. But, with a focus on features, its possible to find the right fit that will let you enjoy your music to the fullest on the go. The best DAPs provide room to grow and explore the hobby even further. With care, they even tend to retain resale value, giving you a one-up on that next inevitable upgrade.

A top-down view of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go-Sample-Acquisition-Mechanism (TAGSAM) head with the lid removed, revealing the remainder of the asteroid sample inside. The picture was taken using manual high-resolution precision photography and a semi-automated focus stacking procedure. The result is an image that can be zoomed in on to show extreme detail of the sample. The remaining sample material includes dust and rocks up to about 0.4 inch in size.Credit: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebersold ShareIt took a while for scientists to gain access to the samples that NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission took from the asteroid Bennu, but the wait is proving to be worth it. A new study published January 29 in Nature describes an unexpected discovery in the material delivered by OSIRIS-REx: residues of compounds left over by the evaporation of liquid water.Tim McCoy, the papers lead author, tells Popular Science that the presence of these compounds was completely unexpected. [Finding them] was a complete surprise, he says. Collectively, the team that wrote this paper has hundreds of years of experience examining meteorites and none of usin fact, nobodyhad ever seen some of these minerals.OREX-800044-101, the sample that was analysed by the Japanese members of the OSIRIS-REx sample analysis team. Credit: Yasuhiro Oba One of the reasons that the discovery is so significant is that the compounds must have precipitated from the evaporation of brine solutionssolutions of liquid water with high concentrations of dissolved salts. We know this, McCoy explains, both because some of these minerals actually have water in their crystal structure, and because we know the most abundant fluid [in the universe] is water. There could have been a small component of other ices, like carbon dioxide, but it was mostly water.The presence of these compounds therefore implies the presence of liquid water at some point in Bennus historyor, more accurately, in the history of the ancient asteroid from which Bennu originated. That parent asteroid was a larger object that broke up into smaller pieces at some point during the last 65 million years. McCoy explains that the parent asteroid was formed partly of ice, and over the millennia, this ice was melted by heat from the decay of radioactive elements in the asteroids regolith.McCoy says that this water likely existed not on the surface, but as a vein or pocket under the surface of the asteroid. This prolonged its existence in a liquid state, most likely, as McCoy says, at about room temperature. The dissolved minerals may also have allowed the solution to remain liquid for longer: brine solutions generally have lower freezing points than pure water. (This is why roads are salted during snowy weather.)In any case, when the water did eventually evaporate, it left behind the concentrated precipitates that proved such a surprise to McCoy and his teamand when the parent asteroid broke up, those compounds were passed onto its successors, including Bennu. The first compound the team discovered in the Bennu sample was sodium carbonate, which had never been observed before in any other asteroid or meteorite. As it incorporates water into its crystal structure, its presence prompted McCoy and other teams around the world to search samples of other water-soluble compounds. They found 11 such compounds in total, all of which had been concentrated in a brine solution and then precipitated as the water evaporated. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.This evidence for the presence of liquid water on the ancient body from which Bennu formed provides a tantalizing possibility: the possibility that Bennus progenitor may have seen the first stirrings of life. Brines of the sort that apparently formed in the pockets of liquid water on Bennus ancestor provide a favorable environment for the development of complex organic compounds. In a statement accompanying the release of the paper, McCoy said, We now know from Bennu that the raw ingredients of life were combining in really interesting and complex ways on Bennus parent body. The paper also speculates that similar brines may exist today in the interior of Saturns moon Enceladus and Marss moon Ceres.A mosaic image of asteroid Bennu, composed of 12 PolyCam images collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 24 kilometers. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona Either way, McCoy says the apparent presence of liquid water in Bennus parent asteroid also tells us something important about that asteroid: The fact Bennus parent asteroid incorporated ice means it had to form beyond the Solar Systems snow line. This line marks the distance from a star at which the temperature falls below waters freezing point. (In 2016, NASA captured an image of this phenomenon in a young solar system.)The snow line is particularly important in the early days of a solar system, as the cloud of dust and gas that surrounds a nascent star begins to coalesce into the protoplanetary disk from which the systems planets and other orbiting bodies will eventually form. Beyond the snow line, water is solid and aggregates readily into nascent planets and asteroids, whereas within the line, water remains gaseous and is harder to capture.[ Related: 10 chaotic space-related mishaps of 2024 ]This means that objects formed beyond the snow line are relatively rich in water, and one leading theory about the origin of the water on Earth is that it was acquired by the capture of such water-rich objects. And if those objects contained brine solutions rich in organic compounds, its at least theoretically possible that life may have already been evolving in those environments before their arrival on Earth.Such theoretical possibilities aside, McCoy says the discovery of brine compounds shows the value of OSIRIS-REx having been able to take direct physical samples from Bennu. These are incredibly rare minerals, so they cant be detected from Earth. In addition, he says, Many of these minerals are unstable in the Earths atmosphere. Without the controlled return by a spacecraft mission and very careful curation in nitrogen to isolate them from the atmosphere, we would have never found [them] in the first place.

Water engineers in ancient South America turned seasonally flooded Amazonian savannas into hotbeds of year-round maize farming.Casarabe people built an innovative, previously unrecognized network of drainage canals and water-storing ponds that enabled two maize harvests annually, say geoarchaeologist Umberto Lombardo of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and colleagues. Large-scale maize cultivation during rainy and dry parts of the year fed the rise of Casarabe urban sprawl across Amazonian forests and savannas in whats now northern Bolivia, the scientists report January 29 in Nature.Previous excavations dated Casarabe society, which covered an area of 4,500 square kilometers, to between the years 500 and 1400. Casarabe people had access to a variety of foods and crops, including maize, starchy tubers, squash, peanuts and yams. But investigators have found no evidence of Casarabe agricultural fields, raising questions about how farmers grew enough food to sustain a substantial population.Maize planted around a pond and along the edge of a canal, as in this illustration, may have helped Casarabe people grow the crop all year long.U. Lombardo et al/Nature 2025Rather than exploiting a range of available crops, Casarabe people transformed savannas into maize-production centers, the researchers say. As the population grew and environmental pressures increased, perhaps they looked for more reliable and stable sources of proteins, Lombardo suggests. Maize could have offered that to some extent.Using satellite images and ground surveys of Casarabe territory, Lombardos team identified clusters of human-made ponds in two savanna regions. Canals dug into the ground, mapped using a drone-mounted remote sensing technique called light detection and ranging, or lidar, connected to many ponds. Leading away from pond clusters, canals formed drainage networks consisting of increasingly deep channels.Soil samples from the edges of drainage canals and ponds contained microscopic mineral formations, called phytoliths, characteristic of maize. Cultivation probably occurred along canal borders and around the margins of ponds, the scientists suspect.Radiocarbon dates for seeds and leaves indicate that farmers used one pond from around 1250 to 1550. But the age of the drainage system and other ponds remains unknown.

Skip to contentNewsSpaceLifes ingredients have been found in samples from asteroid BennuWarm salty ponds, but no living creatures, also dotted the space rocks precursor body Analyses of dark rocks and dust collected from the asteroid Bennu show the sample has the biochemical building blocks of life, though the environment they formed in probably never proceeded to the life-creation stage. NASA Johnson Space Center / Erika Blumenfeld and Joseph AebersoldBy Adam Mann29 seconds agoUnderground pools of liquid brine probably formed 4.6 billion years ago on the parent body of the asteroid Bennu and contained the building blocks of life but not living creatures.Thats the takeaway from new chemical analyses of samples that NASAs OSIRIS-RExmission snagged from the roughly 500-meter-long space rock in 2020 and returned to Earth three years later. The findings suggest that not all potentially habitable environments go on to develop life, researchers report in two papers published January 29 in Nature and Nature Astronomy.

Nature, Published online: 29 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00082-7Many environmental toxins damage proteins, which then must be removed to avoid dangerous protein aggregation and disease. How cells dispose of chemically modified proteins has been unclear, but a discovery offers some clues.

Nature, Published online: 29 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00084-5A space mission to an asteroid has returned extremely delicate salts not previously observed in extraterrestrial materials. An analysis of these salts helps to establish the history of water in the early Solar System.

A newly translated papyrus found in Israel provides information about criminal cases and slave ownership in the Roman Empire.

Scientists have found all five nucelobases alongisde minerals essential for life as we know it on the potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu.

Free Asset: https://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-rock-2347194 submitted by /u/random_cgi [link] [comments]

SonySony announced major corporate changes, promoting Hiroki Totoki to the top CEO position and Hideaki Nishino as the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. The new appointments will come into force on April 1.According to a recent report, Hiroki Totoki, who previously held the positions of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, will succeed the current CEO and Chairman, Kenichiro Yoshida. Yoshida will continue as Chairman.Hideaki Nishino has been elevated to the position of President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. He will also remain the CEO of the Platform Business Group. Hermen Hulst will no longer be the co-CEO of SIE but will keep the position of CEO of the Studio Business Group and will lead the development, publishing, and business operations of SIEs first party-content, as Sony shared.I am incredibly honored and humbled to have been entrusted with the important role of President and CEO, shared Hiroki Totoki. My predecessors as CEO, Kazuo Hirai and Kenichiro Yoshida, have greatly enhanced Sonys value, and I will do my utmost to further build on this success and pass on an even better Sony to the next generation.SIE, Hiroki TotokiHideaki Nishino also thanked the company and his colleagues and briefly touched upon the companys further plans:I am truly honored to take the helm at Sony Interactive Entertainment. Technology and creativity are two of our biggest strengths as we continue to focus on developing experiences that deliver entertainment for everyone. We will continue to grow the PlayStation community in new ways, such as IP expansion, while also delivering the best in technology innovation.SIE, Hideaki NishinoSIE, Hermen HulstHermen Hulst and Hideaki Nishino were appointed as co-CEOs of SIE last May after Jim Ryan retired in March 2024. Hiroki Totoki assumed the position of the interim CEO of SIE between the changes.Dont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Sony Announces Leadership Changes & Appoints a New CEO appeared first on CG SHARES.