Swarming through our solar system by the millions, asteroids are roving space rocks that carry clues to our universe's past — and the potential to destroy our future. In 2023, astronomers made enormous strides in studying these elusive objects. Two ambitious, multi-year missions to collect asteroid samples from space bore fruit and revealed that the building blocks of life were mixed in with the cosmic rubble. Elsewhere, NASA researchers continued studying the gory aftermath of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) — humanity's first attempt to knock a potentially hazardous asteroid off course — while astronomers warned Live Science that the next killer asteroid could lurk hidden in the sun's glare.
Here's a recap of those exciting stories to remind you that space rocks.
