Popcorn-like surface bursts may assist with space rock migrations.
Hsu and co-lead author Xu Wang, a research associate at LASP, helmed a team creating computer simulations and laboratory experiments to better explain the imagery from these two worlds.
"Forces akin to static electricity may be kicking the smallest grains of dust, some no bigger than a single bacterium, off the asteroid and into space — leaving only larger rocks behind," the statement said. The same process may even be at play in places like the rings ofAsteroids are constantly spinning worlds and because they are so small, sunlight falling on their surface varies considerably.
Even dust grains are affected, as they are thrown into space through a process called electrostatic lofting. TheThe surface of asteroid Bennu. When the charge accumulates enough, the particles pop away from each other like two repelling magnets, at speeds sometimes exceeding 20 mph .Simulations appear to show the most effect from explosions of dust on smaller asteroids, because these tiny worlds have comparatively weaker gravity. On the smaller worlds, similar in size to Ryugu, regolith may be lost into space over the eons.
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