Unmanned space probes and rovers are impressive feats of engineering, and they take great photos, but there’s something missing. The last time humans brought back a piece of the place they visited was during the Apollo program, nearly 45 years ago. Now, NASA is ready to embark on a mission that will swoop down close to the surface of an asteroid called Bennu. A long arm of the spacecraft will scoop up soil and rocks, and fly back to Earth. The mission is called OSIRIS-REx, and University of Tennessee planetary scientist Josh Emery is part of its science team. He speaks with Method host Brandon Hollingsworth.
Plus: When Astroturf debuted half a century ago, it was heralded as a major step forward for sports. Promises included enhanced safety and fewer injuries. Time has shown the original Astroturf wasn’t safe for athletes. In fact, it introduced a variety of serious injuries to the knees, feet and head. The good news is that athletic turf -and grass in general - has come a long way. WUOT’s Matt Shafer Powell recently visited the Turf Management farm at the University of Tennessee to find out.