Summary:
- The asteroid Ryugu, which was visited by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2, once had flowing water inside it that transformed its internal structure.
- Analyses of samples from Ryugu show that the asteroid experienced significant changes due to the presence of water, including the formation of clay minerals and the alteration of its original rocky materials.
- This discovery provides insights into the early history of the solar system and the processes that shaped the formation and evolution of asteroids like Ryugu.