A near-Earth asteroid offers clues to one dark matter theory 

Asteroid Bennu shows no signs of a “fifth force” affecting its orbit, researchers report 

The asteroid Bennu appears as gray, rocky object on a black background

The asteroid Bennu (shown) was carefully tracked as part of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, allowing scientists to check its orbit for signs of a hypothesized fifth force.

Goddard/NASA, Univ. of Arizona

A hypothetical “fifth force” could tug on asteroids, if it exists. But the asteroid Bennu shows no signs that its orbit has been tweaked by such a force.