Meteorite holds clues to organic chemistry of the early Earth
Thursday, June 9, 2011 - 14:30
in Astronomy & Space
Carbonaceous chondrites are organic-rich meteorites that contain samples of the materials that took part in the creation of our planets nearly 4.6 billion years ago. The complex suite of organic materials found in carbonaceous chondrites can vary substantially. New research shows that most of these variations are the result of hydrothermal activity that took place within a few million years of the Solar System's formation, when the meteorites were still part of larger bodies.