A meteorite that crashed into a residence has been discovered to contain extraterrestrial “salty” fluids that may harbor the fundamental elements of life. Scientists speculate that the unique chemistry found within the meteorite could potentially foster the creation of essential life-forming molecules on Earth. This celestial visitor caused a stir in New York City as it whizzed past the Statue of Liberty on July 16, 2024.
Shortly after, the 2lb meteorite pierced through the roof of a home in Hillsborough, New Jersey. Dr. Peter Jenniskens, the lead author from the SETI Institute, revealed that a close examination of the fragments unveiled preserved remnants from the surface of a primitive asteroid where concentrated salty fluids were present – a phenomenon not previously observed in this type of celestial body.
Describing the meteorite as large as a heavy airline bag, it entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a staggering speed of 32,000 miles per hour. Mike Hankey, the American Meteor Society operations manager, mentioned that the meteor’s trajectory was tracked using cameras in Northford, Connecticut, and Douglassville, Pennsylvania, as well as a doorbell camera in Wayne, New Jersey, leading back to the asteroid belt.
The fragile rock disintegrated into pieces, disappearing from sight at an altitude of 22 miles. A Doppler weather radar at Newark Airport briefly detected a long cloud of falling pebbles extending from Staten Island to New Jersey. Hillsborough was situated at the end of the cloud, where the largest rocks descended. Only one fragment was recovered due to it striking a house.
The homeowner recounted hearing a loud crash and discovering debris along with a strong sulfur-like odor in the master bedroom. Acting swiftly, the homeowner preserved the scene and collected the meteorite fragments for examination. The scientists identified the rocks as belonging to the CM-type carbonaceous chondrites, specifically the Mighei meteorite that fell in Ukraine in 1889.
Dr. Jenniskens praised the homeowner’s prompt action, highlighting these as the most pristine CM1/2 meteorites on record. Further analysis by Dr. Zolensky and Dr. Han revealed salt-rich CM1 fragments within the Hillsborough meteorite, indicating their origin from a near-surface region of the parent asteroid where salts were concentrated through liquid water evaporation.
Researchers are currently working to identify the salt minerals present for comparison with samples from other asteroids. The high salt concentration in briny fluids could potentially facilitate the creation of vital molecules essential for life on Earth, as explained by the research team. They emphasized that brines play a crucial role in maintaining phosphate in solution, catalyzing chemical reactions, and precipitating minerals.
The Hillsborough meteorite contained a significant amount of carbon and nitrogen isotopes typical for CM-type meteorites, suggesting a delivery of organic matter to Earth. The presence of soluble organic compounds and amino acids further underscores the potential contribution of CM-type bodies to Earth’s prebiotic organic inventory. Some of the meteorite fragments will be showcased at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, much to the delight of Curator Denton Ebel.