scientists University of Lausanne And Geneva Natural History Museumin Switzerland, received the remains of the asteroid Ryugu, one of the oldest objects in the solar system, to study its composition in search of answers about the origin of life on Earth.
“On Earth there are meteorites belonging to the same family dragon palacebut they changed over time and through Earth’s atmosphere during the fall,” he said in a statement. Johanna Marin Carboneco-director of the investigation.
The project will be jointly developed, including two-sample analysisin a unique state of conservation, taken directly from the surface of a rocky object.
dragon palace The expert explained that it was formed “through the condensation of dust and ice”, so the frozen water later melted and its liquid saturated the asteroid’s surface.
So by studying these remains, the researchers intend to better understand the cycles of water and sulfur at the beginning of the Epoch Epoch. solar system.
The results of these studies could hold the key to understanding whether asteroids could bring water to Earth. Tiraperhaps when one of them falls on our planet.
The scientists will analyze small mineral particles between 50 and 500 microns in size and will use an ion probe to make the measurements. Swiss SIMSa very powerful analytical tool Swiss and installed in University of Lausanne as part of Advanced Surface Analysis Center.
SNGZ