Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges long-held theories about the origin of water on Earth. Researchers in the UK found previously unknown quantities of hydrogen in an enstatite chondrite meteorite, which closely resembles the composition of our planet 4.55 billion years ago. This suggests that early Earth already had enough hydrogen to produce the amount of water it hosts today.
According to a study published in Icarus, scientists investigated an enstatite chondrite meteorite from Alaska and used X-rays to search for sulfur compounds. They discovered large amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the matrix surrounding one of the meteorite’s tiny spherical components, which is five times more abundant than in other parts of the meteorite.
The discovery is significant because it implies that Earth did not rely on asteroids to provide its water. Instead, it suggests that the planet had enough hydrogen to produce water naturally. This theory supports the idea that the formation of water on Earth was a natural process, rather than a fluke of hydrated asteroids bombarding our planet after it formed.
The researchers believe that this finding provides vital evidence to support the theory that water on Earth is native and can shed light on the origin of life on our planet. With water essential for all known living creatures, this discovery is crucial in understanding the enduring mystery of how life emerged on Earth.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/a-meteorite-from-alaska-challenges-theory-of-how-earth-got-its-water-2000590233