A recent study published in Nature Astronomy has shed new light on why carbon-rich meteorites, crucial for understanding the origin of life on Earth, are scarce on our planet. Researchers from an international team of scientists analyzed over 8,500 meteoroids and meteorite impacts, using data from fireball observation networks across 39 countries.
According to the study, the atmosphere and sun act as giant filters, destroying fragile carbon-rich meteoroids before they reach the ground. The team found that these meteoroids break apart due to repeated heating as they pass close to the sun. Only those that survive this process are likely to also pass through Earth’s atmosphere intact.
The discovery is significant because carbonaceous meteorites contain water and organic molecules, key ingredients linked to life on Earth. However, their rarity makes it challenging to reconstruct the solar system’s history and the conditions that led to life’s emergence.
Tidal disruptions, which occur when asteroids break apart from close encounters with planets, also produce fragile meteoroids that almost never survive atmospheric entry. The study’s findings could influence future asteroid missions, impact hazard assessments, and theories on how Earth obtained its water and organic compounds to support life.
The research was conducted by an international team of scientists from various institutions, including Curtin University, the International Center for Radio Astronomy, and the Paris Observatory.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-04-scientists-uncover-carbon-rich-meteorites.html