Scientists have made a new discovery about the origin of water on the ground
Scientists have made a new discovery about the origin of water on the ground
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Scientists have been scratching their heads over where the water came from. Popular theory suggests that it was brought to the planet asteroids or comets as a result of random clashes.
However, a new study casts doubt on this idea. It showed that the elements for the creation of water could be present at the beginning of the development of the Earth.
Results of the study Posted In the scientific journal ICARUS, writes The Washington Post.
Scientists believe that tips about the origin of hydrogen and oxygen can be contained in a meteorite similar in composition to our newborn planet. It is called enstatite chondritis.
These types of meteorites were formed in the inside of the solar system. They probably took part in land formation 4.6 billion years ago.
Previous study showedthat meteorites could contain enough hydrogen to explain the formation of oceans on our planet. However, it remains unclear – this substance was in enstatite chondrites from the beginning or the sample « contaminated » on Earth.
In a new study, scientists from Oxford University have used X -ray technology to study enstatite chondritis from Antarctica.
They found that much of the hydrogen was associated with sulfur. These compounds were found in the rock matrix – a fine -grained mass that holds larger particles together.
According to the leading author of the study, Tom Brett, in the early solar system of the compound of iron sulfide in meteorite could play the role of a catalyst to create a compound of hydrogen and sulfur. The latter could be formed in large particles of the breed and « pumped » into the matrix. According to Brett, it was a fairly effective way to store noticeable concentrations of a compound containing hydrogen.
The meteorite also contained oxygen. However, the team of scientists did not investigate how the hydrogen-grained compound led to the formation of water.
According to Iva Markky, who participated in the previous study, the data confirms the conclusions that hydrogen was inherited from the early stages of development of the solar system, as well as that these meteorites contain enough hydrogen to form the oceans of the Earth.
Plnettologist Patrick Schober, who did not participate in the study, believes that the Earth could have « more than enough ingredients » to form water from the beginning. At the same time, asteroids or comets played an important role in the later history of the Earth.
Recall, scientists discovered The oldest well -known meteoric crater on Earth. This discovery can radically change our understanding of the processes that have formed early land and contributed to the emergence of life.
