Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Oxford Study Challenges Asteroid Theory of Earth's Water Origin

New research reveals Earth's building materials contained intrinsic hydrogen, supporting a native water formation process.

A rare kind of meteorite known as enstatite chondrite resembles Earth's composition roughly 4.5 billion years ago.
Image
Image
earth and oceans

Overview

  • Researchers from the University of Oxford analyzed the enstatite chondrite meteorite LAR 12252, collected from Antarctica, to investigate Earth's water origins.
  • Using XANES spectroscopy at the Diamond Light Source, the team identified hydrogen sulfide deep within the meteorite's matrix, ruling out terrestrial contamination.
  • The findings suggest Earth's primordial building materials were significantly richer in hydrogen than previously thought, enabling natural water formation during the planet's early development.
  • This challenges the long-standing theory that Earth's water was delivered by hydrated asteroids and reframes models of planetary habitability and water formation.
  • The study, led by Tom Barrett and published in the journal *Icarus*, provides critical evidence supporting the theory that Earth's water is native rather than extraterrestrial.