Zinc in Meteorites Traces Origin of Earth's Building Blocks

Research reveals that unmelted asteroids were crucial for delivering volatile elements necessary for life on Earth.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London used zinc isotopes in meteorites to study Earth's volatile elements.
Volatile elements, essential for life, include water and the six most common elements in living organisms.
While 70% of Earth's mass came from melted planetesimals, only 10% of its zinc did, indicating the importance of unmelted materials.
Unmelted planetesimals, formed after radioactive decay, retained more volatiles, crucial for Earth's development.
The study suggests similar processes could occur in other planetary systems, aiding the search for habitable planets.