For decades, the dominant theory pointed out that water reached the earth thanks to the impact of asteroids. But a recent finding could change everything. A team of scientists has discovered unexpected signs in a rare meteorite that questions that narrative. What they found suggests that water could have been present from the very birth of our planet.
A finding that shakes the foundations
A group of researchers from the University of Oxford analyzed an old space rock called Condrita de Estatita, with an estimated seniority of 4.6 billion years. This type of meteorite shares a very similar composition with the primitive land, which makes it an invaluable time capsule.
When studying their interior, the scientists found something surprising: much of the hydrogen present in the meteorite seemed to be intrinsic, not product of external contamination. This suggests that the earth could have had enough hydrogen from the beginning to form water, without the need to receive it from asteroids.
This finding contradicts the most accepted theory so far: that our planet was originally dry, and that it was the collision of celestial bodies rich in water that allowed its appearance. Tom Barrett, main author of the study, explained that this result demonstrates that the material formed by the Earth already contained a significant combination of hydrogen and oxygen, the essential ingredients to generate water.
A meteorite that speaks of the origin of our planet
The meteorite analyzed, known as LAR 12252, was found in Antarctica and had already been studied in 2020 by French researchers. However, the new analysis went further, applying a high precision technique known as Xanes spectroscopy. Thanks to her, hydrogen sulfide was discovered in the meteorite matrix, an unexpected region for such a compound.
The presence of this element in non -polluted areas reinforces the idea that hydrogen was an integral part of the original material that composed our planet. According to Barrett, this gives weight to the theory that water is a natural product of Earth’s assembly, and not a lucky addition occurred later.
Science debate: a new paradigm or more hypothesis?
Despite the enthusiasm, not all experts are convinced. Matt Genge, planetary scientist at Imperial College in London, considers that although the study is interesting, the tests are not yet conclusive. He points out that the meteorite could have been exposed to terrestrial conditions for thousands of years, which could have altered its hydrogen levels.
However, the authors of the study insist that they took all possible precautions to prevent pollution from influencing the results. James Bryson, co -author and researcher at Oxford, argues that, although a fraction of hydrogen comes from external sources, most would be originally from the planet itself. Even accepting that asteroids and comets contributed some hydrogen, these would have been a lower contribution compared to what already existed.
This discovery opens the door to a deep rethinking about how the earth formed and what conditions allowed the emergence of life. Water may, rather than a cosmic gift, be a fundamental characteristic since the origin of the planet. Are we facing a silent revolution in Earth’s history? The next studies will give us the answer.
Fuente: CNN.
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