Sun and Atmosphere Filter Carbon-Rich Meteorites, Solving Space Mystery

A recent study explains why fewer carbon-rich meteorites are found on Earth than expected. The sun and Earth's atmosphere act as filters, destroying a significant portion of these meteorites. This discovery resolves a long-standing mystery in space research.

Carbon-rich C-type asteroids are ancient objects that constitute about 75% of all asteroids. However, only about 5% of meteorites found on Earth are similar in composition. Repeated heating from the sun causes many of these meteoroids to fragment before they can reach the ground.

These carbon-rich meteorites are important because they contain the building blocks of life. A research team analyzed 8,500 meteoroids using data from 19 fireball observation networks. The results of their analysis were published in Nature Astronomy.