Meteorite that hit New Jersey home contains amino acids
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A meteorite that crashed through a New Jersey rooftop in July 2024 contains amino acids and other organic molecules, researchers reported July 15 in Science Advances. The 1.35-kilogram fragment, part of a larger 53-kilogram space rock, likely originated from a protoplanet that once had briny water beneath its surface. No one was injured in the event.
The Meteorite Fall
On July 16, 2024, a meteorite lit up the daytime sky over the New York metropolitan area, creating a sonic boom. The original space rock, weighing about 53 kilograms, entered Earth's atmosphere at 14 kilometers per second and exploded with an energy equivalent to 1.3 metric tons of TNT. A 1.35-kilogram chunk crashed through the roof of a Hillsborough, N.J. house, filling a bedroom with dust and a sulfuric smell, according to planetary astronomer Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute.
Scientific Significance
The meteorite is a CM carbonaceous chondrite, a type thought to have delivered water and organic material to early Earth. It likely came from a protoplanet that formed just outside Jupiter's orbit. The rock contains fragments rich in sodium, suggesting brines once altered it, and it holds organic matter and amino acids rare on Earth. These molecules probably formed inside the asteroid during a period when salty water enabled complex chemistry.
Preservation and Analysis
The homeowner collected the fragments with gloved hands and aluminum foil, placing them in glass jars to prevent Earthly contamination. Most meteorites found on Earth have sat on the ground for unknown periods, making it hard to distinguish original composition from local material. Jenniskens noted that for a rock that fell on its own, 'this is about as good as it gets.'
What's Next
Researchers plan further analysis of the meteorite's organic compounds to understand prebiotic chemistry. It remains unclear whether similar meteorites delivered the specific ingredients that sparked life on Earth.
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Meteorite that hit New Jersey home contains amino acids
