Rare carbonaceous chondrite in New Jersey yields extraterrestrial amino acids
Scientists from the SETI Institute, NASA’s Ames and Johnson Space Centers, the American Meteor Society and the American Museum of Natural History analyzed a carbonaceous chondrite that smashed through a Hillsborough, New Jersey home. According to Space, the meteorite showed signs of water alteration, indicating it originated from a salty, near-surface region of an inner-belt asteroid. CNN added that the kilogram-size CM-type fragment was recovered with minimal contamination, allowing detection of extraterrestrial amino acids and brine.
CBS News noted the presence of salty brine residues and organic molecules, suggesting such asteroids could have delivered life-building chemicals to early Earth. Further laboratory work described by 6abc Philadelphia identified a diverse suite of amino acids not found on Earth. ABC News confirmed the meteorite is classified as a rare CM1/2 chondrite containing prebiotic compounds, and Fox News echoed that the findings offer new insight into the solar system’s organic inventory.
