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Carbon From Outer Space Older Than Our Sun

Posted by michael on from the dust-in-the-wind dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "While looking at interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) found in the Earth's stratosphere, researchers from the Washington University in St. Louis have found carbon older than the Solar System. They identified the organic material by its carbon isotopic composition, different from the one of carbon found on Earth. "Our findings are proof that there is presolar organic material coming into the Solar System yet today," said Christine Floss, the leading scientist. "This material has been preserved for more than 4.5 billion years, which is the age of the Solar System. It's amazing that it has survived for so long." This overview contains more details and references. It also contains pictures including the one of a sample's isotopic structure at a sub-micrometer scale."

4 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. About time by shadowbearer · · Score: 5, Interesting


    Our findings are proof that there is presolar organic material coming into the Solar System yet today

    I would have been shocked if this hadn't been found eventually - but it's nice to have positive proof.

    Seems to me that this evidence gives a small boost to the Panspermia theory.

    SB

    --
    It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
    1. Re:About time by xilmaril · · Score: 5, Informative
      and for those not familier with the subject (ie most people)

      Svante Arrhenius theorized that bacterial spores propelled through space by light pressure were the seeds of life on Earth. British astronomers Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe rekindled interest in panspermia. They also proposed that comets, which are largely made of water-ice, carry bacterial life across galaxies and protect it from radiation damage along the way. Not necessarily a view I subscribe to, but an interesting one nevertheless.

      by Theorellior, of Everything2.com
  2. isotopic ratios by gumbi+west · · Score: 5, Informative
    here is the isotopic ratio here on earth.
    • 98.90 % C-12
    • 1.10 % C-13
  3. Ancient Carbon Origin by no+longer+myself · · Score: 5, Funny
    A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far, Away...

    Jabba the Hut had Lando freeze a bunch of people including Han Solo in Carbonite. He hung Han on the wall where he was later rescued. The rest got launched into space and were used for target practice. This was probably their remains.

    Ah, come on... It's late, it's Friday, and it's supposed to be funny! :-)