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Comet Dust Found In Antarctica

Posted by Soulskill on from the maybe-someday-we'll-discover-philae-dust dept.

sciencehabit writes: Researchers have discovered comet dust preserved in the ice and snow of Antarctica, the first time such particles have been found on Earth's surface (abstract). The discovery unlocks a promising new source of this material. The oldest astronomical particles available for study, comet dust can offer clues about how our solar system formed.

3 of 17 comments (clear)

  1. Just the beginning by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 3, Interesting

    After most of that ice melts, thanks to global warming, other interesting discoveries are to be made.

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    1. Re:Just the beginning by YoungHack · · Score: 4, Informative

      In the mathematical models I've seen, ice in Antartica growing is in fact a sign of global warming. Thinking that warming is going to be uniform is hopelessly naive on a world with the complex ocean and atmospheric phenomena we have.

    2. Re:Just the beginning by Dutchmaan · · Score: 4, Informative

      Antarctic SEA ice is growing.. Antarctic LAND ice is decreasing.

      If I had to venture a guess, land ice melting into the sea lowers the salt levels of the surrounding waters making a higher freezing temp and thus increased sea ice.