Japanese scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about asteroid Ryugu, revealing it harbored water ice for over a billion years. This finding could dramatically reshape our understanding of how water arrived on Earth.
Unveiling Ryugu’s Ancient Secrets
The research team studied samples from Ryugu, a near-Earth asteroid, and found compelling evidence of long-lasting ice within its parent body. These results suggest that asteroids like Ryugu could have played a vital role in delivering water to our planet during the early days of the solar system.
Until now, many scientists believed comets or volcanic activity were the primary sources of Earth’s water. But this new evidence points to asteroids as a key contributor, changing how we think about the planet’s history and the origins of life.
Impact on Future Research
This discovery opens exciting new possibilities for studying the early solar system. Researchers will likely focus more on asteroids in their quest to understand Earth’s development and the potential for life elsewhere.
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