A group of scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could change our understanding of the universe forever. The scientists found water in a place that was least expected, shocking the scientific community.
The discovery was recently published in the journal The Planetary Science Journal. The scientists, from the Southwest Research Institute, used data from the retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to study four asteroids rich in silicates. The instrument called “FORCAST” detected molecular water on two of the asteroids, Iris and Massalia, marking the first discovery of water in these planetary formation remains in space.
The study revealed that water on asteroids could be adsorbed on silicate surfaces, trapped or dissolved in silicate impact glass, or chemically bound to a mineral. This discovery is important for astronomy as water is essential for life. Understanding the distribution of water in the solar system since its formation could provide insights into how water arrived on Earth and potentially habitable planets.
The follow-up of this discovery could shed light on the possibility of searching for life both within and outside our solar system. The study, titled “Detection of Molecular H2O on Nominally Anhydrous Asteroids,” is now available in The Planetary Science Journal.
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