It falls on the surface of our planet in the form of cosmic dust, which can settle, for example, on the roofs of houses. From there it flows into the gutters, which are the source of micrometeorites. But first, they must be sieved through a sieve, like a participant in the 19th century gold rush.
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One person using this approach to find evidence about the history of the solar system is Norwegian John Larsen. Over the past ten years or so, he has built up his own collection of more than 3,000 pieces. Research dedicated to them can provide essential information about how our system was created and evolved. We’re talking about parts that have remained unchanged for billions of years.
They come largely from asteroids orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. Of course, sometimes much larger objects fall to Earth, making them easier to find and analyze, but – I would say – if you don’t have what you like, you like what you have. Micrometeorites are fragments less than one millimeter in diameter. They have a very important feature: many of them contain water and carbon-containing compounds, which are the essential elements for life.
Micrometeorites, despite their small size, can be a source of valuable information about the formation and evolution of the solar system
So, with a lot of enthusiasm, patience and access to a microscope, we can look at objects that have been orbiting in space since the birth of the solar system, and at some point found themselves on Earth. It is estimated that our planet is covered with about 100 tons of this dust every day, which gives an average of approximately two particles per square kilometer per second.
Rooftops, due to their large surface area and limited interference by people and other animals, work well at “capturing” micrometeorites. Larsen, who was engaged, among other things, in composing music, had a rather unusual hobby: while playing concerts, he also collected dust samples in the places where he performed. His passion grew to the point that within seven years he was able to identify 75 of the most common types of Earth dust. In theory, anything that doesn’t fit these categories could be considered potential space dust.
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As Joshua Hogg explains from new worldFollowing Larsen’s advice, he also decided to look for his own samples. He rinsed the sediment collected from the gutter, passed it through a tea filter, and then used the magicians to pick out the magnetic objects. After narrowing down the number of potential micrometeorite candidates, he put them under a microscope. Unfortunately, the first results were not as good as one might expect. On the other hand, Huguego points out that Jens Michurat of the German Technical University Klustal – following the instructions of a Norwegian hunter – identified eight particles that could be micrometeorites within three months.
Echo Richards embodies a personality that is a delightful contradiction: a humble musicaholic who never brags about her expansive knowledge of both classic and contemporary tunes. Infuriatingly modest, one would never know from a mere conversation how deeply entrenched she is in the world of music. This passion seamlessly translates into her problem-solving skills, with Echo often drawing inspiration from melodies and rhythms. A voracious reader, she dives deep into literature, using stories to influence her own hardcore writing. Her spirited advocacy for alcohol isn’t about mere indulgence, but about celebrating life’s poignant moments.
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