A meteorite that crashed through the roof of a New Jersey home in July 2024 has “alien world chemistry” containing prebiotic molecules and organic compounds that hold clues to how life began on Earth.
The discovery is confirmed by the study published in the journal Science Advances, which states that the meteorite weighed 2 pounds when it hit the roof of a house in Hillsborough, New Jersey, after making a sonic boom that flew over the Statue of Liberty. The fragments were immediately collected by the owner in glass jars using disposable gloves and aluminum foil, enabling researchers from around the world to conduct a unique forensic investigation.
According to lead author Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute: “Thanks to the homeowner’s quick response, these are the most pristine CM1/2 meteorites we know of.”
Classified as a CM1/2 carbonaceous chondrite, a type of meteorite rich in carbon-bearing material, this meteorite is only the second known fall of this variety, and “one of the most scientifically valuable meteorites ever found,” says the SETI Institute.
But most amazing of all, it was found that before this rock broke away from its parent asteroid, it had been coated with concentrated salty liquids called brine, which had never before been observed on such a space object. High salt concentrations in brine help form important biological compounds through chemical reactions by keeping phosphate in solution.
The meteorite’s chemical composition revealed that it contained 1.8% carbon and 0.07% nitrogen, along with a variety of soluble organic compounds, including amino acids and magnesium. These chemical compounds are similar to those found in living organisms, including compounds involved in blood and photosynthesis.
Some fragments of the meteorite will now be curated at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
