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CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter is a great way to explore the universe. Recently, an international team of researchers discovered five new meteorites in Antarctica, including one of the largest ever found. This specimen is one of only about 100 that size or larger found in the continent. The meteorite is about the size of a cantaloupe and weighs 17 pounds. It is now heading to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels to be studied.
Maria Valdes, a research scientist at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History and the University of Chicago, is focusing on cosmochemistry. She will use strong acids to dissolve samples of the meteorite and use a process called calibrated chemistry to isolate various elements that make up the rock. This will help her to understand its origin and evolution, as well as where in the solar system the parent body that it came from formed.
Meteorites are found evenly across the Earth’s surface. Antarctica is an ideal location for hunting them because of its pure white ice, which makes the jet black rocks easy to spot. A January 2022 study used satellite data to help narrow down locations where meteorites were most likely to be found. Distinguishing a meteorite from other rocks can be tricky, but researchers look for fusion crust and its weight.
The research team endured grueling conditions, including temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they also spent time at a Belgian research station near Antarctica’s coast. The five meteorites they discovered are just the tip of the iceberg. Based on the satellite study, there are at least 300,000 meteorites waiting to be collected in Antarctica.
CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter is a great way to learn about fascinating discoveries and scientific advancements in the universe. Through the study of meteorites, researchers can better understand the origin and evolution of the solar system.
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