_By Abbas Nazil_
A groundbreaking study has revealed that carbon-rich asteroids—critical to understanding the origins of life—rarely reach Earth because they disintegrate long before entering the planet’s atmosphere.
The intense heat from repeated close encounters with the sun gradually weakens and destroys these fragile space rocks, preventing them from surviving the journey.
This discovery, published in *Nature Astronomy*, could reshape our understanding of the Solar System’s formation and the delivery of life-forming compounds to Earth.
Researchers analyzed 7,982 meteoroid trajectories and 540 potential meteorite falls using data from 19 fireball observation networks operating across 39 countries.
Led by Dr. Hadrien Devillepoix of Curtin University, the study concluded that carbon-rich meteoroids—rich in water, organic molecules, and amino acids—are so structurally delicate that they rarely endure repeated solar exposure.
These materials are considered chemically primitive and are thought to be essential to understanding the origin of life on Earth.
Dr. Patrick Shober from the Paris Observatory emphasized the significance of carbonaceous meteorites, noting their potential to reveal life’s building blocks. However, their rarity on Earth has left a gap in the scientific record.
According to the study, meteoroids resulting from tidal disruptions—where asteroids fragment after close encounters with planets—are particularly vulnerable and unlikely to survive atmospheric entry.
The international research team included scientists from the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, and Aix-Marseille University.
The study, titled *Perihelion History and Atmospheric Survival as Primary Drivers of Earth’s Meteorite Record*, underscores the importance of global scientific collaboration in understanding cosmic phenomena.
These findings have profound implications for space exploration and planetary defense. They challenge longstanding assumptions about the types of meteorites that reach Earth and highlight the need for targeted space missions to study carbon-rich asteroids before they disintegrate.
Missions like NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, which is returning samples from the carbon-rich asteroid Bennu, stand to benefit from this research by allowing scientists to examine these vital materials in their intact form.
In essence, the sun acts as a natural filter, protecting Earth from potentially hazardous space rocks but also depriving scientists of access to essential life-forming compounds.
This revelation not only enhances our understanding of planetary defense but also opens new avenues for exploring the origins of life and the potential for similar processes beyond Earth.