Study suggests Sun is likely an unaccounted source of the Earth's water

[Jim__]

From phys.org

...

A University of Glasgow-led international team of researchers including those from Curtin's Space Science and Technology Center (SSTC) found the solar wind, comprised of charged particles from the Sun largely made of hydrogen ions, created water on the surface of dust grains carried on asteroids that smashed into the Earth during the early days of the Solar System.

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"This new solar wind theory is based on meticulous atom-by-atom analysis of miniscule fragments of an S-type near-Earth asteroid known as Itokawa, samples of which were collected by the Japanese space probe Hayabusa and returned to Earth in 2010.

"Our world-class atom probe tomography system here at Curtin University allowed us to take an incredibly detailed look inside the first 50 nanometres or so of the surface of Itokawa dust grains, which we found contained enough water that, if scaled up, would amount to about 20 liters for every cubic meter of rock."

Curtin graduate Dr. Luke Daly, now of the University of Glasgow, said the research not only gives scientists a remarkable insight into the past source of Earth's water, but could also help future space missions.

more ...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Very cool info. Thanks for posting! . . .nt

[brush]

2. So the chances of this happening else where on the multi-billions of planets...

in the habitable zones of billions of other stars in the many millions of the known galaxies that are out there has to be high. We can't be the only planet in the multi-verse/universe with water and life.

And is it possible that life elsewhere is not dependent on water, oxygen and carbon?

[Javaman]

3. my new product coming soon, "SunWater" water from the sun!

you know someone will do this.