|
|
|
 
 
 
 
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
Simulation of low-velocity bombardment of asteroid surfaces, regolith formation and reddening of the spectra show signs of life in a frozen form
Scientists are puzzled as frozen life forms get exposed in the asteroids. The frozen life forms means the ingredients of life forms waiting for high velocity impact to form amino acids, the starting of the evolution cycle.
The association of the most abundant population of meteorites, the ordinary chondrites, and the S-type asteroids through the comparison of their reflected spectra in the visible and near infrared spectrum, is still widely debated. Many asteroids show reddened spectra. To date, this reddening has been attributed to the presence of metallic nanoparticles, produced by the vaporization of Fe-bearing silicates or by a shock-induced phase transformation of metallic Fe-Ni alloys. Both the mechanisms are suggested to be related to impacts on asteroid surfaces. Sculpting by low-energy impacts plays an important role in the reddening of asteroid surfaces. Scientists used quartz micro-spheres impacting on ordinary chondrites to simulate the sculpting of airless bodies due to the low-energy bombardment of micro-meteoroids. The bombarded surfaces show that metals in ordinary chondrites maintain their dimensions while silicates are comminuted. Moreover, the spectra of the simulated surface are redder than traditional powdered meteorites.
The experiments show the presence of the ingredients of life in frozen form.
TECHNOLOGY ARTICLES
|
|
| Click here to get ad specs and place your ad or Click here to contact the advertisement department |
Send Letters to the Editor
|
Add RSS headlines