A close-up of one of the new crystals under an electron microscope. (Taskaev et al.)
Posted on 07/06/2022 9:01:51 AM PDT by BenLurkin
In a new study, researchers analyzed some of the tiny fragments of space rock that were left behind after the meteor exploded, known as meteorite dust. Normally, meteors produce a small amount of dust as they burn up, but the tiny grains are lost to scientists because they are either too small to find, scattered by the wind, fall into water or are contaminated by the environment.
However, after the Chelyabinsk meteor exploded, a massive plume of dust hung in the atmosphere for more than four days before eventually raining down on Earth's surface, according to NASA.
And luckily, layers of snow that fell shortly before and after the event trapped and preserved some dust samples until scientists could recover them shortly after.
The researchers stumbled upon the new types of crystal while they were examining specks of the dust under a standard microscope.
A close-up of one of the new crystals under an electron microscope. (Taskaev et al.)
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencealert.com ...
So what! I’ve got never before seen things growing in my refrigerator.
Need to rewatch “The Andromeda Strain”...
Some of that ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ going on!
Thanks BenLurkin.
The rest of the Chelyabinsk keyword, sorted:
Weird shape to them. Wonder if they got distorted from something
Clem, that there is an alien writin' stick!
Now I want some jewelry made of that stuff...
‘Face
;o]
:^)
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