Scientists Uncover New Evidence that Questions Existing Theories About How Water First Appeared on Earth

Researchers at the University of Oxford have uncovered compelling evidence about the origins of Earth’s water. By analyzing a rare meteorite type known as an enstatite chondrite—chemically similar to the early Earth—they discovered a native source of hydrogen, a key ingredient in water formation.

Discovery of native hydrogen in ancient meteorite suggests early Earth materials were richer in hydrogen than previously assumed

Significantly, the team confirmed that the hydrogen in the meteorite was intrinsic and not the result of contamination, indicating that the building blocks of Earth contained more hydrogen than previously believed.

Published in Icarus, the study supports the idea that Earth’s ability to form water—and ultimately support life—did not depend on water-rich asteroids crashing into the planet. Instead, it suggests that Earth may have had sufficient hydrogen from the very beginning.

The research team examined the chemical makeup of a meteorite called LAR 12252, which was originally recovered from Antarctica. They employed X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron in Harwell, Oxfordshire, to conduct their analysis.

A previous French-led study had detected hydrogen within the meteorite, specifically in organic matter and non-crystalline portions of chondrules—tiny, spherical structures within the rock. However, the origin of the remaining hydrogen was uncertain, raising questions about whether it was native to the meteorite or introduced through Earth-based contamination.

Oxford team investigates sulfur-bound hydrogen in meteorite using powerful X-ray beam to detect key sulfur-bearing compounds

The Oxford researchers hypothesized that a significant portion of the hydrogen might be bound to the sulfur in the meteorite. By directing a focused beam of X-rays at the sample, they searched for sulfur-bearing compounds.

Initially concentrating on the non-crystalline chondrule regions where hydrogen had previously been found, they made a surprising discovery in the surrounding fine-grained matrix material. This area turned out to be extremely rich in hydrogen sulfide—five times more so than the non-crystalline chondrule sections.

In contrast, parts of the meteorite that showed signs of weathering or contamination, such as rusted cracks, had little to no hydrogen. This strongly indicates that the hydrogen sulfide found in the matrix is native to the meteorite and not a result of Earth-based contamination.

The discovery suggests the early Earth likely accumulated enough hydrogen before asteroid impacts to explain its abundant water

Because the early Earth formed from material resembling enstatite chondrites, this discovery implies that the planet likely accumulated sufficient hydrogen on its own—well before asteroid impacts began—to account for the large amounts of water found on Earth today.

Tom Barrett, a DPhil student in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford and the study’s lead author, said, “We were thrilled when the data revealed hydrogen sulfide in the sample—just not in the place we had anticipated.”

“Given the extremely low chance that the hydrogen sulfide came from Earth-based contamination, this study offers strong evidence that Earth’s water is inherent—an expected result of the planet’s original building materials.”

Co-author Associate Professor James Bryson from Oxford’s Department of Earth Sciences added, “One of the biggest questions in planetary science is how Earth came to have its current form.

“Our findings suggest that the materials that formed Earth—represented by these rare meteorites—contained far more hydrogen than previously believed. This reinforces the idea that water formed naturally as part of Earth’s development, rather than being delivered later by water-rich asteroids.”

Read the original article on: Phys Org

Read more: Dubai Unveils a Stunning Futuristic Tower Featuring Three Waterfalls