The Earth Atmosphere Hides Interstellar Particles Older than the Sun (Study)

Researchers have discovered some interesting interstellar particles present in our planet’s atmosphere that might have a tremendous age. These particles most likely come from comets that passed close to the sun and, most likely, are older than it. As these particles travel to the solar system, they eventually reach our atmosphere.

The interstellar particles are brought to our atmosphere by comets

There are many substances that make up the atmosphere, but interstellar particles sound the most unlikely. However, researchers identified such strange formations they later called GEMS. They are far from being actual gems, since the acronym comes from glass with embedded metal and sulfides.

This combination sounds extremely unlikely on Earth, as well as anywhere in our solar system. Therefore, researchers concluded they must make up interstellar particles coming from comets. As they enter our solar system, these formations pass next to the sun. The force pushes the particles away from the comets until they reach our atmosphere.

The interstellar particles in question are older than the sun

Silicate, as well as carbon and, to a certain extent, ice, must have formed the primordial solar system. As it evolved, the particles came together to form the planets. However, they all came into being after the sun. Comets, on the other hand, still preserve material that existed even before the sun, namely these interstellar particles.

In fact, the sun formed as a result of interstellar dust and gas. When the whole process occurred, all the interstellar particles around got destroyed. However, there was still time for the comets to come and pick up some of these materials before the formation of the sun.

Since they couldn’t have survived the birth of the sun, they must be older than it. Also, their composition says they must have formed in a cooler area, just like the dust cloud around the pre-sun. Therefore, all this evidence points to the ancient origin of the GEMS. The study on the matter was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Image source: Pixabay