The amazing trajectories...

of life-bearing meteorites from Earth seems to support the notion of panspermia and similar ideas advanced by the late English astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle.  Interesting.

It came from outer space...

DNA building blocks found in meteorites.

They came from outer space...

Fossils of Cyanobacteria in CI1 Carbonaceous Meteorites: Implications to Life on Comets, Europa, and Enceladus. Let's cut to the chase by peeking at the conclusion:

"It is concluded that the complex filaments found embedded in the CI1 carbonaceous meteorites represent the remains of indigenous microfossils of cyanobacteria and other prokaryotes associated with modern and fossil prokaryotic mats."

This is certainly groundbreaking work if it stands up to scrutiny.

More about ALH84001...

NASA Team Cites New Evidence That Meteorites from Mars Contain Ancient Fossils

Previous related post.

Russian customs officials...

know their geology by golly: Russia nabs meteorite smuggling ring. Priceless quote:

"But our officials could see it was clearly not granite!"

Good job. See, some education in earth science eventually is useful.

Carbon crystals harder than diamond...

found in a Finnish meteorite. Read more here.

Perhaps we'll have to add '11' to Mohs hardness scale?

Ownership battle brews...

over Virginia meteorite that crashed through the roof of a medical building earlier this month.

It's never a good thing when lawyers get involved.

Watch out...

from above: Lorton Meteorite, The Fourth Observed To Fall In Virginia. It's the real deal:

"A meteorite, the size of a mango, punched through the ceiling of the Williamsburg Square Family Practice Office in Lorton."

The office was occupied at the time of the impact, and fortunately nobody was injured. Good video at the link.

Fresh look at ALH 84001...

seems to dismiss the non-biologic argument for the origin of previously discovered worm-like structures in the famous Martian meteorite. Here's the technical abstract.

Previous related post on this controversial space rock.

Mars rover Opportunity discovers...

yet another meteorite, this one tagged "Shelter Island." The pitted rock is about 47 cm (18.5 in) long (click to enlarge.)

Previous related post.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

A bit o' the solar system...

arrived in the mail yesterday, a sizable fragment of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite, a generous gift from the Bu bro. I am anxious to cut, polish and acid etch the specimen once I return to the university in order to expose the Widmanstätten pattern typical of this class of iron meteorites. I will be sure to share the results.

Thanks, bro.

Thank E.T. for saving Earth...

if this Russian scientist is to be believed: UFO Collided with Tunguska Meteorite to Save Earth. Not!

Unfortunately this chap is unfamiliar with Widmanstätten pattern that is developed in some meteorites. It usually takes an acid etching to expose the interesting geometric lineations he describes as alien symbols (read the linked article and examine the photograph, then compare it to images at the second link) but I suspect prolonged weathering could do something similar.