Chemical ecosystem of Murchison meteorite molecules revealed in snapshots
By 
Michael Gross2022-02-09T14:30:00
Atomic force microscopy proof of principle test shows technique is up to the challenge of chronicling chemical diversity in extra-terrestrial samples
Pioneering AFM analysis has been used to further investigate the chemical diversity of the famous Murchison meteorite that exploded over Australia in 1969. It is hoped that the successful trial of this highly sensitive technique could lead to the discovery of new molecules in meteorites and samples from space missions.
Initial analysis of the Murchison meteorite after its discovery showed that it is a carbonaceous chondrite, meaning that it is a remnant from the early days of the formation of the solar system. As the meteorite was so large, weighing more than 100kg in all, many studies have investigated the fragments using a range of analytical methods to gain insight into the formation of planets and the delivery of organic molecules to the early Earth.