On the Cometary Origin of the Polonnaruwa Meteorite
Abstract
The diatoms discovered in the Polonnaruwa meteorite are interpreted as originating in comets and the dust in interstellar space. The exceptionally porous structure of the Polonnaruwa meteorite points to it being a recently denuded cometary fragment. Microorganisms that were present in a freeze-dried state within pores and cavities may have survived entry to be added to the terrestrial biosphere.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Cosmology
- Pub Date:
- January 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013JCos...21.9572W