How did the water hit the ground and, with it, the conditions that made life possible? For decades, science has discussed whether the comet and asteroids with space messengers who sowed our planet of water. Now the find in the 12p/Pons-Brooks comer gives the most clear track to date: its water is almost identical to what our oceans are.
An awesome chemical trail
A team of NASA researchers, led by Martin Cordiner and Stephanie Mil, analyzed the unprecedented accuracy of the Daiteria/Hydrogen in the water 12p/Pons-Brooks. The result was indicative: its isotopic firm coincides with the millimeter with the land. An investigation published in Nature Astronomycontradicts previous observations in other galls -type comet, which showed great discrepancies with the water.
“Devil Comet” and its scientific value
This content, with 71 orbit and a core of 35 kilometers, retains the primitive material of the solar system. His nickname “Comet Diablo” was born in 2023 after the eruption gave him the appearance of the horns, although he is also known among the “millennium of hawk”. In addition to colorful, its value is that it acts as a capsule of time, keeping the ingredients that formed planets and possibly life itself.
The technology that made it possible to find
The study combined two powerful tools: Alma Radio Calescope, Chile and NASA Infrared Telescope, Hawaii. Thanks to them, scientists could display common water (H₂O) and heavy water (HDO) coma. The detected share of 1.71 × 10⁻⁴ is virtually indistinguishable from the ground and is the smallest value measured in such a snake.
What does it mean for the land
So far, the hypothesis that the comet has brought water to the ground has been weakened by controversial data. But the Case 12p/Pons-Brooks strongly opens the discussion again, believing that at least some comet was transporting water and organic molecules with the same trail as the earth. If new observations confirm this picture in other comet, we would face the strongest evidence of the decisive cosmic contribution to our planet’s living.
A turning point for science
The Cordiner summarized the importance of opening: “Our results are the strongest evidence that certain comet can bring water to the ground.” What began with the “devil” comet may eventually clarify one of the greatest vices of science: how the rocky world became a blue planet.
Source: Infobae.
