A new study reveals why carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, crucial for understanding the early Solar System, are rare on Earth. Researchers analyzed data from global meteor observation networks, finding that solar heat breaks down these weaker, water-rich asteroids in space before they reach Earth's atmosphere. Only a fraction survive atmospheric entry, explaining the discrepancy between the expected and observed numbers of carbonaceous meteorites. This research utilizes data from missions like OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2, which provide pristine samples for comparison.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.