A meteorite fragment recovered from a New Jersey home is drawing scientific interest after tests found what were described as extraterrestrial amino acids. The rock, which weighed more than 2 pounds, crashed through the roof of a house in Hillsborough two years ago and punched through the ceiling of a master bedroom.
Only one fragment was recovered from the incident, according to the report. Even so, researchers say the sample could be important because it may help explain the presence of ancient water in the early solar system.
Meteorites are valued by scientists because they can preserve chemical material from the formation of planets and other bodies. In this case, the discovery of amino acids in the New Jersey specimen adds to its significance, since such compounds can offer insight into the chemistry that existed far beyond Earth.
The fragment’s unusual journey from space to a suburban home has made it a rare and closely watched find. With just a single recovered piece available for study, the meteorite may still provide useful evidence about how water and organic compounds were present in the solar system long ago.
