A meteorite that punched through a bedroom ceiling in Hillsborough, New Jersey, in 2024 has been found to contain hundreds of different amino acids, with the majority not known to occur naturally on Earth. The meteorite, now known as Hillsborough, is a rare sample from a primitive asteroid and has been the subject of a new study published in Science Advances.
Recovery and Analysis
The meteorite was recovered quickly, with the homeowner collecting the fragments with gloves, wrapping them in aluminium foil, and storing them in glass containers. This fast recovery was crucial in preserving the meteorite’s chemistry, as meteorites that sit on the ground or are handled casually can quickly become contaminated with terrestrial chemistry.
The study, led by Peter Jenniskens of the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center, found that the Hillsborough meteorite is a primitive CM carbonaceous chondrite, a type of meteorite that preserves old material from the early solar system, including minerals changed by water and organic compounds relevant to prebiotic chemistry.
Brines and Amino Acids
The researchers found evidence that salty fluids once moved through parts of the parent asteroid, with microscopic fractures filled with sodium-rich material left behind by ancient brines. The team also identified hundreds of amino acids in the meteorite, with most of them not occurring naturally on Earth. According to Danny Glavin, a senior scientist at NASA Goddard’s Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory, the amino acids were found in water extracts from the meteorite and are a complex suite of compounds.
The discovery of these amino acids is significant, as it sheds light on the chemistry that took place inside the asteroid parent body, aided by water, salts, minerals, and time. The finding does not mean that the meteorite contained life or evidence of life, but rather that it preserves evidence of a small chemical environment inside a primitive asteroid.
Implications and Further Research
The study adds another well-preserved example of how organic chemistry and water-altered minerals can coexist in asteroid material, placing Hillsborough in a longer story about carbon-rich objects and early Earth. The researchers believe that primitive asteroids and their fragments may have carried water and organic matter to the young planet, and that the Hillsborough meteorite provides valuable insights into the early solar system’s chemistry.
The fragments of the meteorite are still being studied, with some expected to be curated at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The study highlights the importance of rapid recovery and careful handling of meteorites, as well as the value of preserving these samples for future research.
Steve Lopez is the Editorial Page Editor for News Raise. He covers Health. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards for his reporting and column writing at seven newspapers and four news magazines.
