Alien world chemistry found inside meteorite that struck New Jersey home

On July 16, 2024, a meteor streaked across the sky over New York City, producing a powerful sonic boom as it passed just south of the Statue of Liberty. Less than a day later, a meteorite weighing more than 2 pounds struck the roof of a residence in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The object had entered Earth’s atmosphere at a blistering speed of 32,000 miles per hour, breaking apart before impacting the ground. Observers from multiple states including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania reported witnessing the celestial event, while residents in New York and New Jersey felt the resulting shockwave. The meteor’s trajectory was tracked using cameras stationed in Northford, Connecticut, and Douglassville, Pennsylvania, as well as a doorbell camera in Wayne, New Jersey. These recordings allowed researchers to trace the object’s path back to the lower portion of the asteroid belt. As it descended, the meteor was fragile and fragmented, losing visibility at an altitude of approximately 22 miles. A Doppler weather radar at Newark Airport briefly picked up a long trail of falling pebbles extending from Staten Island into New Jersey. Hillsborough lay at the farthest point of this cloud, where the largest remnants landed. Only one piece was recovered after it struck a house. The homeowner who lived in the impacted home described the moment as chaotic. He was at home when he heard a loud crash and discovered a hole in the ceiling of his master bedroom. He noted a strong sulfur-like smell and found numerous black fragments scattered throughout the room, along with debris and dark dust covering his bed, carpet, and surrounding areas. In response, he took immediate action to preserve the scene, using disposable gloves and aluminum foil to carefully collect the meteorite fragments and store them in glass jars. Upon examination, scientists identified the meteorite as belonging to a rare category of primitive meteorites known as carbonaceous chondrites, specifically a CM-type. This classification is based on the composition and structure of the meteorite, with the “M” referencing the Mighei meteorite that fell in Ukraine in 1889. Further analysis revealed that the Hillsborough meteorite had undergone greater alteration by water on its parent asteroid than is commonly observed in other CM-type meteorites. It was classified as a CM1/2 carbonaceous chondrite, placing it between the petrographic types CM1 and CM2. This classification makes the Hillsborough meteorite particularly noteworthy. It marks the 22nd recorded fall of a CM-type meteorite, yet only the second witnessed instance of a CM1/2 type, following the Kolang meteorite that fell in North Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2020. All other CM-type meteorites observed so far have been classified as CM2. Notably, no CM1-type meteorites have ever been directly observed falling to Earth. The discovery offers new insights into the chemical processes that occurred on early asteroids. Researchers believe the meteorite contains evidence of ancient briny fluids that once existed on its parent body. Such findings could provide valuable information about the conditions present during the formation of planetary bodies in our solar system. The preservation of these fragments, thanks to the homeowner’s prompt documentation, has enabled scientists to study the meteorite in unprecedented detail.