Energy News
WATER WORLD
Study highlights later-stage infusion of water on Earth
illustration only
Study highlights later-stage infusion of water on Earth
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 04, 2025

A research group led by a Rutgers-New Brunswick expert has determined that water did not show up as early in Earth's assembly as once assumed. Their conclusion, drawn from an analysis of ancient rocks and meteorites, offers fresh clues about how life could have begun on our planet.

In findings detailed in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, the investigators propose that water emerged primarily during Earth's later developmental phases, known as late accretion. This conclusion is significant for understanding when living conditions became possible. Scientists say that identifying when water and other key components formed helps clarify the timeline of life's origins.

"When water was delivered to the planet is a major unanswered question in planetary science," said Katherine Bermingham, an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and lead author of the study. "If we know the answer, we can better constrain when and how life developed."

Bermingham is a cosmogeochemist who analyzes Earth rocks and meteorites to investigate the origin and evolution of the solar system. She and her colleagues used thermal ionization mass spectrometry alongside a newly designed technique to scrutinize isotopes of molybdenum. Isotopes share chemical characteristics but differ in atomic mass due to varying neutron counts.

The researchers obtained meteorite samples from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. From these samples, classified as non-carbonaceous (NC) meteorites that appear to have formed in the inner solar system, they extracted molybdenum and compared the isotopic data to Earth rocks gathered in Greenland, South Africa, Canada, the United States, and Japan. These rocks date back to when Earth was finalizing its core and when the Moon is believed to have formed.

"Once we gathered the different samples and measured their isotopic compositions, we compared the meteorites signatures with the rock signatures to see if there was a similarity or a difference," Bermingham explained. "And from there, we drew inferences."

Their analyses revealed that the Earth rocks share stronger similarities with inner solar system meteorites than with those originating in outer regions. That observation, Bermingham noted, implies that much of Earth's water likely did not arrive through a large infusion during the Moon's creation, challenging a theory that this event provided a significant influx of water.

"We have to figure out from where in our solar system Earth's building blocks - the dust and the gas - came and around when that happened," Bermingham said. "That's the information needed to understand when the stage was set for life to begin."

Instead, the findings support the notion that Earth amassed water little by little following the Moon-forming period, rather than in a single step. Bermingham underscored how this reshapes the popular perspective that substantial water delivery coincided with the creation of the Moon.

"Our results suggest that the Moon-forming event was not a major supplier of water, unlike what has been thought previously," Bermingham said. "These findings, however, permit a small amount of water to be added after final core formation, during what is called late accretion."

Other co-authors from Rutgers include Linda Godfrey, an assistant research professor, and lab researcher Hope Tornebene, also in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Research Report:The non-carbonaceous nature of Earth's late-stage accretion

Related Links
Rutgers University
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
Drinking water in many French cities contaminated: study
Paris (AFP) Jan 23, 2025
A type of "forever chemical" linked to health problems and birth defects has been found in the tap water of many French cities and towns including Paris, according to a study released on Thursday. The TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) chemical was detected in 24 out of 30 samples taken, particularly in Paris, according to the survey carried out by consumer rights organisation UFC-Que Choisir and the environmental group Future Generations. TFA is a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), oft ... read more

WATER WORLD
Rocket Lab and iQPS finalize arrangement for four Electron missions

Zohar rides with SpaceX to enhance real time space weather coverage

ATLAS bolsters radio frequency network through new HawkEye 360 alliance

SpaceX launches Maxar 3 mission, high-resolution commercial satellites

WATER WORLD
EUSPA unveils integrated GNSS and secure SATCOM user technology update

GMV to advance the Galileo High Accuracy Service with new data generator

Sierra Space resilient GPS Satellite Program achieves major development milestone

Slingshot Aerospace to enhance USSF technology for GPS jamming and spoofing detection

WATER WORLD
Indonesia deforestation rises for third year running: NGO

Launch of the most comprehensive European wetland map

King Charles III teams up with Amazon for documentary

Indonesia deforestation rises for third year running: NGO

WATER WORLD
Zero Emissions Process for Truly Biodegradable Plastics Developed

New Green Phosphonate Chemistry Explored

Turning farm waste into sustainable roads

Chemical looping turns environmental waste into fuel

WATER WORLD
A look into the dark

Role of barrier films in maintaining the stability of perovskite solar cells

HZB sets new efficiency record for CIGS perovskite tandem solar cells

Low-carbon energy investment hit record $2.1 tn in 2024: report

WATER WORLD
Green energy projects adding to Sami people's climate woes: Amnesty

New Study Enhances Trust in Wind Power Forecasting with Explainable AI

Trump casts chill over US wind energy sector

US falling behind on wind power, think tank warns

WATER WORLD
Record year for coal in 2024, world's hottest year

Indonesia's new coal phase-out goal sets 'daunting task'

In Bosnia, the path to renewables runs through its coal mines

China expected to hit peak coal consumption in 2025: report

WATER WORLD
Australia expresses 'serious concerns' for writer jailed in China

US charges former Fed official with spying for China

Viral Chinese tourist spot stokes nostalgia with staged rural scenes

China travel peaks as millions head home for Lunar New Year

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.