• [Dailystar Icon]
• News
• US News
• Meteor

Alien 'chemistry' found in 'salty fluids' after space rock crashed through house

A homeowner found a meteorite in their bedroom containing pristine salty fluids that scientists say could hold the key to the origins of alien life

[An amazing space rock has brought the origins of alien life straight into an American suburb]

An amazing space rock has brought the origins of alien life straight into an American suburb(Image: SETI Institute/SWNS)

An amazing space rock has brought the origins of alien life straight into an American suburb after crashing through a house roof, experts have revealed. The rock made a dramatic entrance when it tore through the atmosphere at a blistering 32,000 miles per hour, triggering a massive "sonic boom" that rattled New York City.

The fiery spectacle, which happened on July 16, 2024, was spotted by dozens of stargazers across five different states before the meteor broke apart over Staten Island and New Jersey. However, one hefty two-pound chunk managed to survive the fall, smashing straight through the ceiling of a home in Hillsborough, New Jersey, and landing right in a bedroom.

The stunned homeowner said: "I was at home at the time, heard a loud crash, and found a hole in the ceiling of the master bedroom.

[The rock made a dramatic entrance when it tore through the atmosphere at a blistering 32,000 miles per hour]

The rock made a dramatic entrance when it tore through the atmosphere at a blistering 32,000 miles per hour(Image: SETI Institute/SWNS)

"I smelled a strong sulphur-like odour and saw many black fragments along with debris and black dust that covered my bed, carpet and surrounding areas."

Acting quickly, the resident put on disposable gloves, wrapped the space debris in aluminium foil, and sealed the pieces inside glass jars to keep them free from Earthly contamination.

That quick thinking has now paved the way for a major scientific breakthrough. A new study published in the journal Science Advances reveals that the space rock - officially named "Hillsborough" - could hold the secrets to how life itself began.

Scientists testing the incredibly well-preserved fragments found they were packed with salty fluids. Experts believe the fluids are responsible for generating the key molecules needed to kickstart life.

Lead author and meteor astronomer Peter Jenniskens, of the SETI Institute and NASA's Ames Research Center, said: "A forensic study of the fragments revealed that they contained preserved bits from near the surface of a small primitive asteroid where it experienced concentrated salty fluids - a process not previously known from this type of proto-planet world."

Jenniskens added: "Thanks to the homeowners quick reaction, these are the most pristine CM1/2 meteorites we know of."

[The fiery spectacle was spotted by dozens of stargazers across five different states (stock image)]

The fiery spectacle was spotted by dozens of stargazers across five different states (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Scientists also found a rich mix of carbon compounds, amino acids, and prebiotic ingredients within the rock, offering crucial clues about how the essential building blocks of life first arrived on Earth.

The priceless fragments are now heading to the Big Apple to be preserved and studied at the American Museum of Natural History.

Museum curator Denton Ebel said: "We are thrilled that nature delivered such a precious asteroid sample on our doorstep."

Join Gold Star!

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.