Imagine searching the roof of an ancient cathedral in search for cosmic dust, microscopic particles from outer space that carry with them the secrets of the formation of Solar system and possibly the key to the origin of life on Earth.
That's the mission of Penny Wozniakiewicz of the University of Kent and her team, who are transforming the UK's historic rooftops into a laboratory for discoveries about the universe.
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Cosmic dust, also known as micrometeorites, is mainly composed of debris from comets and asteroids.
Such mysterious particles are dispersed throughout the Earth, and scientists believe they contain crucial clues about the history of our planet and the Solar System. However, locating and studying them is a challenging task.
Most of the cosmic dust that reaches Earth comes from the Zodiacal cloud, an interplanetary dust cloud that orbits the Sun.
When the Earth passes through such a cloud, the cosmic dust is swept away by the atmosphere and settles on the ground. So these tiny parts can be found everywhere, including on our clothes.
(Image: M.Van Ginneken/Folco, university of Pisa/Reproduction)
However, finding and collecting this dust is not a simple task. Matthew Genge of Imperial College London describes this as looking for “a cosmic needle in a haystack.” But there is one place where such particles appear more easily: the Antarctica.
There is the perfect place to search for cosmic material, as it is the driest point on Earth. The lack of liquid water means that cosmic dust and micrometeorites have a longer lifespan.
In this hostile environment, Genge spent seven weeks collecting samples of cosmic dust, finding thousands of micrometeorites among the 5 kg of material collected.
Penny, on the other hand, focuses her research closer to home, on the roofs of the UK's ancient cathedrals. The reason? These structures are ancient and relatively untouched compared to modern buildings.
Additionally, cathedrals often have detailed records about their maintenance and cleaning, which helps researchers determine how long cosmic dust has been accumulating.
The process of collecting and analyzing these samples is meticulous. The material is cleaned, passed through sieves to separate the parts small enough to be considered cosmic dust, and then examined under a microscope.
The elemental composition and the presence of rapidly decaying radioactive isotopes are crucial indicators that the particle is of cosmic origin.
Penny Wozniakiewicz and her team have ambitious plans to showcase the discoveries in a unique way. They aim to turn detailed inspections of cosmic dust into stunning 3D models to be displayed in the cathedrals where they were found.
“The idea is to take something you can barely see on your finger and make it much bigger so you can hold it in your hand,” explains Penny.
Each year, approximately 100 billion particles of space dust land on Earth, carrying with them asteroid secrets and revealing glimpses of the formation of planetary systems.
Such micrometeorites, in addition to water, also contain organic molecules, suggesting that they may have served as building blocks for life on Earth.
Cosmic dust acts as a bridge that connects us to the cosmos, providing clues about the intricate relationship between celestial bodies and our planet.
Every Microscopic Particle Penny Wozniakiewicz and Other Scientists Find on Cathedral Roofs or in inhospitable regions of Antarctica helps us to unravel the mysteries of the universe and our own existence.
These invisible particles, lodged in the most unexpected spots, are truly messengers from deep space, bringing with them stories that are just beginning to be told.
