Ancient Space Rock Reveals a Lost World
A rare meteorite discovered in the Sahara Desert has provided scientists with an extraordinary glimpse into the chaotic early days of our solar system. The space rock, known as NWA 12774, belongs to a rare group of meteorites called angrites—some of the oldest volcanic materials ever found. However, when researchers examined its internal structure, they uncovered evidence pointing to a long-lost world that no longer exists.
For years, scientists believed angrites originated from relatively small asteroids because of their unusual chemical makeup. Yet the latest analysis revealed something unexpected. Tiny crystals embedded within the meteorite showed signs of having formed under immense pressure—far greater than what a small asteroid could generate.
Clues Hidden Inside Crystals
The key evidence came from aluminum-rich clinopyroxene crystals found within the meteorite. These minerals typically form only when rocks experience extreme pressure deep inside a planetary body. Laboratory experiments showed that the pressures recorded in the crystals were roughly 17 times greater than those at the bottom of Earth’s Mariana Trench.
As a result, researchers concluded that the meteorite’s parent body must have been much larger than previously thought. Their calculations suggest it originated from a protoplanet with a radius of at least 1,000 kilometers and possibly as large as 1,800 kilometers—placing it somewhere between Earth’s Moon and Mars in size.
A Missing Chapter in Solar System History
Scientists believe this ancient world formed during the solar system’s infancy more than 4.5 billion years ago. However, before it could evolve into a fully developed planet, a massive collision likely shattered it into countless fragments.
One of those fragments eventually made its way to Earth, preserving a record of a forgotten planetary embryo. The discovery provides the strongest evidence yet that the early solar system contained large worlds that have since vanished.
Moreover, researchers say other meteorites may hold similar clues, suggesting that many lost worlds remain hidden within Earth’s collections of space rocks, waiting to rewrite the story of planetary formation.
