Meteorite that crashed into US home is older than Earth, say scientists

Meteorite That Crashed in US Is Older Than Earth, Say Scientists (Representative Image: Canva)

When a blazing rock from space tore through the skies of Georgia, USA, it ended its journey in the roof of a quiet suburban home. Scientists have now revealed that this meteorite, older than Earth itself, carries clues from the dawn of the Solar System.

4.56-Billion-Year-Old Space Rock Identified

The meteorite fell in broad daylight on 26 June, witnessed by residents across Georgia and nearby states. Many reported a deafening boom as the fireball streaked overhead. The impact in McDonough, Henry County, left a resident with a shattered roof and fragments scattered across his property.

Researchers from the University of Georgia examined the recovered pieces and found the rock to be a chondrite, the most common type of stony meteorite. Tests using optical and electron microscopy dated it to about 4.56 billion years ago. That makes it roughly 20 million years older than Earth.

From Space to the Living Room

The meteorite, now named the McDonough meteorite, entered the atmosphere at high speed before slowing but still striking the home at around one kilometre per second. The resident said he is still finding fine space dust in his house weeks later.

It is only the 27th meteorite ever recovered in Georgia. Geologist Scott Harris, who led the study, said such events used to happen only once in several decades. He credits public vigilance and modern technology for the rise in meteorite recoveries.

Studying the Threat from Above

Harris plans to publish more research on the meteorite’s composition and speed to help understand the risks posed by larger asteroids. He said such studies are vital in preparing for the rare but potentially catastrophic possibility of a significant impact.