First Ever Evidence of a Comet Entering Earth's Atmosphere and Exploding, Raining Down a Shock Wave of Fire

The first ever evidence of a comet entering Earth’s atmosphere and exploding, raining down a shock wave of fire which obliterated every life form in its path, has been discovered by a team of South African scientists and international collaborators.

The discovery has not only provided the first definitive proof of a comet striking Earth, millions of years ago, but it could also help us to unlock, in the future, the secrets of the formation of our solar system.
“Comets always visit our skies – they’re these dirty snowballs of ice mixed with dust – but never before in history has material from a comet ever been found on Earth,” says Professor David Block of Wits University.

An artist’s rendition of the comet exploding in Earth’s atmosphere above Egypt. Credit: Terry Bakker

Phys.org
Read more here: http://phys.org/news/2013-10-evidence-comet-earth.html

Journal reference: Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Provided by Wits University