Monday, February 20, 2006

Reading the DNA of a comet

Scientists have confirmed that dust samples collected by the Stardust spacecraft, whcih returned to Earth in Janaury, are indeed from the comet Wild 2. The samples were collected in January 2004. Comet dust may not be interesting to most people, but it is fascinating to scientists who have their first-ever look at what may be the primordial material of the solar system. It's like finding the fossil of the first living things on Earth. Not to mention that what the Stardust team did - reaching across hundreds of millions of miles to sample a comet and bring its matter back to Earth - is simply astonishing. It's a great step forward in our exploration of the universe we all inhabit.
No matter how pressing our problems on Earth, sometimes people need to be reminded:
"Look up! For wonder awaits."

- Matt Bille

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