{"id":71,"date":"2021-10-15T19:00:02","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T17:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=102589"},"modified":"2021-10-15T19:17:10","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T17:17:10","slug":"has-an-object-ever-left-earths-atmosphere-through-natural-means","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/has-an-object-ever-left-earths-atmosphere-through-natural-means\/","title":{"rendered":"Has an object ever left Earth\u2019s atmosphere through natural means?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Dr Alastair Gunn\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 15 October 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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There are at least 277 pieces of Martian rock that have been found on Earth. But, so far, only one possible piece of Earth has been found in space. Inside a lunar sample returned by the Apollo 14 astronauts, scientists found a 2g fragment of quartz, feldspar, and zircon. These are all common minerals on Earth but highly unusual on the Moon.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that the rock formed on Earth about four billion years ago and was launched into space by an impacting asteroid or comet. But we can\u2019t be sure \u2013 recent research suggests the rock may have a lunar origin after all!<\/p>\n

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The lunar sample \u2018Big Bertha\u2019 contains a fragment that may have Earth origins \u00a9 NASA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n