Meteorite from Algeria reveals insights on dead planet

In 2023, a meteorite fell in Algeria, and scientists have recently determined that it comes from a long-dead planet, unlike most meteorites that originate from bodies still existing in space. This meteorite, named Northwest Africa (NWA) 15915, has unique properties and weighs 2.84 kilograms. The research team, led by Jennifer Mitchell from the University of Minnesota, found that the meteorite's materials do not align with known celestial bodies. They believe it derives from a Mercury-like planet that has not existed for millions or even billions of years. These findings were presented at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference in Texas. Billions of years ago, the solar system contained many protoplanets, but most combined to form the planets we know today. Only a few, like Ceres and Vesta, remained intact after that chaotic period. NWA 15915 is classified as an "outlier" meteorite, representing just 0.2 percent of meteorites. Using advanced imaging technology, researchers found its properties suggested a formation in a low-oxygen environment, similar to Mercury. The discovery of such meteorites is rare, but scientists believe more could still be found, despite the original planets no longer existing. Researchers are excited, as these findings enhance understanding of the early solar system and its complex history.