The Andes range in South America is well known as a place for finding meteorites. It is known, that the meteorites were formed actually during the time of formation of solar system about 4.5 billion years ago. They are believed to have remained unchanged since then. So a close study of their constituents and properties actually revealed the nature of the substances that made up the different planets, moons, comets etc. In other words, their nature reveals the form of our planet; in which it existed; when it was first formed.
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| The Andes mountain range |
These meteorites are actually pieces of rock, of different sizes and shapes, that travel through the solar system, and sometimes; they may even actually fall on Earth. Studies reveal that they contain a vital ingredient called amino acids, which are the essential building blocks for proteins. Proteins are vital substances found in all living creatures. The Carbon - another essential ingredient for all living things, is also produced in the heart of a star (as was described in a previous article).
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| Section of a meteorite : the yellow points are amino acids |
So, everything that we see around us, is actually built somewhere in the space in their most elementary forms. The universe is believed to have been created from the Big Bang, in which matters just burst out into space. Subatomic particles acquired mass in the process - amongst them were the quarks. Gradually as the temperature of the universe decreased, these particles joined to form larger, more complex structures like protons and neutrons. These protons and neutrons again came together; to form the building blocks of all elements - the nucleus. The basic difference in matters, that we see around, is due to difference in the structure of this nucleus. The difference in structure of these nuclei results in 92 different elements that can be found.
