In 2023, researchers discovered materials on the seafloor near Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea, that were initially… They were considered to be of extraterrestrial origin. This discovery occurred after the entry of A meteorite in earth's atmosphere in 2014, Which raised the hypothesis that its fragments could reach the ocean. Although this discovery initially indicated a breakthrough in understanding interstellar objects, subsequent and deeper analyzes cast doubt on whether these materials actually came from beyond Earth, casting doubt on the idea that they belonged to an interstellar meteorite.
Vibrations caused by the truck
Now, the situation has become more complicated due to the results of new research conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins University. The new study suggests that the sound waves, initially attributed to the 2014 meteor impact, certainly came from a more mundane source: vibrations generated by a truck driving on a road near the seismometer used for detection.
“The signal changed direction over time, exactly in sync with the road passing next to the seismometer,” said Benjamin Fernando, a planetary seismologist at Johns Hopkins University who led the research. In a press release from the institution.
“It's very difficult to take a sign and make sure it's not coming from something. But what we can do is show that there are many signs like this, and show that they have all the characteristics we would expect from a truck and none of them.” “The properties we expect from a meteorite,” he added.
The first interstellar visitor to collide with Earth?
This turn of events raises doubts about the initial claim that an interstellar meteorite had struck Earth. The story began when an object entered the atmosphere over the western Pacific Ocean on January 8, 2014, and was identified Written by Avi Loeb, A famous Harvard professor, his team is potentially among the stars (plus there are… extraterrestrial technological origin) Because of its high speed. If this discovery is confirmed, it will be the third known interstellar visitor to the solar system, and the first to impact our planet. It has even been suggested that a specific place in the ocean where the remains could have fallen and drowned has been suggested.
However, subsequent analyzes and interpretations of the data suggest that the object's speed was overestimated and that its origin may not be interstellar. Furthermore, according to Fernando, the actual location of the atmospheric event was significantly far from where the oceanographic expedition searched for the fragments, suggesting that not only was the wrong signal used, but they were also looking in the wrong place.
“The location of the fireball was very far from where the oceanographic expedition went to recover these meteorite fragments,” Fernando added. “Not only were they using the wrong signal, they were looking in the wrong place,” he added.
What was recovered from the water?
This raises questions about the nature of the objects removed from the ocean. According to specialists, it is possible that the results are composed of small particles From meteorites Common or meteorites that have mixed with terrestrial elements. Whatever the case, the research team strongly emphasizes that these creatures do not come from extraterrestrial technology.
The results of this study will be presented On March 12 at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference from the United States.
Felipe Espinoza Wang with information from Johns Hopkins University.
