Lecture by Professor Steven Goderis at the annual VVS meeting in Brussels (Grimbergen MIRA).
Professor Steven Goderis and his research team at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel employ advanced geochemical techniques to unlock the secrets hidden within microscopic space dust recovered from both the Antarctic ice and ancient geological strata.
By conducting precise measurements of oxygen isotopes and identifying specific minerals like chromium-rich spinels, they can accurately trace the origin of these particles back to different types of primitive asteroids. A crucial part of their work involves analyzing the concentration of these micrometeorites within different rock layers, as the fluctuating numbers of these cosmic grains provide a direct record of massive impact events in Earth’s past. These sedimentary archives allow scientists to reconstruct the flux of extraterrestrial matter over millions of years and understand how the chemical composition of our solar system has evolved. Beyond identifying their source, the team examines the chemical alteration of these particles to determine past CO2 levels and atmospheric conditions during their high-speed entry into our planet's orbit. Furthermore, studying the magnetic properties trapped within these tiny grains provides a rare glimpse into the strength and orientation of ancient magnetic fields that shaped the early solar system. By combining these diverse analytical approaches, Goderis continues to push the boundaries of planetary science, using the smallest particles to answer the biggest questions about our cosmic history.
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| Micrometeorites |
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| Selfie with Steven Goderis and in the back my friend Jean-Marie :) |
