Scientists are racing to find ‘alien substances’ at site of ‘world’s biggest explosion’ 100 years ago in Siberia
SCIENTISTS are racing to solve the mystery surrounding the world's biggest explosion, which is thought to have happened when a meteor burst above the Earth 112 years ago.
The huge explosion is known as the Tunguska Event and it had the force of 185 Hiroshima nuclear bombs.
"The meteorite is not here as a physical body, but the traces of the extremely powerful explosion are, which is what is currently studied by researchers.
"Many of us still hope to unravel the scenario of 1908 disaster."
"It is deep, and silty sediments, that have accumulated here, do not mix, or subside."
This was useful for the scientists because it meant the sediments are separated into time periods and can reveal previous changes to climate or information regarding catastrophic events.
He added: "Spring-autumn waste waters and the Lakura River brought traces of the Tunguska catastrophe to this lake, because the event was accompanied by massive wildfires and emissions of both planet and space origin."
The scientists aimed to spot particles of extraterrestrial origin in the old sediment layers so they could confirm a meteorite impact.
Meidus said: "We discovered a distinguishing light-coloured layer in sediments of Lake Zapovednoye the content of which - an increased content of potassium, titanium, rubidium, yttrium, and zirconium - allows to tie it to the consequences of the Tunguska bolide explosion.
"This way we know which layer of sediments might contain particles of extraterrestrial origin.
"We established the indicators, that is search criteria, during work with samples of the Chelyabinsk and Sikhote-Alin meteorites.
"The next stage implies search for micro-particles with unusual composition with the use of synchrotron radiation.
"Now we know where to look for them. If there is extraterrestrial substance, it will be in the 1908-1910 layer."
What is a meteor shower?
Here's what you need to know...
- During a meteor shower, fireballs appear to streak across the sky
- This happens because pieces of debris are rapidly burning up as they eneter Earth's atmosphere
- That debris is often left behind by a collision between two space objects, like a planet or comet
- The Orionids shower is debris from Halley's Comet, a huge chunk of ice orbiting the Sun
- Many meteor showers are repeated
- They occur at a height of around 62 miles
In other space news, scientists think they've found the first known ‘alien’ protein ‘unlike anything on Earth’ inside a meteorite.
A mysterious glowing object in Earth's orbit has left scientists baffled.
And, the biggest explosion since the Big Bang has been detected by astronomers.
Do you believe there is alien life out there? Let us know in the comments...
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