The ratio that indicates whether an element is more soluble in liquid iron or molten silicate is called the partition coefficient. This figure shows that nitrogen has a greater affinity for liquid ...

For many years, scientists have predicted that many of the elements that are crucial ingredients for life, like sulfur and nitrogen, first came to Earth when asteroid-type objects carrying them ...

Researchers have used the chemical fingerprints of zinc contained in meteorites to determine the origin of volatile elements on Earth. The results suggest that without 'unmelted' asteroids, there may ...

For years, scientists have puzzled over why Earth and Mars are missing certain key elements. Now, a fresh study suggests these ingredients weren’t missing from the start. Instead, they were likely ...

Researchers trying to understand how the planets formed have uncovered a new clue by analysing meteorites that are older than the earth. The research shows that the process which depleted planets and ...

Earth's rocky layers are mysteriously low in nitrogen compared with carbon and argon. A scientific team explored our planet's molten youth using advanced quantum mechanical simulations, revealing ...