UtSTA 2024: Out-Of-This-World Science Teaching

Asteroids, often seen as remnants of the early solar system, could be crucial to understanding the origins of life on Earth. These ancient space rocks, dating back over 4.5 billion years, are rich in organic molecules and water—the fundamental ingredients for life. Many scientists believe that asteroid impacts with early Earth delivered these essential materials, setting off the chemical processes that led to life. By studying asteroids, we gain insights not just into the solar system's history, but also into how life might have begun here and possibly elsewhere.