The first time we saw it I think we all went a little bit into denial because it was not expected to be found in a comet, molecular oxygen is very reactive. There was a lot of hydrogen around when the solar system was formed. Everybody and all models showed that molecular oxygen would react with the hydrogen and would no longer be present as molecular oxygen.

Kathrin Altwegg

Categorized in : Science

It is the most surprising discovery we have made so far in 67P because oxygen was not among the molecules suspected in a cometary comas, the first time we saw it I think we all went a little bit into denial because it was not expected to be found in a comet.

Kathrin Altwegg

science

This probably rules out Kuiper Belt comets from bringing water to... by Kathrin Altwegg

This probably rules out Kuiper Belt comets from bringing water to Earth.

Kathrin Altwegg

science

Asteroids could well have had much more water than they have today, they have just lived in the vicinity of the sun for 4.6 billion years.

Kathrin Altwegg

science