Scientists have traced the history of cosmic dust since the beginning of the solar system

A research team led by the University of Arizona has reconstructed previously inaccessible

details the history of the cloud of cosmic dust that formed during the birth of the solar system: this happened more than 4.5 billion years ago.

The results obtained provide insight into the fundamental processes underlying the formation of planetary systems, many of which still remain a mystery to scientists. 

In the new study, the team developed a newtype of structure, it combines quantum mechanics and thermodynamics: this is necessary to simulate the conditions to which the cloud was exposed during its formation. The composition of the cloud was rich in calcium and aluminum: a similar composition was found in a sample of the Allende meteorite, which fell over the Mexican state of Chihuahua in 1969. 

During their work, the authors analyzed the compositionsubstances of a meteorite, which was presumably formed due to a dust cloud. The meteorite was found to be primarily composed of spinel and perovskite minerals, which are also found in rocks on Earth. Similar solids are also found in other types of meteorites known as carbonaceous chondrites, which are of particular interest to planetary scientists because they are remnants formation of the Solar System and contain organic molecules that may have served as the basis for the formation and development of life.

Accurate analysis of the arrangement of atoms in a meteoriteallowed the team to study the structure of crystal structures in detail. To the team's surprise, some of the results contradicted current theories about the physical processes that are active inside protoplanetary disks. 

As a result, the analysis showed that the dust cloud,probably traveled in many orbits around the sun. It arose not far from the place where the Earth was supposed to form, then flew away towards the Sun and then was thrown into the cold regions of the Solar System. The dust cloud eventually became part of the asteroid, which later disintegrated into pieces. Some of these fragments were due to the gravity of the Earth and fell on our planet in the form of meteorites.

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