A stone found in our end of the Sahara in 1992 is being reexamined and may turn out not only to be older than the solar system, but to have interstellar origins, according to ZME Science. Dubbed “The Hypatia Stone,” previous analysis had identified the stone as unique in its composition. Now, new studies are showing that the tiny stone’s core may be made up of space dust that predates the existence of our solar system — and potentially even our sun. Hypatia’s composition and age may also challenge generally accepted views that the nebulous material the entire solar system is made up of was homogenous — potentially changing theories of how our solar system was born. Hypatia comes from the central core of a comet and other parts of its composition were picked up here on Earth.

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