In the vast, cold expanse of Antarctica, more than 300,000 meteorites lie on the icy surface, holding secrets about the origins of life, the formation of celestial bodies, and the early solar system.

These extraterrestrial objects have been invaluable in scientific research, but the warming of our planet is now putting them at risk.

New research indicates that with every tenth of a degree rise in global temperature, between 5,000 and 12,000 meteorites are sinking beneath the ice.

By 2050, we could lose about a quarter of these meteorites, and by 2100, that number could rise to three-quarters if global warming continues unabated!

Understanding the Loss of Meteorites

For us as researchers and explorers of the cosmos, this loss represents a major setback in our understanding of the universe. Meteorites hold critical information that helps us piece together the history of our solar system, including the formation of the moon and other planets.

"They provide a unique insight into the origins of life on Earth and the early solar system," says Daniel Farinotti, a glaciologist at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research (WSL) and ETH Zurich, who was part of the study team.

The Urgent Need to Act

The situation is pressing. According to Harry Zekollari, co-leader of the study and glaciologist at WSL and ETH Zurich, "Currently, five times more meteorites are disappearing from the Antarctic surface than can be collected." He warns that we must accelerate the collection of these precious meteorites before they are lost to the effects of climate change.

This situation is similar to the challenges faced with shrinking glaciers and bleaching coral reefs, where there's a race to gather valuable data before it's too late. The key, however, lies in drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow global warming and preserve these treasures for future generations.

How Meteorites Sink into the Ice

The meteorites are sinking due to their dark color. Even in freezing temperatures, these dark objects absorb enough heat from the sun to cause the ice beneath them to melt. "As the meteorite heats up, it creates a cavity in the ice, and over time, it sinks below the surface," explains Veronica Tollenaar, co-leader of the study at Université libre de Bruxelles. This process is accelerating with rising temperatures, which means meteorites are disappearing faster than ever before.

Using Technology to Predict the Losses

To quantify the impact of rising temperatures, the researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to model and predict the losses of meteorites. Their study, which was published in the prestigious journal Nature, shows just how quickly these invaluable objects are being lost due to climate change. The findings highlight the urgency of acting swiftly to both preserve the meteorites and address the broader issue of global warming.

The Road Ahead

We find ourselves at a critical juncture. The knowledge contained in these meteorites is irreplaceable, and the threat of losing them is growing by the day. While the collection efforts must be ramped up, our collective focus must also shift toward addressing climate change at its source. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we can slow global warming and ensure that the meteorites of Antarctica remain accessible to future generations of scientists and explorers.

In the race against time, every effort counts. The fate of these meteorites may well determine how much we learn about the origins of our solar system—and how much of that knowledge will be lost forever!