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Meteorite Musings

The origins of life are being studied at Lincoln University by meteorite expert Professor David Deamer.

While in New Zealand, the US biophysicist is using equipment to recreate the high temperatures and pressures under which meteoric organic materials formed, in an attempt to produce similar compounds from simple materials such as water and carbon.

The organic materials found in carbonaceous meteorites are similar in some respects to the stable humic substances found in soils, so the choice of Lincoln's Soil Science Department for this study is appropriate.