As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, a new and alarming revelation has emerged. Climate change is not only affecting our planet’s ecosystems and wildlife but also erasing our cosmic heritage. The melting of polar ice caps and glaciers is causing the loss of extraterrestrial heritage, including meteorites that have been preserved for thousands of years.
Meteorites are remnants of asteroids, comets, and other celestial bodies that have fallen to Earth. They provide valuable insights into the formation of our solar system and the universe beyond. However, due to their dark color, meteorites preferentially heat up with respect to the surrounding ice. As this ice melts, meteorites are becoming exposed and sinking into the ground, making them difficult to recover and study.