The gases that made up the Earth's atmosphere , and possibly the oceans, came from outer space and not from inside the planet, according to a study published today by the journal Science .
Using advanced analytical techniques that identify small amounts of krypton and xenon , researchers have discovered clear meteorite tracks in volcanic gases . "From what we now know, the gases from volcanoes have not contributed significantly to the formation of the atmosphere," explains Greg Holland, a researcher at the University of Manchester (UK) and co-author of the study. "Therefore, the atmosphere and the oceans must come from somewhere else, possibly from bombardment of gases and bodies rich in water, similar to comets ?"
After the discovery, the images that appear in textbooks will have to be modified showing huge volcanoes spreading gases that are later transformed into the atmosphere, according to Chris Ballentine, who has also participated in the research.
