Solar system ice: Source of Earth’s water

The continent of Antarctica is at risk from human activities and other forces, and environmental management is needed to protect the planet’s last great wilderness area, say experts.

Scientists have long believed that comets and, or a type of very primitive meteorite were the sources of early Earth’s volatile elements. Understanding where these volatiles came from is crucial for determining the origins of both water and life. New research focuses on ice that was distributed throughout much of the early Solar System. The team’s findings contradict prevailing theories and suggest that meteorites are the most-likely sources of the Earth’s water.

A century ago, the South Pole was one of Earth’s last frontiers, but now the Antarctic is under threat from human activity.