Scientists have long debated how Earth became rich in liquid water after the planet formed about 4.5 billion years ago. Now a new research published in Science Advances suggests that comets, particularly those from the Jupiter family, may have played a significant role in delivering water to Earth.

The study focused on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, a celestial body that belongs to the Jupiter family of comets.

Did comets help fill early Earth’s oceans? New research shows water on Comet 67P has a molecular signature similar to Earth’s ocean water, adding weight to the theory that comets brought water to our planet billions of years ago. Details: https://t.co/Spzm61bN5F pic.twitter.com/tqllq8DTaH
— NASA 360 (@NASA360) December 7, 2024

Using data from the European Space Agency‘s (ESA) Rosetta mission, researchers analysed the molecular structure of water on the comet and found striking similarities to the water in Earth’s oceans. This discovery strengthens the theory that icy comets and asteroids crashing into Earth contributed to the formation of its oceans.

The ratio of deuterium to regular hydrogen in the water is a key signature which is the basis of the study. Deuterium is a heavier isotope of hydrogen and it forms heavy water.

Previous studies had shown that the levels of deuterium in the water vapour of many Jupiter-family comets closely matched those found in Earth’s water. To explore this connection further, NASA planetary scientist Kathleen Mandt and her team used advanced statistical techniques to analyse data from Comet 67P.

The findings revealed that deuterium-rich water was more closely associated with dust grains around the comet than previously understood. Because water with deuterium is more likely to form in cold environments, there’s a higher concentration of the isotope on objects that formed far from the Sun, such as comets, than in objects that formed closer to the Sun, like asteroids.

Measurements within the last couple of decades of deuterium in the water vapor of several other Jupiter-family comets showed similar levels to Earth’s water.

This discovery not only strengthens the idea that comets helped deliver water to Earth but also provides valuable insight into how the early solar system formed. By studying the molecular makeup of comets like 67P, scientists can better understand the processes that shaped our planet and its oceans billions of years ago.

Mandt expressed her excitement about the results, saying, “This is just one of those very rare cases where you propose a hypothesis and actually find it happening.” The research also shows how studying comets can help unravel mysteries about the building blocks of the solar system.

ALSO SEE: Uranus Is Hiding 8000-Km Deep Ocean? New Study Presents Thrilling Hints

ALSO SEE: Webb Telescope Sees World That Could Reek Of Burnt Matches And Rotten Eggs

(Image: NASA)

Michael Gronager, the co-founder and longtime CEO of Chainalysis, has agreed to leave the company permanently, two months after taking a temporary personal leave of absence.

Chainalysis, a buzzy 10-year-old, New York-based blockchain data platform, will now be led by co-founder Jonathan Levin, as Levin told TechCrunch, explaining that on Tuesday, its board of directors gave him Gronager’s job. But Levin, who has long served as the outfit’s chief strategy officer, will do more than run the company as CEO; he will also maintain his other roles.

“I’ve been running R&D, and I think the CEO should be the chief product officer, so I’m making no changes to our R&D leadership team; it will continue to report directly to me,” he said in an interview on Wednesday.

Levin declined to provide more information about Gronager other than to say that Gronager is also no longer on the Chainalysis board but retains his equity in the company.

A message to Gronager on Wednesday from TechCrunch went unreturned.

Asked about Chainalysis’ financial health, Levin said the startup is “continuing to invest in our growth,” and that “we don’t need to raise capital. We raised $175 million in 2022 and [still] feel strong about the cash position of company.” He added that his focus will be on “executing, the expansion of our risk platform, and going deeper with our government clients across the world to ensure they can deal with the increased demand of crypto.”

Chainalysis, whose early investors include Benchmark, was valued by investors at $8.6 billion during that 2022 funding round. Crypto investor Katie Haun, who first discovered Chainalysis in her capacity as federal prosecutor, reportedly began buying up secondary shares of the company at a valuation of $2.5 billion this past April.

Considered a “crypto detective,” one whose clients include the U.S. government and a wide range of corporations, Chainalysis in late 2023 laid off slightly more than 15% of its staff of 900, with plans to focus more squarely on government contracting, according to The Block.

The entire crypto industry has been in bounce-back mode in more recent weeks, as the incoming Trump administration signals a far friendlier stance toward digital currencies. The most obvious proof point: The price of bitcoin reached a record high of $100,000 on Wednesday.

Above: Levin at a StrictlyVC event hosted by TechCrunch in November 2024.