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Influx of nitrogen-rich material from the outer Solar System indicated by iron nitride in Ryugu samples

Posted in particle physics, space

Iron nitride (Fe4N) is detected on magnetite particles within the Ryugu sample returned by Hayabusa2. It is probably the product of impacts of nitrogen-rich dust from the outer Solar System on the surface of Ryugu, indicative of a flux of N-rich dust in the inner Solar System.