ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ researchers detected a thin layer of water ice and organic molecules on the surface of 24 Themis, the largest in a family of asteroids orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.

Their unexpected findings will be published Thursday, April 29 in Nature, which will feature two complementary articles by the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½-led team and by another team of planetary scientists.

β€œWhat we’ve found suggests that an asteroid like this one may have hit Earth and brought our planet its water,” said ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Physics Professor Humberto Campins, the study’s lead author.

To continue reading about the study, click here.