- An extraterrestrial rock that was discovered in 1996 in Egypt has more mysteries than ever thought.
- To honour the first Western woman mathematician and astronomer, this rock was named The Hypatia stone.
- This rock was discovered in December 1996 by Egyptian geologist Aly Barakat Barakat.
- According to the new study by University of Johannesburg, this rock contains minerals that have never seen in our solar system. These includes; pure metallic aluminum nuggets, rare in our solar system; moissanite and silver iodine phosphide grains. Unlike any other solar object ever found, these minerals include a nickel-phosphide compound with very high ratios of nickel to iron.
- The researchers believe that this extraterrestrial rock may have formed at a time when the universe was still taking shape and may predate the sun and its surrounding planets. In this way it can disclose the mystery of the formation of our beloved solar system.
- The ratios of chemicals in the fragmented rocks are distinct from anything else previously studied.
Conclusion: The researchers conclude that the Hypatia stone was formed outside of our solar system and even before our sun existed.
Who was Hypatia: Hypatia of Alexandria was a leading mathematician and astronomer of 4th century. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica she is the earliest female mathematician of whose life and work reasonably detailed knowledge exists.
