We Drink Good 4.5-Billion-Year-Old Water

TL;DR

This paper discusses the ancient origins of Earth's water, highlighting that a significant portion was inherited from the early Solar System, dating back 4.5 billion years, and emphasizing water's role in planetary formation.

Contribution

It provides evidence that Earth's water largely originates from the earliest phases of Solar System formation, linking interstellar water synthesis to terrestrial water.

Findings

Earth's water is inherited from early Solar System phases.

Heavy water measurements suggest a 4.5-billion-year-old origin.

Water cycles through planetary formation stages.

Abstract

Water is crucial for the emergence and evolution of life on Earth. Recent studies of the water content in early forming planetary systems similar to our own show that water is an abundant and ubiquitous molecule, initially synthesized on the surfaces of tiny interstellar dust grains by the hydrogenation of frozen oxygen. Water then enters a cycle of sublimation/freezing throughout the successive phases of planetary system formation, namely, hot corinos and protoplanetary disks, eventually to be incorporated into planets, asteroids, and comets. The amount of heavy water measured on Earth and in early forming planetary systems suggests that a substantial fraction of terrestrial water was inherited from the very first phases of the Solar System formation and is 4.5 billion years old.