"Sahara's Crystal-Studded Space Rock Unveils New Insights into Early Solar System History"

Researchers have discovered a crystal-studded meteorite, Erg Chech 002, in the Sahara Desert that is estimated to be 4.56556 billion years old, making it the oldest volcanic rock ever found. The meteorite's age challenges assumptions about the early solar system and provides insights into the distribution of aluminum-26, a radioactive isotope that played a crucial role in the formation and heating of primitive rocks. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the early developmental stages of the Solar System and the geological history of planets.