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Do scientists even want these rocks? Would scientists even benefit from disincentivizing the thousands of people hunting them down vs having to occasionally pa

by dmix 4y ago

Do scientists even want these rocks? Would scientists even benefit from disincentivizing the thousands of people hunting them down vs having to occasionally pay for the good ones that have scientific value?

enkid 4y ago
Scientists do want meteorites. They tell a lot about the evolution of the solar system and even the planets. Meteorites formed in specific periods as the solar system developed, which allows geologists to compare there formation with how we expect the Earth to have formed. Additionally, there are some very rare meteorites which were cast into space from a neighboring planet (or moon) due to their own collision with a meteor and then come down on Earth, telling us even more about these celestial bodies. It's the only way we can study rocks from Mars using a full laboratory at this point.
kennend3 4y ago
Scientists absolutely want them and often reach out to the public for help. Case in point, this took place here in Ontario not long ago. https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/fireball-witnessed-in-evening-sky-across-southern-ontario https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/fi...
- dmix 4y ago
  Well, yeah, they want specific meteorites for research. I meant in general do they care about collecting the vast majority of them that fall on the earth?
  - kennend3 4y ago
    Isnt this a catch-22 situation? what makes a "specific meteorite" important for research if they don't get a chance to look at it? The issue, at least for Canada is the laws are clear: "Canadian law on the matter is clear and simple: Any meteorite found in Canada belongs to the owner of the property it was found on. " So places like the ROM need to ASK that you let them examine what you find. I would assume that if you find something you can turn it over to the ROM to examine and have it returned given it is YOUR property??
    - dmix 4y ago
      That dilemma seems very specific to Canadian law (or any situation where such a law exists). The thing I asked was whether it makes sense to remove the concept of property and markets entirely from meteorites. Sayings yes it's property but adding a minor exception wouldn't eliminate the incentives entirely... but it could severely reduce the incentives to find them and therefore the net gain scientists (and the public) get from making it open to the private hunters. Those details matter a lot in that context, do they have to turn it over indefinitely for 'research'? Do researchers have to compensate the finder if they take it for an extended period of time? etc. That's basically a whole different conversation that's predicated on the core question I proposed but it's a different question.
MeteorMarc 4y ago
They want them clean, not touched by humans, in particular in case of carbonaceous meteorites.

by dmix 4y ago

enkid 4y ago

Scientists do want meteorites. They tell a lot about the evolution of the solar system and even the planets. Meteorites formed in specific periods as the solar system developed, which allows geologists to compare there formation with how we expect the Earth to have formed. Additionally, there are some very rare meteorites which were cast into space from a neighboring planet (or moon) due to their own collision with a meteor and then come down on Earth, telling us even more about these celestial bodies. It's the only way we can study rocks from Mars using a full laboratory at this point.

kennend3 4y ago

Scientists absolutely want them and often reach out to the public for help. Case in point, this took place here in Ontario not long ago. https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/fireball-witnessed-in-evening-sky-across-southern-ontario https://www.rom.on.ca/en/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/fi...

dmix 4y ago
Well, yeah, they want specific meteorites for research. I meant in general do they care about collecting the vast majority of them that fall on the earth?
- kennend3 4y ago
  Isnt this a catch-22 situation? what makes a "specific meteorite" important for research if they don't get a chance to look at it? The issue, at least for Canada is the laws are clear: "Canadian law on the matter is clear and simple: Any meteorite found in Canada belongs to the owner of the property it was found on. " So places like the ROM need to ASK that you let them examine what you find. I would assume that if you find something you can turn it over to the ROM to examine and have it returned given it is YOUR property??
  - dmix 4y ago
    That dilemma seems very specific to Canadian law (or any situation where such a law exists). The thing I asked was whether it makes sense to remove the concept of property and markets entirely from meteorites. Sayings yes it's property but adding a minor exception wouldn't eliminate the incentives entirely... but it could severely reduce the incentives to find them and therefore the net gain scientists (and the public) get from making it open to the private hunters. Those details matter a lot in that context, do they have to turn it over indefinitely for 'research'? Do researchers have to compensate the finder if they take it for an extended period of time? etc. That's basically a whole different conversation that's predicated on the core question I proposed but it's a different question.

MeteorMarc 4y ago

They want them clean, not touched by humans, in particular in case of carbonaceous meteorites.