Meteorite that punched a hole through Georgia roof may be older than Earth itself

University of Georgia researcher Scott Harris holds a chunk of the McDonough Meteorite (Image credit: University of Georgia)

A meteorite that survived atmospheric entry and smashed through the roof of a Georgia home earlier this year may have formed before Earth itself, according to a scientist from the University of Georgia who analyzed fragments of the wandering solar system object.

Residents of several southeastern U.S. states were dazzled on Jul. 26 when they witnessed a rare daytime fireball — bright enough to be registered by an orbiting satellite — blazing Earthward.