London: Planetary scientists have found evidence that the Earth, its Moon and Mars are from a unique planetary nursery, a finding which they claim could lead to a rethink of how the inner solar system formed.

They have based their findings on an analysis of 16 meteorites that fell from the Red Planet to Earth. The amounts of neodymium 142 these contain are found to be subtly different from those of objects in the asteroid belt, the Nature journal reported today.

According to lead scientist Prof Alex Halliday of Oxford University, "The Earth, Moon and Mars appear to have formed in a part of the inner solar system with a ratio of samarium to neodymium that is around five per cent more than could be found in the asteroid belt." "It is this family resemblance that we see today when we compare oceanic basalts from Earth with Moon rocks and Martian meteorites."

"Such differences may be the result of the erosion of planetary crusts during formation events, alternatively, this composition arose from the sorting of clouds of partially melted droplets or grains - known as chondrules."

Source : PTI