During this lecture, Professor Steven Goderis will present the latest insights from the ERC Consolidator Grant project FLUX. This project uses microscopic fossil dust particles to reconstruct the history of collisions in the solar system, while also offering insights into Earth's ancient atmosphere and climate.
While spectacular meteorites often capture attention, our planet is continuously showered by an almost invisible rain of cosmic dust. These micrometeorites, fragments of asteroids and comets, form the vast majority of extraterrestrial material reaching Earth. The VUB's AMGC research team has been collecting these particles for over a decade from diverse locations, including Brussels rooftops.
Research within the FLUX project shows that micrometeorites can be preserved for hundreds of millions of years in sedimentary rocks. By studying their interaction with the atmosphere during descent, they act as time capsules, unraveling the dynamics of our solar system and the composition of the ancient Earth's atmosphere.
Journalists and science editors are cordially invited to attend the lecture and the subsequent reception. The event will take place on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 17:30 to 18:30, followed by a festive reception, at VUB Main Campus Etterbeek, U-Residence (Green Room), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene. Admission is free, but registration is required via the provided link.
