logo
A Mars rock was expected to sell at auction for $4 million. The final bid was for more

A Mars rock was expected to sell at auction for $4 million. The final bid was for more

Yahoo18-07-2025
The largest piece of Mars to ever make its way to Earth is now also the most valuable meteorite in the world.
A chunk of the Martian surface that at some point crashed into Earth following an unlikely cosmic journey sold Wednesday, July 16 to an anonymous bidder for a record $5.3 million at a Sotheby's New York auction. The final price tag, which came after various fees and costs were added, is the most any meteorite of any origin has ever sold for at auction, Sotheby's said in a post on social media site X.
The sale also surpasses the $2-4 million the Mars rock was expected to fetch.
What is the Mars rock?
The large space rock, which has the scientific name of NWA 16788, had its Martian origins validated by the Meteoritical Society, which included it in its Meteoritical Bulletin, the global journal of record for meteor-related science.
The meteorite was previously on exhibit at the Italian Space Agency in Rome and at a private gallery in Arezzo, Italy, in Tuscany, before it landed in Sotheby's auction.
Mars rock sells for $5.3 million: Who bought it?
Marketed by Sotheby's as "the largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth," the cosmic object was expected to sell for up to $4 million.
The final bid was $4.3 million. The official final sale price was then about $5.3 million after various fees and costs were added, multiple outlets reported, including the Associated Press and ABC News.
Sotheby's, a British-founded auctioneer of art and collectibles based in New York City, auctioned off the meteorite, along with more than 100 other items, Wednesday, July 16.
Sotheby's has not publicly identified the buyer.
What are meteorites?
Rocks in space are known as meteoroids. If those space rocks enter Earth's atmosphere, they become meteors that streak across the sky in events colloquially referred to as "shooting stars."
Meteors – or fragments of them – that survive their atmospheric trip and land on the surface without burning up become meteorites, according to NASA.
Martian meteorite is largest on Earth: How big is it?
The Martian meteorite is 54 pounds, or about the weight of a standard bag of cement.
Measuring nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches, the space rock is approximately 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth. In fact, it is so large that it represents approximately 6.5% of all Martian material ever found on Earth.
How did Martian space rock get to Earth?
NWA 16788 was discovered Nov. 16, 2023, by a meteorite hunter in Niger's remote Agadez region in the Sahara Desert.
Featuring an unmistakable reddish Martian hue, NWA 16788's internal composition suggests it was blasted from the surface of Mars by a powerful asteroid strike. Intense enough to turn some of the meteorite's minerals into glass, the asteroid strike sent the rock hurtling through space, where it miraculously made it through Earth's atmosphere without burning up, Sotheby's said in an auction house video.
Because the meteorite shows signs of minimal Earthly weathering, and its chemical makeup has not significantly changed, experts believe it reached our planet in recent years.
On a planet mostly covered in water, discovering meteorites on land is incredibly rare.
And Mars meteorites are even more elusive on Earth. Of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites, only 400 are Martian meteorites, according to Sotheby's.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mars rock auction $5.3 million bid surpasses Sotheby's expectations
Solve the daily Crossword
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Scientists film atomic motion for the first time, unlocking secrets of 2D materials
Scientists film atomic motion for the first time, unlocking secrets of 2D materials

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Scientists film atomic motion for the first time, unlocking secrets of 2D materials

In a world first, scientists have filmed atoms in motion, capturing their thermal vibrations in real-time with stunning clarity. The breakthrough, led by Yichao Zhang, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, reveals an entirely new kind of motion inside quantum materials that could reshape the future of ultrathin electronics and quantum devices. Using a next-generation imaging method called electron ptychography, Zhang and her team captured the first microscopy images of moiré phasons, the elusive, coordinated vibrations that emerge in twisted two-dimensional (2D) materials. These subtle, heat-driven movements of atoms were previously invisible to researchers. Sharper eyes, subtler motion The technique achieved a resolution better than 15 picometers, making it sensitive enough to detect the minute blurring of individual atoms caused by thermal motion. These vibrations, once only predicted by theory, are now visible, confirming long-held hypotheses about how heat travels through 2D materials and interacts with atomic-scale patterns. At the heart of the discovery are moiré phasons, spatially localized vibrations formed when two atomic layers are twisted slightly against each other. They influence everything from thermal conductivity to superconductivity in next-generation devices—and until now, had never been imaged directly. 'This is like decoding a hidden language of atomic motion,' said Zhang. 'Electron ptychography lets us see these subtle vibrations directly. Now we have a powerful new method to explore previously hidden physics, which will accelerate discoveries in two dimensional quantum materials.' Paving the way for smarter quantum tech This achievement marks the first time researchers have directly imaged how moiré phasons govern thermal vibrations in twisted 2D materials. Two-dimensional materials, just a few atoms thick, have attracted intense interest for their potential in next-generation quantum and electronic devices due to their exotic physical properties. However, understanding how heat moves through these ultra-thin structures remained limited by a lack of visualization tools. Zhang's method not only reveals atomic-scale motion with unprecedented clarity but also establishes electron ptychography as a new frontier in microscopy. By capturing how atoms behave under thermal influence, the team has laid the groundwork for decoding complex behaviors like heat dissipation and quantum coherence at the nanoscale. Zhang's team now plans to investigate how thermal vibrations are affected by defects and interfaces, a key step toward designing materials with custom thermal, electronic, and optical properties. That level of control could power advances in quantum computing, energy-efficient chips, and nanoscale sensors. With this visual confirmation of moiré phasons in hand, scientists now have the tools to engineer quantum materials from the atomic level up, using not just structure, but motion itself, as a design principle. The movement of atoms has now been documented in a study published on July 24 in Science. Solve the daily Crossword

'Tron: Ares' brings the Grid, light cycles and Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, to Comic-Con
'Tron: Ares' brings the Grid, light cycles and Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, to Comic-Con

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

'Tron: Ares' brings the Grid, light cycles and Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, to Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Grid took over Comic-Con on Friday, bringing the stars of the new 'Tron: Ares' films to unveil footage and reveal the story behind the franchise's third movie. The film stars Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith as the story brings the virtual environment of the Grid, complete with light cylces, into the real world. Disney showed off several minutes of footage, including a light cycle chase scene in the real world and another in the red-hued Grid. Propelling the onscreen action is a propulsive Nine Inch Nails soundtrack. 'It's fun to see it on the big screen for the first time,' said director Joachim Rønning. Disney turned the Hall H panel into a spectacle, with red lasers filling the room and characters in suits with red lights entering the massive hall. Asked what excited her about joining the 'Tron' franchise, Lee responded: 'I just wanted to ride a light cycle.' Leto spoke affectionately about the original saying: 'This movie just grabbed a hold of me and took me to a place that I'd never been before. It kind of rattled my imagination and it kind of showed me what was possible in the world.' He praised Bridges and Steven Lisberger, who created 'Tron' and directed the 1982 original. Lisberger attended Friday's panel and laid out his case for why the franchise remains relevant. 'My feeling about 'Tron' is that the most important thing is we kick this technology around artistically before it kicks us around,' Lisberger said. 'I am weary about hearing all the grim news about the future,' he said, and the way he thinks it can be avoided is to 'inspire young people what can be done with this technology.' Friday's panel ended with the premiere of the music video for "As Alive as You Need Me to Be," the first Nine Inch Nails song from the soundtrack. 'Tron' has never been in the top tier of sci-fi franchises. The original 1982 film starring Bridges as Kevin Flynn, a man sucked into a computer vortex known as the Grid, was admired for its ground-breaking concept and effects, and was a modest hit with moderately good reviews. Perhaps more importantly, it won a cult following and has been maintained enough in cultural memory to remain a valuable property for Disney. The 2010 film 'Tron: Legacy,' starring Bridges and Garrett Hedlund, made more than $400 million globally. A TV show that followed, 'Tron: Uprising,' lasted just one season. Rønning has helmed other Disney franchise films: 2017's 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' and 2019's 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.' The Norweigan director said he was interested because he dreamed about making a sci-fi film and enjoyed the twist of 'Ares' bringing the Grid into the real world. Leto and Bridges are both Oscar winners, and Rønning is an Oscar nominee. ___ AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword

Youth from St. Joseph County win big at Michigan 4-H state awards
Youth from St. Joseph County win big at Michigan 4-H state awards

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Youth from St. Joseph County win big at Michigan 4-H state awards

Two youth from St. Joseph County were named winners of prestigious state awards during Michigan's 4-H Exploration Days at Michigan State University in June. Taylor Johnson received the 2025 Michigan 4-H State Award in Junior Companion Animal Science, while Taylor Trattles won in Junior Swine Science, according to a community announcement. Michigan 4-H awards The Michigan 4-H State Award is considered the highest honor for Michigan 4-H participants. The annual program recognizes members ages 12 to 19 for leadership, project expertise, and community involvement across 21 project areas. It includes both junior and senior divisions, as well as a group award. To qualify, 4-H members submit a detailed application including a resume, cover letter, personal 4-H story, and responses to questions about their experience and growth through 4-H. Finalists from across the state are invited to compete at the event. This year, 38 youth representing 15 counties applied for awards. In addition to the two winners, three other members from St. Joseph County earned recognition: Claire Propst in Junior Beef Science, Sidney Torrey Long in Junior Swine Science, and Katelyn Trattles in Junior Rabbit Science. All five award recipients are part of the Burr Oak 4-H Club. For more information about the 4-H State Awards Program and for details about local programs, visit the Michigan 4-H Awards website. This story was created by David DeMille, ddemille@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Michigan 4-H honors St. Joseph County youth for science Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store