Scores sickened by Peru meteor crash

[vdogg]

Sounds like an xfile. I wouldn't usually post something like this except it has no been reported by the AP and BBC news (which are usually fairly reputable). It's an interesting story nonetheless. Who knew that meteors could make you sick?

link

A fiery meteorite crashed into southern Peru over the weekend, experts confirmed on Wednesday. But they were still puzzling over claims that it gave off fumes that sickened 200 people....

He said water in the meteorite's muddy crater boiled for maybe 10 minutes from the heat and could have given off a vapor that sickened people, and scientists were taking water samples.

"We are not completely certain that there was no contamination," Mechare said."

[Raintree21]

The studies have not been completed yet but many experts believe that it was a geyser going off or someo other geothermal event and not a meteorite hitting.

[vdogg]

Actually, according to MSNBC It was confirmed to be a meteor crash. The theory is that the crash released gases that made people sick, that is what is being disputed. The meteor crash however was confirmed. They actually found pieces of meteorite in the crater.

[dimebag1980]

Anything new with this?

I can see a meteorite being cause for contamination and possible sickness... this is one of many reasons why objects from space are treated cautiously by scientists.

[Raintree21]

Last I read, they are still leaning towards the meteorite theory but several of the events are baffling scientists. They say they don't understand why the water supposedly boiled for 10 minutes because meteorites are actually cold when they hit the Earth and are unsure of the people's claims of sickness because apparently meteorites don't collect or give off any gases as they pass through the atmosphere. They are still analyzing the earth and metal samples from the rock they have found.

[dimebag1980]

Last I read, they are still leaning towards the meteorite theory but several of the events are baffling scientists. They say they don't understand why the water supposedly boiled for 10 minutes because meteorites are actually cold when they hit the Earth and are unsure of the people's claims of sickness because apparently meteorites don't collect or give off any gases as they pass through the atmosphere. They are still analyzing the earth and metal samples from the rock they have found.

[Cadeho]

OMG The invasion's begun! And I hadn't seen the movie yet! You know, this universe is still very dangerous.

[Allison Slater]

Could it potentially be the result of radioactive materials? Perhaps a chemical reaction of an out-of-the ordinary substance in the meteorite?