--- title: "Scientists Baffled by “Alien Mineral” That Acts in a Weird Way When Heated Up" description: "A strange mineral found in a meteorite does not behave like anything on Earth — and when it's heated, it acts even weirder." date: "2025-08-16" modified: "2025-08-16" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-baffled-alien-mineral-heat" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "heat conduction" - "hybrids" - "meteorite" - "minerals" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Baffled by “Alien Mineral” That Acts in a Weird Way When Heated Up ![A strange mineral found in a meteorite does not behave like anything on Earth — and when it's heated, it acts even weirder.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## Alien Crystals A strange mineral found in a meteorite does not behave like anything on Earth when it's heated. In a [paper]() published in the journal *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, an international team of researchers detailed the incredible properties of their sample of silica tridymite*,* an extraterrestrial form of silicon dioxide that was taken from a meteorite that landed in Germany [way back in 1724](). Chief among them, the material does not follow normal heat conduction rules as we know them on Earth. Instead, it maintains a constant level of thermal conductivity when heated to a variety of temperatures, making its potential for manufacturing applications on Earth highly intriguing. ## Meteorite Forge Considered "[heat-proof]()" by some due to its bizarre ability to stay the same temperature even when heated, the alien mineral is not only found on meteorites but has also been [discovered on Mars](). Unlike most such pieces of space rock, their unique atomic structures cannot be classified as either a crystal or a glass. While crystals have, per a [statement](), an "ordered lattice of atoms," glass has a "disordered, amorphous structure" — and the trimidyte from that centuries-old meteor appears to fall somewhere in between. The atomic structures also dictate how each material conducts heat. Crystals, the statement notes, generally decrease in thermal conduction when heated, while glasses increase in conductivity. The meteoric tridymite's thermal conductivity, however, remained constant. Thinking ahead, the researchers behind this study suggested that similar trimidyte materials could be used to more efficiently control extreme temperatures during steel production, which emits a whopping one billion tons of carbon dioxide per year and accounts for [seven percent]() of carbon emissions in the US. **More on space rocks:** [*Scientists Saddened as World's Largest Mars Rock Is Sold at Auction*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()