According to evidence from one of the oldest meteorites, the solar system could be around two million years older than previously thought.

Experts revised the age after examining a mineral relic buried deep within the meteorite – which was found in the Sahara desert in 2004. The minerals are among some of the oldest solid materials formed following the creation of the Sun.

Researchers discovered that the elements were formed 4.5682 billion years ago – which is between 300,000 and 1.9 million years earlier than previous ‘accurate’ estimates.

Dr. Audrey Bouvier, a space scientist from Arizona State University’s Centre for Meteorite Studies, said: “The age of the solar system can be defined as the time of formation of the first solid grains in the nebular disc surrounding the proto-Sun.

“This age is estimated by dating calciumaluminium-rich inclusions in meteorites. These inclusions are considered as the earliest formed solids in the solar nebula.”

Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video