[foxglacier]

Wouldn't a big enough asteroid have an inner part which survives entry? You seem to be saying that it's impossible for any meteorite that might have these chemicals to not be completely vaporized which seems doubtful. Have you got a source?

[dylan604]

So you survived re-entry. Now, you get to survive impact. Seems like the energy released would also be damaging

[stouset]

Most asteroids have slowed to terminal velocity by the time they impact. It’s not nothing, but it’s mostly going to be relevant to physical processes and not chemical ones.

You might consider that scientists advanced enough in their field to be launching missions to retrieve dust from asteroids are actually aware of basic facts relevant to their field of study.

[Citizen_Lame]

Quality of comments massively dropped on the HN. It feels like Facebook now.

[CryptoBanker]

The Redditors have arrived

[lazide]

You might consider that even concepts like plate tectonics (which frankly are incredibly obvious if one just looks at a map) were considered ridiculous ideas by the most advanced experts in their field at one point. A point not that long ago.

I’m not saying the person you are responding too is right - but appealing to authority on something like this has a pretty bad track record.

[XorNot]

Generally speaking small molecules aren't damaged by concussive shock.

[dylan604]

I was thinking more of heat