The angrite meteorite NWA 12774, discovered in the Sahara Desert, has led researchers to speculate about the existence of a lost protoplanet in our solar system. In a study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, scientists found that the conditions required for the meteorite’s formation could not have occurred in smaller asteroids. Instead, its unique chemical structure suggests it originated from a much larger parent body, potentially as large as Mars. This conclusion was supported by experimental data indicating that the crystals within NWA 12774 required a pressure of at least 17.5 kilobars to form, far exceeding the conditions present in typical small asteroids. The findings underscore the importance of angrites in understanding the early solar system, as they preserve a record of planetary formation processes. Researchers believe that many more meteorites could hold similar clues about the solar system's history.