Cosmic dust in the city

Engaging communities in the search for urban micrometeorites

Night sky with the Milky Way, stars and meteorites over a brightly lit city

Cosmic dust in the city

Engaging communities in the search for urban micrometeorites

Meteorites on our rooftops

Every day, thousands of kilograms of cosmic dust fall to Earth, carrying tiny fragments of asteroids and comets. Most of these particles – known as micrometeorites – are smaller than a millimetre but hold immense scientific value.

Traditionally found in remote environments such as in the ice and snow of Antarctica, or in deep-sea sediments, recent discoveries have shown that these extraterrestrial grains can also be recovered from rooftops and gutters worldwide.

Cosmic Dust in the City is a University of Plymouth public engagement and citizen science initiative that invites communities in and around Plymouth to help uncover these cosmic visitors at home, in schools, and in workplaces, transforming rooftops and gutters into portals to the cosmos.

A silicate porphyritic olivine micrometeorite recovered from the roof of the University's Charles Seale-Hayne library

What are micrometeorites?

Micrometeorites are tiny extraterrestrial particles that survive their fiery passage through Earth's atmosphere and settle on the planet's surface. They originate from asteroids, comets, and other Solar System bodies.

Globally, Earth accretes an estimated 20,000–40,000 tonnes of cosmic dust annually, with micrometeorites making up the vast majority of material that survives atmospheric entry. Their chemistry and textures preserve clues to:

The formation and evolution of the early Solar System
The history of Earth's atmosphere
Comet and asteroid composition
Long-term climate processes, including atmospheric CO₂ levels.

These particles represent some of the oldest material we can touch, and they are waiting to be found on roofs and in gutters all around us.

About the project

Cosmic Dust in the City engages schools, families, amateur scientists and community groups in and around Plymouth. The project aims to:

Engage and inspire local communities through hands on planetary science activities
Train citizen scientists to collect and identify urban micrometeorites using simple equipment
Build a regional and national archive of micrometeorites for scientific research
Strengthen community partnerships between the University of Plymouth, schools, museums and local organisations.

How the project works

People attending a public engagement event with researchers, displays and microscopes

Outreach and recruitment

We run workshops in schools, libraries, museums and community venues, introducing participants to micrometeorites and the science behind their journey to Earth.

Citizen science collection

Participants gather sediment from either flat rooftops or gutters – common locations where micrometeorites accumulate in urban settings. Using magnets, sieves, and microscopes, they search for candidate particles with help from our digital resources and video guides.

Laboratory analysis

Promising candidate samples are imaged and chemically analysed using scanning electron microscopes at Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC). These analyses allow the micrometeorites to be classified and entered into the UK micrometeorite achieve.

Visitor to the From Another Place exhibition looking at photos of meteorites

Sharing discoveries

Micrometeorite discoveries are showcased online, through social media, and at an end-of-project public exhibition celebrating community contributions.

Get involved

Whether you're a school, community group, family, or an enthusiastic individual, there are many ways to participate in this project.

Please complete our short application form to:

Register your interest in participating
Request a citizen science collection kit
Invite us to your school or organisation
Contribute samples for analysis

Planned for May 2026:

Attend a local workshop
Explore our online tutorials

Planned for May 2027:

Visit our public exhibition

Accessible to all

The project prioritises participation from diverse communities, including those with limited access to scientific facilities. We provide:

Free citizen science kits
Open access training resources
Events in accessible, local venues.

Scientific impact

The samples collected through this project will support the establishment of a UK micrometeorite archive, which will drive future planetary science research efforts in key emerging fields, including:

Using micrometeorites as proxies for atmospheric CO₂ levels
Constraining the composition and variability of comets
Developing analytical capability for future sample return missions.

Legacy and vision for the future

Watch out for Cosmic Dust in the City expanding into:

An annual Cosmic Dust Hunt event across Plymouth
A regional hub in a UK-wide Urban Cosmic Dust Network in collaboration with other existing national initiatives.