September 18, 2008--Tiny crystals from the comet Wild 2 could cause big changes to theories about the origins and evolution of our solar system.

Molten mineral droplets like those pictured are found in ancient, primitive meteorites. But NASA's Stardust mission has discovered similar flash-heated particles in Wild 2--even though that comet was likely formed in the distant, frigid Kuiper Belt.

The find raises the possibility that solid materials were propelled outward in the solar system's earliest days.