Woman hit by meteorite while having coffee in France; here's what we know so far

In a rare occurrence, a woman in France was hit by a small meteorite while enjoying coffee with a friend on a terrace, according to local news reports. The incident took place in the commune of Schirmeck in northeastern France. The woman described hearing a loud noise followed by a shock to her ribs, initially mistaking it for an animal. After taking the mysterious object, which didn't resemble cement, to a roofer, it was suspected to be a meteorite.

The woman consulted geologist Thierry Rebmann, who examined the rock and observed an iron and silicon composition, suggesting it could indeed be a meteorite. The recovered pieces of the meteorite weighed approximately 4 ounces. Rebmann noted that incidents of people being struck by meteorites are exceedingly rare, despite an estimated 50 tons of meteoritic material falling to Earth each day, most of which falls into the oceans.

What are meteorites?

Meteorites are space rocks that survive their journey through Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground. While most meteoroids disintegrate during atmospheric entry, the ones that make it to the ground are typically a small percentage of the original object's size. Meteorites found on land are challenging to distinguish from regular rocks, but in certain environments like deserts, they may be easier to identify.

Throughout history, there have been accounts of individuals claiming to have been struck by meteorites. However, substantiating evidence has often been lacking. The first confirmed case of a meteorite directly striking a person occurred in 1954 when Ann Hodges of Sylacauga, Alabama, was hit by an 8-pound stony meteorite that crashed through her roof, resulting in severe bruising.

Instances like the recent incident in France serve as reminders of the extraordinary nature of meteorite impacts. They highlight the need for scientific examination to validate such claims and gain insights into these cosmic occurrences. While meteorites remain a subject of fascination, their encounters with humans continue to be exceedingly uncommon, making each incident a unique and remarkable event.