Researchers have found that water on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko has a similar molecular signature to the water in Earth's oceans. Contradicting some recent results, this finding reopens the case that Jupiter-family comets like 67P could have helped deliver water to Earth.

“A wave of comet and asteroid collisions with the solar system’s inner planets 4 billion years ago would have made this possible.,” a portion of the report read. Adding, that while water likely existed on Earth 4.6 billion years ago, much of the water would have vaporized because the Earth formed close to the sun with intense heat.

Comet 67P's water has the same molecular signature as Earth's oceans, suggesting it may have contributed to Earth's water supply.

This finding potentially disproves earlier research that cast doubt on the connection between Jupiter family comets like Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and the water supply to our planet.