Magnetarids

Magnetarids are a hypothetical type of asteroid or comet that is believed to be composed primarily of magnetite, a form of iron oxide. The term was coined by astronomer Peter A. Sturrock in 1971, who proposed that these objects could be the source of the mysterious gamma-ray bursts observed in the universe. Magnetarids are thought to form in the outer regions of the solar system, where the temperature is low enough for magnetite to be stable. They are believed to be remnants of the early solar system, and their composition suggests that they may have played a role in the formation of the Earth's magnetic field. However, despite numerous searches, no magnetarids have been definitively identified, and their existence remains purely theoretical.