It's been nearly a century since Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun and we're still learning surprising things about the Egyptian boy king. This knife of King Tut that Carter first described in 1925 is made of a meteorite, according to a new study.

Using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, a non-invasive technique that can tell you the molecular makeup of a material, the team of scientists found the dagger's blade had the chemical signature of something that came from space. The nickel was a big giveaway, Space.com says. Whereas typical iron ore contains about 4 percent nickel, it was more like 11 percent in this weapon. The cobalt traces also backed up this idea.

The scientists say ancient Egyptians probably placed great value on these meteoric objects. Says Gizmodo:

Objects made from the metal of meteorites were probably considered extremely valuable in ancient Egypt, but they also reveal the sophistication of smithing during that era of human history.

If you want to see the space dagger, head to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo where it's on display.

Source: Space.com

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