Experimentally generated microcrater on an olivine surface
Studying impacts of small planetary bodies gives insights how such catastrophic events affected the Earth surface, the climate and the evolution of life during the Earth history to this day. Special attention is given to the feedback of the "System Earth" to such external disturbance during Earth history. Due to the fact that Earth is an extremely dynamical planet, the signs of extraterrestial impacts are often concealed on the small scale and needs advanced analytical tools to judge their geological relevance. Above all, experiments help to simulate impacts of small particles on surfaces.