How have fullerenes been found in meteorites?

Fullerenes have been identified in meteorites, where they are of significant interest to scientists because they may provide valuable information regarding the origin of the celestial bodies in which they are found.1

Specifically, researchers have discovered minute samples of endohedral fullerenes—compounds where an atom, such as helium, is physically trapped inside the carbon cage—within these extraterrestrial samples. These molecules exhibit unusual isotope ratios, which serve as a key indicator of their extraterrestrial nature and history.1