“But not for panguite. It doesn’t naturally exist on earth.” He points out peaks for Ti4+, Sc, Al, Mg, Zr, Ca—the elemental components of what he goes on to explain is a new form of titania.

It occurs as fine crystals that at a magnification of 200,000X are reminiscent of pitted white bone or coral. I can see strange areas of red patina, and also irregular surface features including cracks, pits and crystal inclusions mixed with shiny fibers, what Ernie informs me are bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes.

“Now you see our problem,” he says.

“I certainly do.”

“Mother Nature has been tampered with.”

“You’re thinking someone has built a weapon from a meteorite and carbon nanotubes?”

“Possibly.”

Nanotubes are lightweight, incredibly strong, and structures made of these extremely fine fibers can be superfast and efficient at conducting electricity and heat. It’s believed and feared that molecular nanotechnology is the future of everything, including war.

“Imagine making a small powerful bomb out of nanothermite or super-thermite?” Ernie is saying. “Or how about mini-nukes? Or God forbid bioterrorism delivered in the nano range? Scary shit.”

“Yes it is, and I understand the utility of building something out of nanotubes, but what would anyone use panguite for?”

“That was my question too. And the possibility Bill came up with is if it’s like titanium then maybe it’s an undercoating, some sort of thermal protection.”

“Then why not use titanium? And where might someone get hold of a meteorite, assuming the person doesn’t work with them?”

“That’s not hard,” Ernie says. “You can buy all sorts of pieces and parts of meteorites off the Internet.”

“But would they have panguite in them?”

“That’s what I’m saying. We don’t know. We can’t know if they’ve not been analyzed. But I’m going to assume that this is rare.” He means finding panguite is rare. “If the mineral was only recently discovered, it’s hard for me to believe it’s turned up often in the past or you might think it would have been discovered a long time ago.”

“We’re also talking about someone familiar with nanotechnology,” I reply. “And if this person is actually modifying materials at the atomic level? Then we’re not talking about the average bear.”

“What do I say if the FBI wanders in here and starts asking me what I’m doing?” Ernie asks.

“Keep your door locked and they won’t be wandering in. If you’re quiet they’ll never find you down here.”

“Because if something like this got out, Kay? It would create a panic if the public thinks meteorites are killing people or some new death-ray-like weapon is.”

“Discretion is imperative right now.” I get up from my chair.