Tiny Space Magnets: X-ray Microscopy and Nanopaleomagnetism of Meteoritic Metal

Meteorites provide a wealth of information about the early history of our solar system, the formation and evolution of planetesimals, and their internal dynamics. One of the few di- rect observations of internal geophysical processes within planetary bodies is the presence or absence of a dynamo-driven magnetic field. These observations provide essential constraints on the degree of differentiation, core solidification timescales and the driving forces for con- vection. This dissertation focusses on the paleomagnetic information recorded by iron and stony-iron meteorites, providing a unique view-point for the generation and variability of core dynamo activity