I’ve found out who the two women from Queen Mary were. They’re from my alma mater [updated]; the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. A old friend in the Estates & Services Department was able to fish out a vehicle acquisition form for the morning of the 31st July made out to a Professor Gemma Stevens. However, a quick look at the SBBS webpage found no mention of her! So I had a chat with one of my old lecturers in the school and he sent me a photo of Professor Stevens saying that her work was “TOP SECRET” and that they weren’t allowed to discuss it. He did say that the woman with her was probably Dr Rifa Khan, who was her research assistant on a government-funded project.
Why would two scientists from a school of biology go to a meteorite crash site very early in the morning, stay for 15min and then leave with a small container? Why would their existence be kept secret? I smell a much deeper conspiracy here.