Tag: giant-impact hypothesis
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Did Theia Start as a Neighbor? Reassessing the Moon’s Origins
Introduction: A cosmic origin story under new light For decades, the prevailing narrative about our Moon’s birth has centered on a colossal early collision—Earth smacking into a Mars-sized body called Theia. The aftermath, scientists agree, produced a disk of debris that coalesced into the Moon. But recent studies are revisiting the very beginning of this…
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Were Theia and Earth Neighbors Before the Moon? Rewriting Our Origins
Introduction: A New Twist on an Ancient Tale For decades, the giant-impact hypothesis has explained how the Moon formed: a colossal collision between young Earth and a Mars-sized body named Theia, followed by a chaotic merger that left Earth with a shiny lunar companion. But recent studies are nudging scientists to rethink a crucial piece…