Birth and Evolution of the Solar System and Earth

About 4.6 billion years ago, a giant molecular cloud collapsed. From this cosmic event, a solar nebula formed, eventually spinning into a flattened disk where the Sun and planets coalesced.

The early Earth formed through accretion, where countless asteroid-sized bodies collided and merged. This period, called the Hadean Eon, was marked by intense heat, making the planet molten and hostile.

A Mars-sized body, Theia, struck Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. Debris from this colossal impact eventually coalesced to form our Moon, altering Earth's tilt and rotation, crucial for life.

Contrary to popular belief, Earth's water likely originated from icy comets and asteroids, as the planet's extreme heat during formation could not have sustained it.

Life possibly started around 4 billion years ago. Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor may have provided the right conditions, with complex organic molecules forming the building blocks of life.

Approximately 2.4 billion years ago, cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis, leading to the Great Oxygenation Event. This transformed Earth's atmosphere, paving the way for more complex life forms.

Earth has faced severe ice ages, known as Snowball Earth periods. One such period, 650 million years ago, might have kickstarted multicellular life evolution, leading to the Cambrian explosion of diversity.

Jupiter's intense gravity helped shape the asteroid belt, preventing potential planets from forming, and indirectly protecting Earth from frequent massive impacts.