The Formation of the Universe and the Earth

Around 13.8 billion years ago, all matter was condensed into a single point. A massive explosion, known as the Big Bang, occurred, spreading matter into the universe, marking the beginning of space and time.

After the Big Bang, the universe was a hot, dense state with subatomic particles. For the next 380,000 years, it cooled sufficiently for atoms to form, creating a transparent universe.

Gravity pulled together gas and dust, forming the first stars and galaxies. Elements like carbon and oxygen were forged within stars, crucial for Earth's later development, through nuclear fusion.

About 4.6 billion years ago, a molecular cloud's collapse triggered our solar system's formation. The Sun ignited from the densest part of this cloud, with leftover material forming planets.

Gradually, dust and rock in the solar nebula clumped together, forming Earth through a process called accretion. Intense heat within Earth helped differentiate its layers: core, mantle, and crust.

Surprisingly, Earth's water may have come from icy comets or water-rich asteroids colliding with the young planet. These sustained collisions also created the atmosphere, seeding conditions for life.

The oldest known life forms appeared about 3.5 billion years ago. Hydrothermal vents might have provided the right conditions for life's ingredients to combine, creating the first single-celled organisms.

Our Milky Way is consuming nearby dwarf galaxies, merging them into its structure. This cosmic feast has been ongoing for billions of years.