The Cosmic Beginning
Earth's story begins over 4.5 billion years ago within a molecular cloud. This cloud of gas and dust collapsed under gravity, forming a solar nebula, which would eventually give rise to the solar system.
Solar Nebula's Formation
The solar nebula spun increasingly faster, flattening into a disk. Most material was pulled toward the center, igniting to form the Sun, while the rest clumped into planetesimals, the building blocks of planets.
Earth's Primitive Stage
In the early stages, Earth was molten due to frequent collisions with other bodies. Heavy meteorite bombardment and radioactive decay heated the planet, eventually leading to the differentiation of its core and mantle.
The Late Heavy Bombardment
Approximately 4 billion years ago, Earth faced a period of intense asteroid impacts known as the Late Heavy Bombardment. This chaotic epoch reshaped the planet's surface and may have delivered water and organic compounds.
Atmosphere and Oceans Emerge
Earth's first atmosphere, rich in hydrogen and helium, was soon replaced by volcanic outgassing that released water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, setting the stage for oceans to form as the planet cooled.
Rise of a Habitable World
Cyanobacteria evolved to perform photosynthesis, releasing oxygen and gradually transforming the atmosphere over millions of years. This paved the way for ozone layer formation and a more temperate climate conducive to life.
Continents and Life Evolve
Tectonic activity led to the formation of continents and the supercontinent cycle. Coupled with the evolving atmosphere, these changes provided diverse habitats for the burgeoning complexity of life on Earth.
How did Earth's formation begin?
From a supernova explosion
From a molecular cloud collapse
From a planetary collision
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