A colossal planetary collision billions of years ago might have unexpectedly seeded Earth with the ingredients for life.
New research, published in Live Science, suggests a Mars-sized object, dubbed Theia, crashed into early Earth around 4.5 billion years ago.
This impact created the Moon and, crucially, may have delivered water and volatile compounds essential for life's emergence.
Scientists estimate this giant impact ejected debris that eventually coalesced into our Moon, which is roughly one-quarter the size of Earth.
The findings offer a compelling explanation for Earth's surprisingly abundant water, a puzzle that has long intrigued researchers studying the origins of life on our planet.
Further simulations and analysis of lunar samples could refine our understanding of this pivotal event and its lasting impact on Earth's habitability.
