A collision between Earth and a massive Mars-sized protoplanet likely caused the formation of our moon. Now scientists from the Max Planck Institute suggest that doomed planet was likely a rowdy neighbor.
It's the stuff of a science fiction movie: a planet in the stages of formation collides with another. The massive impact causes both worlds to break apart, sending hot space rock flying.
But it's not sci-fi, it's the story of Earth.
Space scientists are largely agreed that about 4.5 billion years ago, Earth, then a hot ball of molten iron and other elements, was hit by another Mars-sized protoplanet. This hypothetical world is called Theia, named for a titaness of Greek mythology.
Theia was completely destroyed by this impact, but likely lives on bene
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