Posted on 06/19/2023 12:22:36 PM PDT by Red Badger
A groundbreaking study from the University of Copenhagen has presented a fresh perspective on Earth’s formation, suggesting it occurred in a few million years, far quicker than the previously believed 100 million years. The research indicates that Earth was formed through the fast accumulation of small pebbles, and water’s existence is a byproduct of this formation process. This theory provides a promising outlook for the potential of habitable planets beyond our Solar System, given that water is a critical ingredient for life.
Earth formed in a few million years, much quicker than previously thought, through the rapid absorption of pebbles, dust, and icy particles, according to a new study from the University of Copenhagen. This finding enhances the likelihood of other habitable planets in the Universe due to the byproduct of water from this formation process.
When we walk around in our everyday life, we might not think of the Earth itself very often. This planet is, however, the foundation of our existence, providing the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the gravity that holds us to the ground.
Until recently, researchers believed that it took over 100 million years for Earth to form, with water being delivered by fortuitous collisions with water-rich asteroids such as comets. A new study from the University of Copenhagen, however, suggests that Earth’s formation might not have been a matter of pure luck.
A New Theory of Earth’s Formation
Professor Martin Bizzarro of the Globe Institute and co-author of the study explains, “We show that the Earth formed by the very fast accumulation of small millimeter-sized pebbles. In this mechanism, the Earth was formed in just a few million years. It appears that the presence of water on Earth is a byproduct of its formation.”
The research results indicate that Earth was created much faster than previously thought, and the presence of water is an anticipated outcome of this formation process. This information has significant implications for our understanding of planets outside our Solar System.
Implications for Habitability in the Galaxy
“With this new planet formation mechanism, the chance of having habitable planets in the galaxy is much higher than we previously thought,” Bizzarro says. Habitability is the potential for a planet to have the right ingredients at its surface for life to develop, and water is a key ingredient. Associate Professor Martin Schiller, also a part of the study, elaborates, “People have debated how planets form for a long time. One theory is that planets are formed by the gradual collision of bodies, progressively increasing their size over 100 million years. In this scenario, the presence of water on Earth would need a sort of chance event.”
Silicon Isotope Constraints on Terrestrial Planet Accretion
Monte Carlo simulations of Fe–Ni isotope evolution of the terrestrial mantle during concurrent accretion and core formation in μ54Fe57/56–μ58Ni62/61 space. Ellipses represent 2 s.e. intervals for the measured BSE, IIIAB and CI isotope compositions. The grey lines represent the evolution of the proto-Earth mantle during pebble accretion. The colored lines represent various outcomes of the Moon-forming giant impact depending on the fraction of the Theia’s core that equilibrated with Earth’s mantle during impact. The equilibration degree is shown by the color scale and circles highlight 10% and 30% of equilibration with Theia’s core. Credit Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06135-z
Role of Dust Particles in Earth’s Formation
A paradigm shift in this belief, however, is introduced by the new study, which offers a fresh theory of Earth’s creation. “There was a disk around the young Sun where the planets were growing. The disk was filled with small dust particles. Once a planet reaches a certain size, it sort of acts like a vacuum cleaner, sucking up all that dust very quickly, which contributes to its growth to Earth size in just a few million years,” explains Ph.D. student Isaac Onyett, the corresponding author of the study.
This “vacuuming” of small dust particles played a pivotal role in Earth’s formation and ensured that water was delivered to our planet. The disk also contained icy particles, which were absorbed along with the dust, contributing to the presence of water during Earth’s formation. This shift in understanding raises the probability of water being present on other planets.
Predicting Water on Other Planets
“This theory would predict that whenever you form a planet like Earth, you will have water on it. If you go to another planetary system where there is a planet orbiting a star the size of the Sun, then the planet should have water if it is in the right distance,” asserts Bizzarro.
The researchers used silicon isotopes to understand the mechanisms and timescales of planet formation. By analyzing the isotopic composition of over 60 different meteorites and planetary bodies, the team established genetic relationships between rocky planets like Earth and Mars and other celestial objects. This approach offered insight into the types of building blocks that assembled to form Earth and the process by which they came together.
Reference: “Silicon isotope constraints on terrestrial planet accretion” by Isaac J. Onyett, Martin Schiller, Georgy V. Makhatadze, Zhengbin Deng, Anders Johansen and Martin Bizzarro, 14 June 2023, Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06135-z
‘God is eternal. He has no beginning, He has no end.’
how covenient; next question, which of the 4000 plus diivne entities that mankind has recorded is the eternal one...?
RE: Everyone thinks they know how God did it...
JESUS the WORD spoke creation into existence.
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through Him,
and nothing was created except through Him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and His life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
(John 1:1-5)
RE: Which of the 4000 plus divne entities that mankind has recorded is the eternal one...?
How are idols connected to demons?
https://www.gotquestions.org/idols-demons.html
All of them.
And none of them.
In the end, what we choose to call Him is irrelevant. He simply *IS*.
We are rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. We try to touch His mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
He is in a realm of existence so far beyond our own that no one can even imagine it. God is beyond our comprehension. He is Sovereign!
Huh? The science wasn’t settled until now?
What a bunch of nonsense. These so-called scientists are like Unitarian Universalists.
On the one hand, they believe in everything.
And on the other hand they believe in nothing.
Shouldn’t we find that “pebbleicity” of the Earth’s rocks increase as we drill down to levels where the temperature is not hot enough to melt the pebbles? Shouldn’t the extreme outward pressure of the superheated core of earth push the loose pebbles apart?
The God of the Bible. This includes the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
Do you own a Holy Bible? Can you read Greek and Hebrew? (Just trying to anticipate your next questions.)
If you are truly inquisitive there are people here who are willing to help you.
If you only want to argue and criticize, maybe you should log onto Facebook or Twitter (among other places).
You go Laz! The Eternal One is easy to find. He is the One Who is Eternal! If you are around long enough you will get to know Him!
Aliens constructed our solar system. They messed up where the asteroid belt is now. There was suppose to be a planet here.
Cheap labor from the Klaatu Barada system.
Small Comets and other keywords, sorted, duplicates out:
God is and always has been............................................
Is it really so strange?
The process is accretion.
The universe accretes
NIMBY....................
In order to have water, first you have to have Hydrogen and Oxygen in the right proportions to create water. Then you have to have a ‘spark’ to make them combine................
Gravity holds everything together and some theorize the heat from the radioactive elements at the center of the Earth will melt anything.
As the Earth accreted more and more mass, the heavier elements sank to the bottom of the gravity well.
Some even think the depths of the Earth contain pure gold, platinum, and silver in addition to uranium and other heavy elements................
What a timely discovery!
I was really commenting on Bizzarro... strange? Nevermind.
I knew what you meant!😜😜😜
But I was just pointing out that people always look for ‘water’ as a precursor to ‘life’, when in reality the existence of water must itself must rely on ‘Goldilocks’ conditions, everything must be ‘just right’ for it to even exist, as liquid, solid or gas................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.