The Collision between Earth and Theia

SOURCE dnyuz.com
Earth may have formed continents, plate tectonics, and the moon due to a collision with Theia, a planetary object the size of Mars, around 4.5 billion years ago.

Key Points

  • The collision with Theia may have created the heat needed to start the process of plate tectonics.
  • Evidence from zircons in rocks in Western Australia supports the theory that plate tectonics started soon after the Theia impact.

Pros

  • The collision with Theia potentially led to the formation of the moon and initiated plate tectonics on Earth.
  • The study provides a possible explanation for the origin of plate tectonics, a fundamental geological process.

Cons

  • Alternative explanations for the origin of plate tectonics exist, and the impact of Theia may not be the sole cause.