Scientists from the California Institute of Technology have proposed a groundbreaking theory suggesting that remnants of the planet Theia, which collided with Earth 4.5 billion years ago, could still be lurking deep within our planet. The leading theory on the creation of the Moon suggests that Theia’s collision with Earth produced debris that eventually formed our lunar companion. However, previous attempts to find evidence of Theia’s existence have been futile.
In a recent study published in the prestigious journal Nature, US-led researchers have put forth compelling evidence indicating that Theia’s remnants might be located in two large “blobs” buried deep within Earth’s mantle. These blobs, discovered in the 1980s beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean, have puzzled scientists due to their higher density and temperature compared to the surrounding rock.
The research suggests that these mysterious blobs are “buried relics” of Theia that entered Earth during the colossal collision and have remained concealed near the planet’s core ever since. Moreover, the collision between Earth and Theia, along with the remnants it left behind, might have played a vital role in shaping our planet into the unique and life-sustaining environment we know today.
The theory proposes that Theia’s impact significantly altered Earth’s composition and potentially brought water, a key ingredient for life, to our planet. Observations have shown the blobs sending magma towards the Earth’s surface, and scientists believe they may be linked to the evolution of supercontinents.
While the mystery of the Moon’s formation is not entirely solved, this research provides further support for the Theia impact theory. Moreover, it offers a plausible explanation for the perplexing anomalies at the core-mantle boundary.
The potential presence of Theia’s remnants deep within Earth could continue to play significant roles in ongoing geological processes. This remarkable study, led by Qian Yuan from the California Institute of Technology, has unveiled a new chapter in our understanding of planetary evolution and the intriguing connection between Earth and its long-lost neighbor.
To learn more about this groundbreaking research, please refer to the original article published in the journal Nature.
