💥The moon was created by a collision between Earth and Thea.
🌎The impact blasted a huge amount of material into orbit, which eventually formed the moon.
🔥Thea's material fell back to Earth and sank into the mantle, forming large low velocity provinces (LLVPs).
🔬Computer simulations support the theory that the LLVPs are remnants of Thea.
🌌This new theory challenges previous explanations for the origin of the moon and the nature of the LLVPs.
How was the moon formed?
—The moon was formed by a collision between Earth and Thea about 4.5 billion years ago.
What are large low velocity provinces (LLVPs)?
—LLVPs are massive structures deep within Earth's mantle, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean, with different physical and chemical properties than the rest of the mantle.
What is the new theory?
—The new theory suggests that the collision that formed the moon could also be responsible for the formation of the LLVPs.
How was the new theory tested?
—Scientists used computer simulations to model the collision and track the fate of Thea's material in Earth's mantle.
What are the implications of this new theory?
—The new theory challenges existing explanations for the moon's origin and the nature of the LLVPs, providing a new perspective on Earth's evolution.
00:01The moon was formed by a giant collision between Earth and Thea.
01:35Large low velocity provinces (LLVPs) are massive structures deep within Earth's mantle.
04:15A new theory suggests that the collision that formed the moon could also be responsible for the formation of the LLVPs.
06:30Computer simulations were used to model the collision and track the fate of Thea's material in Earth's mantle.
09:18The simulations support the new theory and provide insights into Earth's evolution.
