To find the origin of the oceans, look in outer space
Tiny grains from an asteroid provide clues to the details
EARTH—the quintessential blue planet—has not always been covered by water. Around 4.6bn years ago, in the solar system’s early years, the energetic young sun’s radiation meant the zone immediately surrounding it was hot and dry. Earth, then coalescing from dust and gas in this region, thus began as a desiccated rock. How it subsequently acquired its oceans has long puzzled planetary scientists.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “The memory of water”
Science & technology December 4th 2021
From the December 4th 2021 edition
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