Earth's Water
This type of meteorite is considered the most likely source of Earth's water.
What is a Carbonaceous Chondrite?
The accepted scientific age of the Earth according to rock dating.
What is 4.5 billion years old (4.5 BYA)?
The best, evidence-based explanation for how and why the universe formed and evolved.
What is the Big Bang Theory?
The current arrangement of landmasses and oceans on Earth today.
What is Earth Today / Present Day?
At 4.5 billion years ago (BYA), Earth was in this fiery, molten stage of planetary formation, characterized by extreme heat and constant meteoroid impacts.
What is the World of Fire?
Carbonaceous chondrites likely formed outside of this boundary in the early solar system.
What is the frost line?
This mineral, similar to quartz, is commonly used by geologists to date ancient rocks.
What is a Zircon crystal?
The best, evidence-based explanation for how and why our solar system formed and evolved.
What is the Nebular Theory?
The famous supercontinent that existed between 300 and 200 million years ago (MYA).
What is Pangaea?
Around 1.5 billion years ago, after transitioning through a "Water World" and "Granite Planet" phase, Earth reached this vibrant stage.
What is the Blue Planet?
Carbonaceous chondrites match Earth's water because they contain the same levels of this heavy hydrogen isotope. What is the isotope called?
What is Deuterium?
This element inside zircon crystals that is sometimes replaced by radioactive uranium.
What is Zirconium?
When did our universe form?
The ancient supercontinent that broke apart roughly 650–550 million years ago (MYA).
What is Rodinia?
Approximately 700 million years ago, Earth entered a extreme global glaciation period known by this cool name.
What is Snowball Earth?
Deuterium (heavy hydrogen) contains these two subatomic particles in its nucleus.
What are a proton and a neutron?
This radioactive element slips into zircon crystals in place of zirconiun
What is Uranium?
What two elements were created first when the universe formed?
What is Helium and Hydrogen?
The geological period around 300 million years ago (MYA).
What is the World of Tropical Swamps period?
Around 4.0 billion years ago, as the molten surface cooled and rain condensed to form the first vast oceans, Earth entered this stage.
What is the Water World?
The ratio/concentration level of heavy hydrogen found in both carbonaceous chondrites and Earth's water.
What is 150 ppm?
Radioactive Uranium eventually decays into this element inside a zircon crystal.
What is Lead?
Why are nebulae important?
What is they:
1. act as "stellar nurseries" where new stars are born
2. develop into solar systems with main star and orbiting planets
The major tectonic event that occurred between 200 and 100 million years ago (MYA).
What is the Breakup of Pangaea?
The formation of Earth's granite crust, which allowed for the creation of stable continental landmasses, occurred approximately this many billion years ago.
What is 3.4 BYA?