“Earthquake Mystery: Scientists Explain Hidden Earth Blobs!”

These Earthquake-causing Blobs were left behind when something like Mars crashed into Earth billions of years ago.

Bumps in the Dark

Scientists believe that a huge smash-up between Earth and a Mars-sized object called Theia, around 4.5 billion years ago, might have created strange blobs hidden deep inside Earth. This collision was so intense that it flung out enough material to form the Moon. Now, scientists think these hidden blobs might have kickstarted the movement of Earth’s outer layer, leading to the formation of plate tectonics. These geological movements are crucial for life on Earth but can also cause earthquakes and volcanoes.

In a recent study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, scientists connected these mysterious blobs from the collision to the movement of Earth’s plates, which eventually paved the way for life to thrive billions of years later.

“The big crash not only gave us the Moon, but it also set the stage for how Earth turned out,” said Qian Yuan, a co-author of the study and geoscientist from the California Institute of Technology, as reported by the Washington Post.

Earth’s Secrets

In the study, researchers looked into theories about these strange blobs buried deep inside the Earth’s mantle. These blobs are different from the surrounding rocks. The researchers think that about 200 million years after the big collision, these blobs caused strong movements in the Earth’s mantle, starting a process called subduction. This is when parts of the Earth’s outer layer sink below other parts.

This study could also help explain the oldest minerals found on Earth, which scientists believe formed over four billion years ago through subduction.

“The models show a connection between the first subduction and the big collision that formed the Moon. This helps us understand how rocky planets like Earth work,” wrote the researchers.

But not all scientists agree. Some wonder if we can really know what happened billions of years ago. Michael Brown, a geoscientist from the University of Maryland who wasn’t part of the study, said, “We don’t have enough evidence to fully understand the Earth’s early history. So, from a philosophical perspective, it’s probably something we’ll never know for sure.”