The missing 500 million: Cosmic bombardment melted Earth's first crust

Geologists propose that Earth's early continents were formed by an intense, sustained bombardment of asteroids during the Hadean eon. This heat kept the crust thin and buoyant, allowing for the formation of the first continental landmasses.
Why it matters
This theory provides a potential solution to a long-standing geological mystery regarding the origin of Earth's continents and the conditions of the early planet.
I’m melting The missing 500 million: Cosmic bombardment melted Earth’s first crust The heat of the Hadean may have come from impacts as well as the interior.
The article is a scientific report detailing a specific geological hypothesis without political or social bias.
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