Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have developed a model that explains the formation of the Earth. Analysis shows that tiny millimeter-sized pebbles were formed as a result of very rapid accumulation over several million years. At the same time, water and other components for life were not randomly delivered to the planet by asteroids. The discovery provides additional information for searching inhabited worlds outside the solar system.

One of the dominant theories proposes that the planets were formed as a result of the gradual collision of bodies that gradually increased over 100 million years. In this model, the arrival of water and other beneficial materials is associated with the bombardment of early Earth by comets and meteorites.

The researchers used silicon isotopes as a tool to understand the mechanisms and time frames of planet formation. They analyzed the isotopic composition of the chemical elements of more than 60 different meteorite and planetary bodies. As a result of the analysis, scientists determined the difference between solid planets and other space objects. And they identified the basic building blocks from which the Earth was formed.

Based on the simulation, the researchers formulated an alternative theory. They believe the Young Sun is a disk filled with tiny dust particles around it. As soon as the planet reached a certain size, it began to “act as a vacuum cleaner”, absorbing all this dust very quickly. In such a scenario, the planet would reach Earth size in just a few million years.

At the same time, shaping the planet in this way not only accelerates its growth, but also ensures that the planet is watered. The protoplanetary disk contains many ice particles attracted by the protoplanet during the absorption process, which ensures the presence of water until the end of the planet formation process.

“This theory predicts that once you create an Earth-like planet, there will be water on it,” said study co-author Martin Bizzarro.

Scientists believe that searching for systems similar to ours and further studies of the formation processes of new planets in other star systems will help confirm this hypothesis.