This was the first landing ever achieved in the outer Solar System, and it provided ground truth far beyond Earth’s immediate neighbourhood.

'From Titan’s surface to Saturn’s rings': 7 key discoveries of the NASA and ESA’s Cassini-Huygens mission

In a study recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience, scientists have identified ancient rocks deep inside the Earth's crust. They were chemical clues of this proto-Earth, the primordial planet that existed before the formation of the moon. This finding challenges the previous idea that an immense collision remelted and re-invented the Earth's chemical composition.&nbsp;The study found clues in the ancient rocks from Greenland, Canada and Hawaii. The study poses immense potential, giving a window to look at the building blocks of primordial Earth and its neighbouring world.&nbsp;"This is maybe the first direct evidence that we've preserved the proto-Earth materials," &nbsp;said Nicol Nile, an assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences at MIT.&nbsp;Scientists identified a rare chemical fingerprint, in the rock samples collected from Greenland, Canada, and Hawaii. These rocks have a certain kind of potassium imbalance, specifically, the potassium-40 isotope, when compared to most of the material found on Earth today. Potassium naturally occurs in three isotopes- potassium-39, potassium-40 and potassium-41, which are slightly different versions of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. Scientists use advanced mass spectrometry and trace the anomaly back to 4.5 million years ago.&nbsp;4.5 billion years ago, the Earth was a giant hot, molten sphere of Lava formed from a swirling cloud of gas and dust. After 100 million years or so, a Mars-size asteroid collided with the Earth in an event so violent that it remelted and remixed the chemical composition of the Earth. The discovery challenges the existing theory of the reinvention of Earth following the great impact and suggests that some parts of the proto-Earth survived.&nbsp;"We see a piece of the very ancient Earth, even before the giant impact," Nie said in the statement. "This is amazing because we would expect this very early signature to be slowly erased through Earth's evolution."The chemical signature of proto-Earth material does not precisely match any known meteorite, necessarily implying that original materials that formed our planet may still be missing from geological collections.&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered the first direct evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old proto-Earth material deep within Earth's mantle, shedding light on our planet's early composition.

In a study recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience, scientists have identified ancient rocks deep inside the Earth's crust. They were chemical clues of this proto-Earth, the primordial planet that existed before the formation of the moon. This finding challenges the previous idea that an immense collision remelted and re-invented the Earth's chemical composition. The study found clues in the ancient rocks from Greenland, Canada and Hawaii. The study poses immense potential, giving a window to look at the building blocks of primordial Earth and its neighbouring world. "This is maybe the first direct evidence that we've preserved the proto-Earth materials," said Nicol Nile, an assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences at MIT. Scientists identified a rare chemical fingerprint, in the rock samples collected from Greenland, Canada, and Hawaii. These rocks have a certain kind of potassium imbalance, specifically, the potassium-40 isotope, when compared to most of the material found on Earth today. Potassium naturally occurs in three isotopes- potassium-39, potassium-40 and potassium-41, which are slightly different versions of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. Scientists use advanced mass spectrometry and trace the anomaly back to 4.5 million years ago. 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth was a giant hot, molten sphere of Lava formed from a swirling cloud of gas and dust. After 100 million years or so, a Mars-size asteroid collided with the Earth in an event so violent that it remelted and remixed the chemical composition of the Earth. The discovery challenges the existing theory of the reinvention of Earth following the great impact and suggests that some parts of the proto-Earth survived. "We see a piece of the very ancient Earth, even before the giant impact," Nie said in the statement. "This is amazing because we would expect this very early signature to be slowly erased through Earth's evolution." The chemical signature of proto-Earth material does not precisely match any known meteorite, necessarily implying that original materials that formed our planet may still be missing from geological collections.

Scientists have discovered the first direct evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old proto-Earth material deep within Earth's mantle, shedding light on our planet's early composition.

Scientists discover remnants of 4.5 billion-year-old proto-earth in the depths of earth

The Earth spins at a remarkable speed, approximately 1,600 kilometres per hour at the equator. If this rotation were to cease abruptly, even for a mere second, the consequences would be catastrophic. The sudden halt would unleash immense forces, leading to widespread destruction and long-term environmental changes.&nbsp;An instantaneous stop would subject everything not anchored to the planet to a sudden deceleration. At the equator, this means an abrupt halt from a speed of about 1,600 km/h. Objects, structures, and individuals would continue moving at this velocity, resulting in severe impacts. Buildings would collapse, and unsecured objects would be propelled eastward with devastating force. The sheer energy released would cause widespread devastation. &nbsp;

The sudden stop of Earth's rotation would induce massive tectonic stresses

<h2>What would happen?</h2>&nbsp;Redistribution of Water and Land: The Earth's rotation contributes to the equatorial bulge, causing oceans to be displaced towards the equator. If the planet were to stop spinning, this centrifugal force would vanish, leading to a redistribution of water. Water would move towards the poles, potentially flooding regions and exposing landmasses that were previously submerged. This shift could create new coastlines and alter existing ones dramatically.&nbsp;Climate and Weather Disruptions: The cessation of Earth's rotation would have profound effects on climate and weather patterns. Without the planet's rotation, the day-night cycle would be disrupted, leading to prolonged periods of daylight and darkness. This imbalance would cause extreme temperature variations, with one side of the Earth experiencing continuous sunlight and the other enduring perpetual night. Such conditions would be inhospitable for most life forms, leading to ecological imbalances.&nbsp;Geological Consequences: The sudden stop of Earth's rotation would induce massive tectonic stresses. These stresses could result in earthquakes and volcanic activity as the planet's crust adjusts to the new conditions. The redistribution of water and land would also affect the Earth's crust, potentially leading to further geological upheaval.&nbsp;Magnetic Field and Radiation Exposure: Earth's rotation plays a crucial role in generating its magnetic field through the dynamo effect. If the planet stopped spinning, this magnetic field could collapse, leaving the surface exposed to harmful solar and cosmic radiation. The absence of a protective magnetic shield would increase radiation levels, posing significant risks to all forms of life.&nbsp;Long-Term Adaptation Challenges: In the aftermath of such a catastrophic event, life on Earth would face unprecedented challenges. The extreme environmental conditions would require significant adaptation. Survivors would need to find ways to cope with altered climates, disrupted ecosystems, and increased radiation levels. The long-term survival of life would depend on the ability to adapt to the new, harsh realities of a non-rotating Earth. &nbsp;

An instantaneous stop would subject everything not anchored to the planet to a sudden deceleration. At the equator, this means an abrupt halt from a speed of about 1,600 km/h. 

The Earth spins at a remarkable speed, approximately 1,600 kilometres per hour at the equator. If this rotation were to cease abruptly, even for a mere second, the consequences would be catastrophic. The sudden halt would unleash immense forces, leading to widespread destruction and long-term environmental changes. An instantaneous stop would subject everything not anchored to the planet to a sudden deceleration. At the equator, this means an abrupt halt from a speed of about 1,600 km/h. Objects, structures, and individuals would continue moving at this velocity, resulting in severe impacts. Buildings would collapse, and unsecured objects would be propelled eastward with devastating force. The sheer energy released would cause widespread devastation.

An instantaneous stop would subject everything not anchored to the planet to a sudden deceleration. At the equator, this means an abrupt halt from a speed of about 1,600 km/h.&nbsp;

What if Earth stopped spinning for just one second?

Scientists are uncertain whether the belt represents remnants of a failed planet or the product of gravitational interactions preventing planetary formation. 

5 mysteries of the solar system that still baffle scientists