STUDIU: Luna s-ar fi format în doar câteva ore / Noi simulări detaliază impactul dintre Pământ și protoplaneta Theia

Recent simulations suggest that the Moon could have formed within hours after a massive impact between Earth and a Mars-sized protoplanet named Theia. This theory, supported by new research published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, indicates that the internal temperature of protoplanets influenced their geological properties and collision outcomes. The simulations led by Adeene Denton revealed that warmer bodies are more fragile, affecting the impact dynamics. Depending on Theia's temperature at the time of collision, the Moon could have formed rapidly or gradually from debris. The findings also suggest a link between the Moon's physical properties and the thermal state of Earth and Theia during the impact, which could refine our understanding of the Moon's formation timeline.