Earth may once have had a planetary ring

C ould Earth once have had a planetary ring like the ones around Saturn? Scientists from Monash University in Australia think so. In a recent paper they identify 450m-year-old craters that lie close to Earth’s historical equator. They propose these were caused by the collapse of a ring of debris (possibly the remnants of a large asteroid) that once circled the planet. The ring might have lasted tens of millions of years, cooling Earth with its shadow. ■

Bush pigs introduced from mainland Africa may hold the answer

Tricks from the oil industry have produced a hot-rocks breakthrough

It would be 1,000 times more accurate than today’s atomic timekeepers

They may one day replicate its benefits

Some of its myriad components are being tested as treatments for cancer and other diseases

All it takes is very long radio waves

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/09/18/earth-may-once-have-had-a-planetary-ring

A source: www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/09/18/earth-may-once-have-had-a-planetary-ring