The theory that... "Holds Water!"
For centuries, scientists and philosophers alike have pondered a deceptively simple question: Where did Earth’s water come from?
Our planet, Terra, is a watery world... about 71% of its surface is covered in oceans... and water is essential to all known life!
But how did it get here?
Several competing theories have emerged over the decades.
Some suggest that Earth formed dry, and water was delivered later by icy comets or asteroids.
Others believe that water has always been here, locked inside the very minerals and dust that gave rise to our world.
As strange as it sounds, the latest research seems to be pointing toward that second idea... and it just so happens to align with a theory I’ve been developing myself.
The Cosmic Water Delivery Debate!
Let’s briefly examine the main contenders:
- Comet or Asteroid Delivery: Known as the "late veneer" hypothesis, this theory posits that icy bodies from the outer solar system bombarded the early Earth and deposited water. While once popular, the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratios (D/H) in most comets don’t quite match Earth’s water signature... casting doubt on this explanation!
- Outgassing from the Mantle: This theory suggests water was already embedded in the dust and rock that formed Earth and was released via volcanic activity. As the young planet differentiated, lighter materials... including water... rose toward the surface and atmosphere. (This concept is gaining increasing support among planetary scientists.)
- Solar Nebula Capture: A more speculative idea, it suggests Earth may have directly absorbed hydrogen and oxygen from the solar nebula, forming water early in its formation.
A Theory That Holds Water!
My own take builds on the outgassing hypothesis:
* Water molecules were mixed in with the space dust that coalesced into our planet... and since water is lighter than rock, it naturally migrated to the surface as things cooled down.
This theory is surprisingly well-supported by geological and cosmochemical evidence.
During Earth’s violent infancy, when the surface was molten and unstable, materials differentiated by density.
Iron and nickel sank to form the core.
Lighter materials... including silicates, gases, and water... rose toward the surface!
As the mantle convected and volcanic activity exploded across the globe, these water-rich minerals began to release their moisture as steam and vapour!
This gradual outgassing formed the early atmosphere, and eventually, once Earth cooled enough, oceans began to condense from the sky!
The Science Behind It:
- Ancient zircon crystals from over 4.3 billion years ago show evidence of liquid water on Earth’s surface... suggesting that water existed very early... possibly even during accretion!
- Carbonaceous chondrites... primitive meteorites... contain water and match Earth’s hydrogen isotope ratios better than most comets!
- Modern simulations show that planets forming in the inner solar system could retain substantial water content during accretion if the starting material was already hydrated.
In Short: Your Theory Holds Water 💧😉
While the debate isn’t over, there’s growing consensus that Earth’s water didn’t need to be delivered from afar. It may have always been here... quietly locked in rocks and dust, waiting for the right conditions to emerge and pour forth!
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This perspective doesn’t just rewrite our understanding of Earth... it also has implications for "exoplanet research" and the search for life beyond!
If water is built into the very bones of planetary formation, then wet worlds may be more common than we ever imagined!
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Got your own theory about cosmic water... or the origins of life?
Share it in the comments... or explore how this ties into broader metaphysical questions like Consciousness, Divine Experience, and BioPanentheism in future posts!
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