Asteroids: Spark of Life? | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

What if violent asteroid impacts actually jump-started life on Earth? Explore a dramatic theory.

Official website: https://to.pbs.org/4r8sVC5 | #novapbs

Imagine a time when Earth was a molten, volcanic wasteland, heavily bombarded by colossal asteroids. We’ve long feared these cosmic impacts as destroyers of life, but what if they were the key to our very existence? Explore a revolutionary theory suggesting that these violent collisions provided the essential ingredients – water, minerals, and energy – needed for life to ignite on our planet. Discover how scientists are unearthing evidence from lunar rocks and ancient impact craters, revealing that the very objects known for extinguishing life might have actually sparked it.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:31 Detecting Ancient Life Forms in Rock
13:07 Liquid Water on Ancient Earth
21:48 The Moon Gives Clues to Earth’s Early Life
31:17 Asteroids & Hydrothermal Systems
41:46 Sampling Meteorites & Asteroid Bennu
49:53 Conclusion

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Ancient earth, Archean, Hadean, life on earth, how did the moon form, hydrothermal systems, asteroid impacts on earth, dinosaur asteroid

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