Planet crash that made moon left key elements for life on Earth, scientists say
by Ian Sample Science editor from on (#47KZJ)
Most of carbon and nitrogen that makes up our bodies probably came from passing planet, researchers believe
The cosmic collision that made the moon left a host of elements behind on Earth that were crucial for life to emerge, US scientists have claimed.
The impact 4.4bn years ago is thought to have occurred when an itinerant planet the size of Mars slammed into the fledgling Earth, scattering a shower of rocks into space. The debris later coalesced into the moon.
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