Earth’s early years were a truly chaotic period. About 4.5 billion years ago, the planet had barely taken shape and its surface was a roiling landscape of magma from which gases boiled out into space. No sooner had it started to solidify into a dried-out crust than it came under the assault of intense volcanoes and the harsh radiation of a young Sun. Here you are witnessing the massive bombardment of asteroids and comets that followed. But despite its merciless appearance, that rain of cosmic mountains would bring a precious gift – water.
The water ice brought by a meteor shower melts under the flaming temperatures of baby Earth.