CATCH ME UP
New simulations suggest the Moon could have formed in as little as five hours after the collision between Earth and the protoplanet Theia.
The study says adding material strength and temperature to collision models changes earlier ideas about lunar formation.
Lead author Adeene Denton and her team say those factors help explain how the Moon could have taken shape much faster than previously believed.
Researchers also say the exact thermal conditions of early Earth and Theia remain unknown.
Why it mattersThe simulations could reshape scientific understanding of the Moon's origin and the giant-impact timeline, influencing future planetary-formation research.