A new study has found a discovery that could change perceptions of how Earth and other planets form in the solar system.
While scientists believed the planets formed from rocky asteroids, researchers now found that the planets were formed by "giant clay balls".
The ice-filled grains of cosmic dust at the beginning of the formation of the solar system were probably melted by the heat of the radiation, leading to the formation of water and dust balls that became the primary form of larger planetary objects.
The researchers from Curtin and the Institute of Planetary Science performed a computer simulation to analyze the motion of rock and clay granules in carbonate kygurite asteroids.
This process was carried out through the application of a model known as Mars and the numerical model of global hydrological asteroids (MAGHNUM).
It is believed that carbonic carbonate asteroids were the basis of many planets, such as Earth.
The simulation shows that many asteroids that are believed to have transported water and organic matter to the emerging planets may not be made of hard rock, as previously thought.
The researchers pointed out that the clay would help to reduce the temperature inside the water and dust grains, which may lead to maintaining the cohesion of chemicals inside.
"The assumption was that hydrothermal changes occur in certain categories of rock asteroids, with physical properties similar to meteorites," said Brian Travis, a senior scientist.
"However, the clay material was formed when ice was melted by heat from radioisotopes, where the resulting water mixed with the dust particles."
The researchers say the new results will affect our understanding of how the Earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago. It can also help in finding viable planets