The ancient Earth is like the moon of Jupiter

Our planet 4 billion years ago is very likely to be like the moon Io is always busy with Jupiter's volcanic activity.

Moon Io is the most active volcanic object in the solar system, with intense eruptions ejecting a 1cm thick lava that covers the entire surface every year.

Moon Io is the most active volcanic object in the Solar System - (Photo: NASA)

The Earth may have experienced a similar phase at the time of its formation, before the planet cooled enough for tectonic plates to form, according to a Nature report.

The symbolic globe from the process of combining many small stone planetary embryos came together about 4.5 billion years ago. These clashes radiate large amounts of heat, just like the process of separating the Earth's metal core and decaying radioactive elements.

Thus, the ancient Earth was 5 to 10 times more intrinsic to internal heat than it is today, according to SPACE.com, lead researcher William Moore of Hampton University (USA).

However, the lithosphere of our planet is quite thick and cool in the early days. And the early Earth can act as Io, ie, the heat flows in large quantities onto the surface through volcanic "tubes".