How did Earth begin? (18 Mar 2014)

Lunch Hour Lectures - Spring 2014 Professor Lars Stixrude, UCL Earth Sciences To the founders of geology, the question of how the Earth began could not be addressed by science; answers had to await recent advances in radioactive dating, planetary accretion, and materials physics. The Earth appears to have begun in a completely molten state, a magma ocean, the nature of which, while still sketchy, is remarkably rich in its implications for understanding our planet today. You can also watch this lecture on the UCLLHL YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VybMqy0qbbk