A new study points to an unexpected cause for the formation of our world’s first continents – comets from the fringes of our Solar System.⁠ ⁠ Scientists detected a rhythmic pattern in the formation of continental crust that corresponds with the amount of time it takes for the Solar System to pass through one of the Milky Way’s four major spiral arms. The gravitational influence from the spiral arms could sling comets from the outer reaches of the Solar System towards Earth and other planets. The scientists argue this may have excavated huge amounts of rock from Earth's surface, leading the underlying mantle rock to decompress and melt. The generation of this molten rock may have, in turn, seeded the production of continents.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Head to the link in bio to learn more about these new findings: @inverse