But, in fact, they were also likely responsible for triggering terrestrial planet formation.

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"It happened probably right at the end of the formation of the four terrestrial planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, " said Craig Agnor, a co-author on the Francis Nimmo study.

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It provides an outstanding example of the interaction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as extraordinary ecosystem productivity, largely influenced by the formation of seasonal sea ice at the lowest latitude in the northern hemisphere.

UNESCO: Culture