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| age of the earth |
The age of the Earth compared to the universe
The universe is still a realm beyond ordinary human understanding due to its vastness and age. According to various scientific data, the universe began approximately 13.8 billion years ago from an event called the Big Bang. In comparison, Earth is a relatively new cosmic object, having formed about 4.6 billion years ago. Earth's atmosphere and crust formed about 400 million or 4 billion years ago. Scientists have created a timeline of our planet's age by examining the isotope decay rates (isotope dating) of Earth's rocks and minerals. Although the age of the Earth is less than the age of the universe, the difference in their ages makes the existence of the Earth more significant. To learn the secrets of our planet's formation and the reasons why understanding that Earth became habitable requires knowledge of the age of the Earth and the universe.
