Earth may have once had a ring similar to Saturn’s, which could explain a variety of geological puzzles.
Around 466 million years ago, there was a significant increase in meteorite impacts, concentrated near the paleo-equator. This was unusual, as meteorite craters typically form randomly across the planet.
Scientists propose that a large asteroid came close to Earth, broke apart due to tidal forces, and formed a ring that gradually rained debris onto the surface over millions of years. Evidence for this theory includes the sudden spike in impact craters, high levels of meteorite debris in limestone deposits, and the occurrence of tsunamis during this time.
The formation of a potential ring may have triggered a dramatic global cooling event around 445 million years ago. The hypothesis is that the ring could have shaded parts of Earth's surface, reducing sunlight and causing the temperature to drop.
Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X24004230
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