Passing Star May Have Caused Comet Storm on Early Earth, Study Suggests

Imagine our solar system has a big, icy halo way, way out there called the Oort Cloud, full of comets.

Millions of years ago, a star passed by our solar system, but it was very far away.

This passing star was like a gentle nudge to the giant halo of comets.

Even though it was far, its gravity was strong enough to push some of these comets out of their homes in the Oort Cloud.

These comets then started traveling towards the inner part of our solar system, including Earth.

Scientists think this could have caused a big meteor shower, like a rain of shooting stars, that might have affected life and even the climate on Earth when humans were just starting to appear.