The traditional approach to this hypothetical scenario is to deflect the orbit of the incoming threat, but a scientist recently proposed an innovative approach.
"Compared to the most recent Ice Age, glacier coverage was much more extensive and, more importantly, much of the ocean was frozen," Xiao said.
Asteroid 2023 DZ2 is set to fly very close to the Earth on Saturday and was initially feared to be on a collision course for Earth in 2026.
Shifting tectonic plates have been splitting the continent since the East African Rift – a 35-mile-long crack in Ethiopia’s desert – emerged in 2005.
The water probably would have originated from volcanic activity and gradually evaporated into the atmosphere, along with other vital compounds.
Water covers 71% of Earth’s surface, but it is unknown when or how all this water arrived on Earth.
“Despite many astronomers having wished for this extra planet, it’s a good thing we don’t have it,” said lead author Stephen Kane.
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