The Earth had a Saturn-like ring of its own once, a shocking new study has suggested

Beyonce did say that if you like something enough, you have to put a ring on it. And the same must have happened to humanity's favourite planet, Earth. According to fresh research, our world may have sported a colossal ring of space debris 466 million years ago, rivalling the iconic rings of Saturn. But more than being just for show, it may have sparked chaotic meteor showers and even helped trigger a planetary cold snap.

A dramatic demise

It all started when an asteroid, likely enormous in size, wandered too close to Earth’s Roche limit — a point where the planet’s intense tidal forces pull apart anything foolish enough to cross. Once here, the researchers have suggested that the asteroid likely met a brutal end, ripped to shreds and scattered around the equator, leaving Earth with a halo of debris.

The remnants of the asteroid thereafter began a slow descent, bombarding the Earth with meteorites for millions of years. This onslaught is clearly visible in the geological record, where scientists find layers packed with meteorite debris.
"We also see that layers in sedimentary rocks from this period contain extraordinary amounts of meteorite debris," remarks study author Andy Tomkins.

Plunging the planet into cold age

Scientists also believe that the asteroid’s debris field likely cast a massive shadow over the Earth’s equator, blocking sunlight and contributing to a planetary cooling event. During the time 485 to 443 million years ago, known as the Ordovician period, Earth was already in the throes of a serious cold snap. But the ring may have exacerbated things, plunging the planet into one of its coldest periods in the last 500 million years.

These meteorites weren’t just raining down willy-nilly. They appeared to have a favourite target — Earth’s equator. By mapping out 21 ancient impact craters from this era, researchers discovered they all clustered suspiciously close to the planet’s middle. For those who enjoy mind-bending statistics, the chances of this happening randomly are roughly equivalent to rolling a three-sided die 21 times and landing the same number each time!

Multiple rings, in fact

Here’s the twist: scientists speculate that this might not have been Earth’s only ring. While this ancient ring system eventually fizzled out as gravity sucked the debris down, it's possible Earth had more than one ring at different points in its long history. This opens the door to all sorts of questions about how celestial bling may have shaped Earth's climate and history.

Could Earth one day boast a ring again? While the study doesn’t go that far, it certainly leaves room for the imagination to run wild. In any case, the idea that our planet once sported a Saturn-like accessory is a reminder that the cosmos is full of surprises — and Earth has had its share of celestial drama.

The findings of this research have been published in Earth and Planetary Research Letters and can be accessed here.