The early earth was a violent, inhospitable place, but a massive collision with another planet, theia, set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to the birth of life. This cataclysmic impact nearly destroyed the planet, but it also created the moon, which in turn created the tides that would eventually help life to emerge and evolve. The story of the earth is a story of survival, and it is a story that is still being written today.