The ginormous collision that tilted our planet

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Elise Cutts |

TED-Ed

• August 2025

4.5 billion years ago, Earth was struck by a rock the size of Mars flying 9 kilometers a second. The force of this collision temporarily turned Earth’s surface into an ocean of molten magma. Today, some scientists call this cosmic crash the Big Whack, and we’re still dealing with the impacts of this impact. Elise Cutts explores the pivotal role Earth’s obliquity plays in our planet's processes. [Directed by Igor Ćorić, Artrake Studio, narrated by Bethany Cutmore Scott, music by Cem Misirlioglu].