Energy Stays Behind: Two Engines and the Atmospheric Greenhouse of the Hadean
Energy does not automatically stay on Earth — it has to be retained. The Sun shines continuously and the Earth's interior radiates heat constantly, but without an atmosphere to intercept it, that energy would escape straight into space, leaving a permanently frozen world. The Hadean story begins here: two energy engines pour heat into the surface system, while a thick CO₂ atmosphere acts as a valve, allowing energy to linger long enough to sustain liquid water — and laying the physical groundwork for energy to be stored in chemical bonds. Read more →