Picture our solar system 3.5 billion years ago, a cosmic carnival still in its early stages. Earth was a roiling cauldron of volcanic activity, with a young moon playing cosmic tag. The Sun, a fiery toddler compared to its current stellar status, beamed a bit more faintly. Mars, the red neighbor, rocked an atmosphere thicker than today's skimpy version. Jupiter and Saturn, the gas giants, were still growing into the colossal orbs we know now. It's like taking a peek at the baby pictures of our cosmic neighborhood, a snapshot of the solar system in its youthful, formative years.

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