New evidence suggests that the continents may have been formed by giant asteroids that collided with the Earth in its early history. This hypothesis, known as the "giant impact hypothesis", proposes that the Earth was struck by a Mars-sized object around 4.5 billion years ago. This impact would have released enormous heat and energy, melting the Earth's surface and causing the formation of a magma ocean. As the magma ocean cooled, it would have solidified into the Earth's crust, creating the first continents.

This hypothesis is supported by several lines of evidence. For example, the chemical composition of the Earth's crust is similar to that of certain types of meteorites, suggesting that the crust was formed from material that was ejected from the Earth's mantle during the impact. Additionally, the Earth's moon is thought to have formed from debris that was ejected into orbit during the impact, and the moon's composition is also similar to that of certain types of meteorites.

While the giant impact hypothesis is the leading theory for the formation of the continents, it is still a matter of debate. Some scientists believe that the impact may not have been as large as is currently thought, and others believe that the impact may have occurred later in the Earth's history. However, the evidence suggests that the giant impact hypothesis is a viable explanation for the formation of the Earth's continents.