The simulation suggests it could have happened that way. That doesn't translate well into that headline. (Given the domain name, a person might hope for better.

The simulation suggests it could have happened that way. That doesn't translate well into that headline. (Given the domain name, a person might hope for better.) Impact hypotheses are a popular type of explanation. Some may survive actual exposure to evidence, and eventually become theories. This is quite an old idea (as is the idea that the Moon impacted the Earth); maybe one day it'll pan out. Until then, it'd be great to see fewer hypotheses in 'Science News' headlines ... and more evidence.