Is near based on Ethereum?

I'm curious to know, is the Near protocol based on Ethereum? I've been hearing a lot about Near recently and it seems to be gaining quite a bit of popularity in the crypto sphere. However, I'm still trying to wrap my head around its underlying technology. Ethereum, on the other hand, is a well-established platform with a vast ecosystem of decentralized applications. So, is there a direct connection between Near and Ethereum? Or are they two completely separate entities? I'm hoping to gain a clearer understanding of the relationship between these two projects.