Parts of ancient Earth may have formed continents and recycled crust through subduction far earlier than previously thought.

The ancient history of Earth has always been hard to read. Most of the planet’s earliest crust has been lost, buried, or melted by geologic processes over billions of years. The rare remnants that ...

A study of the East African Rift reveals that ancient heating and dehydration can strengthen continental crust, reshaping how and where continents break apart.

Rocks older than 4.03 billion years could shed light on Earth's earliest geological history, but they're incredibly rare. Reading time 2 minutes Due to the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates, our ...

An artistic reconstruction of Earth during the Hadean eon (~4.5 billion years ago). Intense volcanic activity, heat from accretion, and frequent impacts kept the young Earth in a molten state. This ...

The Earth’s crust is disappearing right beneath our feet – and most people don’t even realise it. Now, if you’re a geologist, or got a keen interest in how the Earth is put together, then this ...

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge in Iceland. This area is the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which move apart ~ 2.5 cm/year. Subduction and the formation of continents, a ...

New research reveals that Earth’s continents owe their stability to searing heat deep in the planet’s crust. At more than 900°C, radioactive elements shifted upward, cooling and strengthening the ...

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...