Computational modeling shows that plate tectonics weren't necessary for early continents. The formation of Earth's continents billions of years ago set the stage for life to thrive. But scientists ...

The Earth formed over 4.6 billion years ago out of a mixture of dust and gas around the young sun. It grew larger thanks to countless collisions between dust particles, asteroids, and other growing ...

Earth formed around 4.54 billion years ago. Knowing how old Earth is can be more difficult to confirm because Earth's age is not only based on the age of rocks, but also the isotopic estimates of what ...

The meteorite Erg Chech 002 found in the Sahara desert in 2020 is one of the oldest known space rocks. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it ...

The theory could have important implications for the search for life outside the solar system. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

An artist's conception of the early Earth, showing a surface bombarded by large impacts that result in the extrusion of magma onto the surface. At the same time, distal portions of the planet's ...

ZÜRICH, Switzerland — Since the Earth formed some 4.5 billion years ago, scientists say its evolution has been "the story of its cooling." Over the millions of years since the planet we call home was ...

MIT scientists have discovered ancient rock samples from Greenland, Canada, and Hawaii exhibiting a rare potassium-40 deficit. This chemical signature suggests these rocks are remnants of "proto-Earth ...