Ancient Rocks Reveal When Earth’s Plate Tectonics Began
New data indicating that the planet’s surface broke up about 3.2 billion years ago helps clarify how shifting plates drove the evolution of complex life.
An Ancient Magma Flood Offers Clues About Global Warming
4 million years ago, a burst of hot rock heated the planet, causing ocean acidification, massive storms, and extinctions. What can we learn from this early example?