Earth's crust ranges from 5 to 70 kilometers in thickness and serves as the planet's outermost layer. This thin shell represents less than one percent of Earth's total mass, yet it's the only layer we ...

In the modern world, a reliable supply of hydrogen gas is vital for the function of society. Fertilizer produced from hydrogen contributes to the food supply of half the global population, and ...

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 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 ...

Just over 4 billion years ago, magma from Earth’s mantle infiltrated a fracture in the young planet’s primordial crust. Over the following aeons, nearly all of the planet’s early crust melted back ...

As early as 2024, scientists from the US and China discovered that the Earth’s core had slowed down and even stopped moving in relation to the Earth’s crust. But until now, the general public—that’s ...

Researchers at Göttingen University have uncovered new evidence that some of Earth’s most precious metals began their journey ...

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? Here’s what you’ll learn in this story: What are now thought to be the oldest rocks ...