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

Subduction, a crucial geological process on Earth, may have begun hundreds of millions of years earlier than traditionally believed. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest sci-tech news updates.

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 ...

Scientists have shown how the freezing of a ‘slushy’ ocean of magma may be responsible for the composition of the Moon’s crust. The scientists, from the University of Cambridge and the Ecole normale ...

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 ...