About 4.6 billion years ago, the Solar System formed from a cloud of dust and gas collapsing in on itself due to gravity. The Sun, planets, and eventually Earth formed out of the cloud. But when did ...

Scientists have shown that Earth’s basic chemistry solidified within just three million years of the Solar System’s formation. Initially, the planet was barren and inhospitable, missing water and ...

The formation of Earth’s continents billions of years ago set the stage for life to thrive. But scientists disagree over how those land masses formed and if it was through geological processes we ...

“Thanks to our results, we know that the proto-Earth was initially a dry rocky planet,” says Kruttasch. “It can therefore be ...

Nearly 5 billion years ago, a dense cloud of gas and dust occupied this corner of the Milky Way. The planets we know today, including Earth, were nowhere to be found. Scientists think that a nearby ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Water is at the center of one of the enduring questions about how ...

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 ...