"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Scientists know that the world’s continents emerged during the Archean eon, which stretched from about 4 ...

A vast, mostly submerged landmass in the South Pacific, Zealandia, is now recognized as Earth's eighth continent. Recent mapping confirms its continental crust, scale, and ancient origins, challenging ...

Chris Kirkland receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Geological Survey of Western Australia. Tim Johnson receives funding from the Australian Research Council (DP200101104) and ...

Ancient, expansive tracts of continental crust called cratons have helped keep Earth's continents stable for billions of years, even as landmasses shift, mountains rise and oceans form. A new ...

Earth is the only planet we know of with continents, the giant landmasses that provide homes to humankind and most of Earth’s biomass. However, we still don’t have firm answers to some basic questions ...

Warped amphibian-like fossils in Ireland were likely transformed by superheated fluids that were released as ancient continents crashed into one another around 300 million years ago. When you purchase ...

Far beneath the waves of the southwest Pacific, scientists have finished charting a landmass so large and so coherent that it now stands beside Africa, Asia and the rest as a full-fledged continent.

Both life and geological processes get their start in the Archaean era amidst a brew of atmospheric gases that probably includes methane and ammonia but little or no free oxygen. As Earth cools, a ...

Fabio A Capitanio receives funding from the Australian Research Council Oliver Nebel receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Peter Cawood receives funding from Australian Research ...