Plate tectonics -- a defining feature of modern Earth and the driving force behind earthquakes, volcanoes and mid-ocean spreading ridges -- did not start until later in Earth's history, new research ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Earth's outer layer may have once been a solid shell before it was broken up into huge tectonic ...

Today's Earth is a dynamic planet with an outer layer composed of giant plates that grind together, sliding past or dipping beneath one another, giving rise to earthquakes and volcanoes. Others ...