earth

earth

Fascinating animation shows Earth’s tectonic plates moving from 1.8 billion years ago to the present day

This is the first time that the Earth’s geological record—information found inside rocks—has been used to create an animation like this. Using information from inside rocks on the Earth’s surface, we’ve reconstructed the planet’s plate tectonics over the past 1.8 billion years. This is the first time the Earth’s geological record has been used in this way, looking back so far into the past. This allowed us to undertake an effort to map the planet for the most recent 40%

Defense System

The Defense System of All Life Traces Back to Asgard Microbes

The defense system that protects all complex life on Earth, including humans, can be traced back to ancient microbes known as Asgard archaea. This discovery sheds light on the origins of the immune mechanisms that have been essential in defending life from viral threats for billions of years. Around 2 billion years ago, the ancestors of plants, animals, and fungi emerged, likely evolving from a group of complex microbes called Asgard archaea. These primitive organisms passed down two crucial defense

Dinosaurs

Asteroid That Ended the Dinosaurs Traced to Outer Solar System

Explore the new study revealing that the asteroid responsible for the dinosaur extinction originated beyond Jupiter. Discover how metal isotopes trace this cosmic journey. A groundbreaking study has uncovered intriguing details about the asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. By analyzing metal isotopes from the impact site, scientists have determined that this asteroid originated from the outer regions of the solar system, beyond Jupiter. This discovery provides new insights into one of Earth’s most