"...an evolution of the mantle of the Earth could control an evolution of the atmosphere of the Earth, and possibly an evolution of life."

Earth's underground network of tectonic plates was in place more than 4 billion years ago—about a billion years earlier than scientists had thought.

"We think we have found the building blocks of life—the Lego set that led, ultimately, to the evolution of cells, animals, and plants."

"We think we have found the building blocks of life—the Lego set that led, ultimately, to the evolution of cells, animals, and plants."

New research moves closer to resolving some of the mystery of why ice ages end by establishing when that happens.

Early Earth 3.2 billion years ago was a world of vast oceans and submerged continents. The new findings could have implications for the origins of life.

The proto-Earth formed surprisingly quickly, new research shows. The finding ups the chance of finding water and life on other planets.

The Earth's early magnetic field was stronger than scientists had believed, according to ancient crystals that give researchers a view into the past.

Ancient micrometeorites may have run into CO2 on their way to Earth's surface, which gives researchers a clearer view of the early Earth's atmosphere.

A 550-million-year-old fossilized digestive tract could shed light on the early history of animals on Earth and a key moment in evolution.