New research hints that plate tectonics began earlier than 4 billion years ago — not long after Earth had formed. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission ...

Emerging evidence suggests that plate tectonics, or the recycling of Earth's crust, may have begun much earlier than previously thought — and may be a big reason that our planet harbors life.

Plate tectonics describes how Earth’s entire, 100-kilometer-thick outermost layer, called the lithosphere, is broken into a jigsaw puzzle of plates — slabs of rock bearing both continents and ...

"Plate tectonics is the framework we use to read Earth's rock record," Holder said. "Plate tectonics is intimately linked to climate, the evolution of life, the growth of mountain belts, and where ...

Here's What'll Happen When Plate Tectonics Grinds to a Halt. A new study says we may only have another 1.45 billion years to enjoy the dynamic action of Earth’s geologic engine.

Now, as reported in a recent issue of the journal Earth-Science Reviews, scientists are able to precisely recreate the journeys of Earth’s tectonic plates over the last billion years of its history.

Plate tectonics, or the recycling of Earth’s crust, may have begun much earlier than previously thought—and may be a big reason that our planet harbors life. Skip to main content.