New research shows how RNA, a key molecule for life, may have formed on early Earth using simple chemistry and materials delivered by asteroid impacts, linking space science with the origins of life ...

Scientists at MIT have uncovered extremely rare remnants of the Earth's earliest forms, which are suspected to be some 4.5 billion years old. What scientists know as "proto-Earth" is considered to be ...

How did life begin on Earth? While scientists have theories, they don't yet fully understand the precise chemical steps that ...

New research has dramatically reshaped our understanding of Earth’s early geological history, overturning traditional beliefs about how the planet’s first continents came into being. Researchers from ...

Researchers recreated conditions from billions of years ago and found that Earth’s young atmosphere could make key molecules linked to life. These sulfur-rich compounds, including certain amino acids, ...

A remote outcrop in Canada harbors rocks that are at least 4.16 billion years old, researchers report June 26 in Science. If true, these rocks would be the oldest known on Earth and the first to date ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. We’ve pieced together a remarkably detailed timeline of ...

Scientists have long wondered why Earth's overall makeup doesn't fully match the mix of materials found in ancient meteorites. One hypothesis has been that our proto-Earth (what the earliest stages of ...

"... a pivotal event in our planet's history." This is an Inside Science story. Earth's first continents may have emerged from the oceans roughly 750 million years ...

In Earth’s early days, more than 4 billion years ago, the surface was a dangerous and unpredictable place. Violent volcanoes, crashing meteorites, and constant tectonic activity repeatedly resurfaced ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. At a certain point in Earth’s distant past, the planet’s ...