Recent scientific findings suggest that Earth once boasted oceans that were twice as deep as they are today. This groundbreaking discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Earth’s geological ...

According to a recent study, events geologists use to distinguish transitions between geological chapters in Earth's story follow a hidden hierarchical pattern, one that could shed light on both past ...

A thin slice of the ancient rocks collected from Gakkel Ridge near the North Pole, photographed under a microscope and seen under cross-polarized light. Field width ~ 14mm. Credit: E. Cottrell, ...

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story: Mantle plumes are important geologic processes—they interact with plate tectonics, create rich mineral deposits, and even contribute to mass ...

Continental clues: Modern continental rocks carry chemical signatures from the very start of our planet’s history, challenging current theories about plate tectonics. Researchers have made a new ...

A view of one part of the Paleontology collection in the Museum of Natural History, arranged by the addition of representative specimens from other parts of the three floors of fossils in the East ...

This illustrated geologic timescale of Earth focuses on the landscapes, flora and fauna of the West, drilling into the region’s deep history.

A new analysis of rocks thought to be at least 2.5 billion years old by researchers at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History helps clarify the chemical history of Earth's mantle—the ...