Oct 19, 2023 · But Earth did not always exist within this expansive universe, and it was not always a hospitable haven for life. Billions of years ago, Earth, along with the rest of our solar system, …

Earth's early atmosphere was most likely composed of hydrogen and helium. As the planet changed, and the crust began to form, volcanic eruptions occurred frequently.

Oct 19, 2023 · At its beginning, Earth was unrecognizable from its modern form. At first, it was extremely hot, to the point that the planet likely consisted almost entirely of molten magma. …

Over the course of a few hundred million years, the planet began to cool and oceans of liquid water formed. Heavy elements, like iron and nickel, began sinking toward the center of the planet.

Learn about the moon's violent origins, how its phases shaped the earliest calendars, and how humans first explored Earth's only natural satellite half a century ago.

Oct 19, 2023 · Asteroids were not only important in Earth's early formation, but have continued to shape our planet. A five-kilometer (three-mile) diameter asteroid is theorized to have formed …

Oct 19, 2023 · The examination and analysis of rocks on Earth’s surface, and of extraterrestrial rocks, have enabled scientists to determine the approximate age of the planet.

Jun 4, 2025 · This map displays an early "supercontinent," Gondwana, which eventually moved to form the continents we know today. Fossils of similar organisms across widely disparate …

Oct 19, 2023 · The Hawaiian Islands were formed by a volcanic hot spot, an upwelling plume of magma, that creates new islands as the Pacific Plate moves over it.

May 27, 2025 · After Earth began to form about 4.6 billion years ago, it gradually separated into layers of lighter and heavier rock. The lighter rock rose and formed Earth’s crust.