Scientists have uncovered a hidden geological process where fragments of continents are slowly stripped from below and swept deep into the oceanic mantle, sparking volcanic activity in unexpected ...

Researchers discovered that continents don’t just split at the surface—they also peel from below, feeding volcanic activity in the oceans. Simulations reveal that slow mantle waves strip continental ...

For centuries, Earth was said to have seven continents — but one was hiding in plain sight. Beneath the waves of the South Pacific lies Zealandia, a vast stretch of continental crust nearly two-thirds ...

Scientists recently published new ideas about why Earth’s toughest, oldest continents persist. These continents, known as cratons, have been on earth for more than two billion years. Andrew Zuza, an ...

New research reveals that Earth’s continents owe their stability to searing heat deep in the planet’s crust. At more than 900°C, radioactive elements shifted upward, cooling and strengthening the ...

Scientists show deep mantle waves move continental roots across oceans, producing volcanic islands with continental chemical ...

For billions of years, Earth's continents have remained remarkably stable, forming the foundation for mountains, ecosystems and civilizations. But the secret to their stability has mystified ...

A new study of the chemical components of rocks led by researchers at Penn State and Columbia University provides the clearest evidence yet for how Earth's continents became and remained so stable — ...