Plate tectonics is relatively new, put forth in the last 30 years or so — its forerunner was the now-discarded continental drift theory. The theory states that Earth's outer shell is made up of huge slabs of rock called plates that glide over the planet's inner layer, or mantle. As these plates shift, they sometimes collide with other plates, making for some interesting, and even deadly, results on Earth's surface, from erupting volcanoes, to earthquakes, to new mountain ranges. Here's a look at Live Science's news and features related to this constantly moving jigsaw puzzle.
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How long do most planets last?Planets are born, and they can also "die." So what's the lifespan of a typical planet?
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Greenland is twisting, tensing and shrinking due to the 'ghosts' of melted ice sheetsEarth's mantle is so gooey, it takes eons for material that has been displaced by the weight of ice sheets to flow back. And Greenland is very much still processing its glacial past, a new study shows.
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Scientists discover first direct evidence that slivers of 'proto-Earth' may survive todayIn a first, researchers have discovered fragments of Earth's precursor that contain distinctive chemical fingerprints in ancient rocks from Greenland, Canada and Hawaii.
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Plate tectonics may be why Earth has life — and the key to finding life elsewhere in the universeFeature 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.
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The geology that holds up the Himalayas is not what we thought, scientists discoverA 100-year-old theory explaining how Asia can carry the huge weight of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau needs to be rewritten, a new study suggests.
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Lake Superior rocks reveal build up to giant collision that formed supercontinent RodiniaUsing paleomagnetic samples collected along the shores of Lake Superior, a new study illuminates the movement of a billion-year-old paleocontinent as it crept south toward a tectonic collision.
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Why do diamonds come in different colors?The vast majority of polished diamonds are clear and sparkly, but some come in unexpected colors like blue, green and even pink. So why are some diamonds different colors?
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Hot blob beneath Appalachians formed when Greenland split from North America — and it's heading to New YorkA hot blob currently beneath the Appalachians may have peeled off from Greenland around 80 million years ago and moved to where it is today at a rate of 12 miles per million years, scientists have found.
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What's Earth's lowest point on land?What's Earth's lowest spot on dry land — and how did it get to be that way?
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