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.
Latest about plate tectonics
Pangaea: Discover facts about Earth's ancient supercontinent
Pangaea is Earth's most recent supercontinent, which existed 320 million to 195 million years ago.
'Missing link' found in ancient rocks of Colorado show that Snowball Earth really happened
Geologists found evidence in the way enigmatic sandstones called Tava formed in the Rocky Mountains hundreds of millions of years ago.
Did plate tectonics give rise to life? Groundbreaking new research could crack Earth's deepest mystery.
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.
What is plate tectonics?
Blame plate tectonics for Earth’s mountains, earthquakes, volcanoes, and why its continents fit together like pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle.
When did plate tectonics begin?
Earth surface is covered with rigid plates that move, crash into each other and dive into the planet's interior. But when did this process begin?
Will Mount Everest always be the world's tallest mountain?
The Himalayas' massive heights result from a unique combination of geologic factors.
Earth's mantle is split into two halves thanks to supercontinent Pangaea
The mantle is split up into two domains — the African and the Pacific — that emerged when supercontinent Pangaea broke apart.
How old is planet Earth?
How old is Earth? Our planet's age is known from a variety of sources, from rocks on our own planet to ones from the moon.
Earth's crust may be building mountains by dripping into the mantle
An odd phenomenon called lithospheric dripping might occur wherever mountains form.
Ancient relative of 'living fossil' fish reveals that geological activity supercharges evolution
The ancient coelacanth, which has existed for some 419 million years, never stopped evolving despite its reputation as a "living fossil." A new discovery reveals that it evolved faster when plate tectonics were most active.
