Learning about the past is usually easier than predicting the future, but deciphering the earliest history of life on Earth seems to be an exception to the rule. Of course, we're not entirely in the ...

In a groundbreaking experiment in the early 1950s, a scientist tried to re-create the conditions of early Earth in a test tube. Stanley Miller added a few simple ingredients thought to be swirling in ...

The earliest days of Earth held secrets that scientists are still trying to uncover. One of the greatest mysteries is how life began. A key part of the answer lies in a rare element: phosphorus. This ...

This model reveals how vastly different the atmosphere was on ancient Earth, and how life may have first emerged. The key to unlocking the secrets of distant planets starts right here on Earth.

A major impact can eradicate entire ecosystems. It can melt rocks, send debris around the planet, and create a dent in the crust. Additionally, the heat released from the object may provide an ...

Earth, a little over four billion years ago: The planet was still in its infancy, coming together just 500 million years prior. There was little to no oxygen. The surface — what little there was — was ...