Life Sprung From a “Stagnant Lid,” Not Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics involves the horizontal movement and interaction of large plates on Earth’s surface. New research indicates that mobile plate tectonics—thought to be necessary for the creation of a habitable planet—was not occurring on Earth 3.9 billion years ago. Credit: University of Rochester illustration / Michael OsadciwA study from the University of Rochester, using zircon crystals, found that plate tectonics was inactive during the period when life first appeared on Earth. Instead, a “stagnant lid” mechanism was…