The interiors of rocky planets and moons tend to be pretty hot compared with their surfaces. This heat, which can be caused by a number of sources — such as tidal stretching and compression, the ...

New research may have brought Earth and its inhospitable, "evil twin" even closer together. Today, Venus seems to lack the tectonic activity seen on Earth, but surface features like faults, folds and ...

Earth is a dynamic and constantly changing planet. From the formation of mountains and oceans to the eruption of volcanoes, the surface of our planet is in a constant state of flux. At the heart of ...

Vast, quasi-circular features on Venus's surface may reveal that the planet has ongoing tectonics, according to new research based on data gathered more than 30 years ago by NASA's Magellan mission.

Snapshots from six computer simulations illustrating the distinct tectonic regimes of terrestrial planets, including the newly discovered “episodic-squishy lid” regime. This framework provides a new ...

"We're not saying, and we can't say, that there's no life in Europa. What we're saying is that it's a harder proposition, ...

A newly discovered tectonic "regime" may explain why Earth has active plates while Venus remains stagnant. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how ...

A geologist has revealed intriguing insights into the volcanic activity on Mars. He proposes that Mars has significantly more diverse volcanism than previously realized, driven by an early form of ...

Scientists discovered Earth’s episodic squishy lid shows intermittent tectonic activity. (Image: Nature Communications (2025)) Scientists have discovered a surprising new way planets can recycle heat.

A newly identified tectonic "regime" may rewrite our understanding of how rocky worlds evolve, scientists report in a new study. The findings may help to explain why Earth became geologically vibrant ...