TNRTB Classic: Strengthening Plate Tectonics

For nearly 4 billion years, plate tectonics has played a critical role in helping Earth maintain its liquid water. Consequently, any search for a genuinely habitable exoplanet should investigate what it takes for a planet to sustain plate tectonics for a comparable time. At least one study shows that a peculiar feature of Earth’s interior strengthens its plates and provides a malleable layer for those plates to move. Read more about the implications of this research here: “EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!”