Tectonic shift: Earth was already moving 3.5 billion years ago

Scientists have uncovered the oldest direct evidence yet that Earth’s tectonic plates were on the move 3.5 billion years ago. By analyzing magnetic fingerprints in ancient rocks, they reconstructed how parts of the planet slowly drifted and even rotated over time. This challenges long-standing ideas that early Earth may have had a rigid, unmoving surface. Instead, it suggests the planet was already dynamic—and possibly setting the stage for life—much earlier than expected. Yet one fundamental question has remained unresolved. When did these plates actually begin to move? Did Earth's outer shell start shifting soon after the planet formed 4.5 billion years ago, or did this process begin much later? A new study from Harv... [6164 chars]