Overview

• The study by Penn State scientists suggests that the exposure of fresh rock to weathering around 3 billion years ago initiated crucial geological processes.
• These processes concentrated heat-producing elements like uranium in the shallow crust, which allowed deeper layers to cool and solidify.
• This cooling and solidification contributed to the formation of cratons, deep underground structures that help keep continents stable.
• Cratons, acting like a keel for continents, maintain landmasses at or near sea level, supporting life and geological stability over billions of years.
• Future research may involve drilling into ancient craton sites to further test and refine these groundbreaking findings.