This article was originally published with the title “ The Plastic Layer of the Earth's Mantle ” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 207 No. 1 (July 1962), p. 52 doi:10.1038 ...

New research shows iodine in Earth’s early atmosphere delayed the ozone layer’s stabilization, affecting life evolution.

Many parts of Earth are covered and protected by a layer of organisms called a biocrust. The layer acts as a skin for the Earth, protecting landscapes and reducing long-term damage. But climate ...