New View of Early Earth: A Habitable Place

A new study concludes Earth had continents and oceans 4.3 billion years ago, which is just a geological eyeblink after the planet is thought to have formed, in the wake of the Sun's birth 4.6 billion years ago.

A separate study reported in May came to a similar conclusion, also suggesting that notions of a fiery, hellish planet back then have been overblown.