![Masaya Volcano lava lake in Nicaragua | Matthew Scott](/sites/default/files/styles/banner_small/public/2024-05/20160327_DTM_MasayaLavaLake_MPS0263.jpg.webp?itok=cDqmRVwa)
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Earth & Planets Laboratory
Drawing on more than a century of science, our multidisciplinary department discovers exoplanets, creates new materials, illuminates Earth's inner workings, and seeks to better understand the universe that is our home.
![The sun shines on the horizon of Earth, as viewed from space.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-02/2024%20Image%20w%20Light%20%283%29.png?itok=QODjTQ3D)
Studying life’s chemical and physical evolution—from its pre-solar beginnings through planetary formation to the emergence of life on Earth.
![Chondrite](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/chondrite.jpg?itok=XuK6xtFy)
Studying the formation and early evolution of our Solar System, of meteorites and asteroids, and larger bodies like Mars, Mercury, and the Moon.
![A small silver bucket filled with what looks like glass is the result of a drop quench experiment.](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-03/Kara%20Brugman%20-%20Drop%20Quench%20-%20Glass-02_0.jpg?itok=taXMBy4g)
Uncovering the physical and chemical processes governing the evolution of planetary interiors.
![Green bacteria](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/Green.jpg?itok=Z6pIe9W-)
Drawing on expertise and equipment from a broad swath of plant biologists, cellular and molecular biologists, astrobiologists, geophysicists, and geochemists to answer fundamental questions about our planetary habitability and the origins of life.
![Extreme materials](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/materials.jpg?itok=h9MNTjij)
Utilizing experimental and theoretical approaches to understand fundamental chemical processes and interactions and to create new and advanced technological and energy-related materials.
![Diamond](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/diamond.jpg?itok=am2nmdrm)
Building a timeline of Earth and our Solar System’s early development.
![Volcano](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/lava_0.jpg?itok=-pegGGdA)
Revealing Earth's internal dynamics and the processes that give rise to earthquakes and eruptions.
![crystal](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/crystal.jpg?itok=iuFpzQ9K)
Investigating the origin and dynamic evolution of Earth and planetary interiors, from their crusts to their cores, and the processes that lead to surfaces capable of supporting life.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/proto-disk%20%281%29-880x528.jpg?itok=XPUy7M7X)
Piecing together the processes that shape a planetary system's formation and early evolution.
![Exoplanet](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/planet.jpg?itok=PXX1sMGG)
From discoveries in our Solar System to exploring distant worlds.
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![Emma Bullock Emma Bullock](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-07/2022_EPL_Headshot_EmmaBullock.jpg?itok=jWBVBekx)
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