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This illustration shows an early Earth with plate tectonics.

Evidence of 'modern' plate tectonics dating to 2.5 billion years ago found in China

By Laura Geggel published

Earth scientists in China have found evidence of a subduction zone dating to 2.5 billion years ago.

The earthquake sent waves as high as 66 feet 5000 miles across the Pacific Ocean.

Scientists find evidence for biggest earthquake in human history

By Ben Turner published

The gigantic megaquake is matched only by the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in the same region.

The rock was found within the Mistastin impact crater in Labrador, Canada, shown here in this satellite image.

Massive meteorite impact created the hottest mantle rock ever

By Stephanie Pappas published

It's confirmed: The hottest rock ever discovered in Earth's crust really was super-hot.

True color satellite image of the Earth centered on Asia and Oceania.

Earth Day 2022: Everything you need to know about Earth Day

By Patrick Pester published

Earth Day is an annual global event on April 22 that celebrates Earth and raises public awareness about the environment.

An illustration of a torovirus, a type of RNA virus.

Thousands of new viruses discovered in the ocean

By Rachael Rettner published

More than 5,000 new virus species have been identified in the world's oceans, according to a new study.

A massive wave breaks.

What's the tallest wave ever recorded on Earth?

By Harry Baker published

In 1958, an earthquake in Alaska triggered the largest wave ever recorded on Earth, which reached a maximum height greater than the Empire State Building.

Maxar satellite imagery shows the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, where workers are being held hostage by Russian forces, on March 10, 2022.

Ukraine invasion's impacts on the world of science: Live updates

By Nicoletta Lanese, Brandon Specktor, Ben Turner, Jeanna Bryner published

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is being felt far and wide, from risks to nuclear power plants to impacts on science experiments to fear of a nuclear war.

Light pollution seen from Pic du Midi de Bigorre Observatory

Light pollution: Environmental impact, health risks and facts

By Scott Dutfield published

Reference Discover the facts about light pollution and its impact on the environment and our health.

Reference
Amazon river

Amazon: Earth's mightiest river

By Traci Pedersen published

Reference The Amazon River is a massive, intricate water system. It is by far the largest river on Earth in terms of volume and width.

Reference
Lightning strikes light up the sky in Montevideo, Uruguay on Feb. 20, 2022.

What's the longest lightning bolt ever recorded?

By Emma Bryce published

Lightning is one of the greatest natural forces on our planet. New mapping tools are revealing just how big it is.

Researchers suspect that Earth's core holds a vast reservoir of the rare gas, helium-3.

Rare primordial gas may be leaking out of Earth's core

By Laura Geggel published

A vast reservoir of the rare gas helium-3 may be hanging out in Earth's metallic core.

The lake sediments provide more information about what the climate in the East Settlement was like.

Drought helped push the Vikings out of Greenland, new study finds

By Owen Jarus published

Drought might have played a major role in the abandonment of the Eastern Settlement of Vikings around 1450, new research finds.

Image of a glacier in Jasper National Park in Canada that has retreated very far.

What is climate change, and how is it affecting Earth?

By Stephanie Pappas published

Climate change is real and humans are causing it.

A panorama from the highest point in the city of Sanya in the Hainan Province, China. Юлия Моисеенко via Getty Images

What countries and cities will disappear due to rising sea levels?

By Joe Phelan published

What cities, states and countries are most at risk from rising sea levels? What can they do to protect themselves?

This Sentinel-1A satellite image shows the C-38 iceberg on March 17, 2022. The iceberg broke off from the Conger Ice Shelf.

Sudden collapse of Antarctic ice shelf could be sign of things to come

By Cameron Duke published

A massive Antarctic ice shelf that covered an area about the size of New York City or Rome just collapsed into the ocean.

Supporters of the Fridays for Future climate action movement march as part of a global climate strike on March 25 in Berlin, Germany. The movement is calling particular attention to the current Russian war in Ukraine, warning that the war is distracting world leaders from achieving climate goals and highlights the need for a faster global reduction in fossil fuel dependence.

In global climate strike, youth demand action worldwide

By Mindy Weisberger published

On March 25, thousands of young people around the world mobilized to demand government action to curb climate change.

Molecular machinery, like this light-harvesting complex from a bacterium, is often strikingly symmetrical.

'Informational simplicity' may explain why nature favors symmetry

By Cameron Duke published

Symmetry is so common in biology because life favors simple structures over complex ones.

A geyser erupts in Yellowstone National Park. It is supplied with water superheated by magma in underground fluid pathways.

Secrets of 'mystery sandwich' beneath Yellowstone revealed in new map

By Harry Baker published

Researchers using a giant electromagnet suspended from a helicopter have created a detailed map of the hydrothermal system underneath Yellowstone National Park for the first time.

An illustration of plastic-eating bacteria

Plastic-eating bacteria: Genetic engineering and environmental impact

By Scott Dutfield published

Reference Plastic-eating bacteria could have a massive impact on our environmental plastic problem.

Reference
The circular structure seen in Google Earth images off the coast of Peru is raising cries of "UFO."

Odd circular shape beneath the ocean in Google Earth images is probably not aliens

By Stephanie Pappas published

A weird circular shape on Google Earth has ocean-floor UFO hunters crying "alien."