Planet Earth

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Diamonds

Diamonds: Formation, grading and other facts

By Andrew May published

Reference Diamonds are unique among gemstones, with intriguing physical properties and practical applications far beyond jewelry.

Reference
NOAA's GOES West satellite captured this stunning view of an explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga, on Jan. 15, 2022.

Huge Tonga underwater volcano eruption captured in stunning satellite video

By Tariq Malik published

A powerful underwater volcano eruption in Tonga on Saturday (Jan. 15) was captured as it happened in stunning satellite images.

NOAA's GOES West satellite captured the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga.

4-foot tsunami hits Tonga after explosive eruption of underwater volcano

By Jeanna Bryner published

A tsunami triggered by the explosive eruption of the underwater Tonga volcano in the Pacific Ocean slammed the shoreline of the Pacific nation Saturday (Jan. 15).

Sand sculptures decorate the shore by Lake Michigan at Tiscornia Park, with the North Pier Lighthouse in the background in St. Joseph, Michigan.

Weird sand 'chess pieces' dot Lake Michigan shore. Here's how they formed.

By Laura Geggel published

Here's the science behind the bizarre sand pillars that formed on the shores of Lake Michigan.

In this image captured Jan. 2 by the Landsat 8 satellite Mount Vesuvius is clearly visible through a circular hole in the clouds.

Striking satellite photo captures Mount Vesuvius peering through a hole in the clouds

By Harry Baker published

A satellite image captured by Landsat 8 shows Mount Vesuvius "peering" through an eerily circular hole in the clouds.

stalagmites and stalactites

How are stalactites and stalagmites formed?

By Laura Mears published

Reference These ancient cave decorations take thousands of years to appear, building up drip by painstaking drip

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Earth breathes in this cool animation by Markus Reichstein.

Earth inhales and exhales carbon in mesmerizing animation

By Stephanie Pappas published

A new animation of Earth shows vegetation taking up and releasing carbon in sync with the seasons.

The 'Gates of Hell' have been ablaze in the desert of Turkmenistan since 1971.

The 'Gates of Hell' may finally be closed, Turkmenistan's president announces

By Brandon Specktor published

Turkmenistan's president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ordered experts to close the 'Gates of Hell' - crater of burning natural gas in the Karakum desert

The skeleton of a man killed in a tsunami after the eruption of the Thera volcano is the first found in its archaeological context.

Remains of a man and dog trying to escape ancient tsunami found on Aegean coast

By Tom Metcalfe published

Archaeologists have unearthed the bones of a young man and a dog killed by an ancient tsunami along the Aegean coast.

Photo of Earth's atmosphere from the clouds.

How much water is in Earth's atmosphere?

By Joe Phelan published

Here's how much water is in Earth's atmosphere at any one time.

Geoengineering Earth climate

Geoengineering: Can we control the weather?

By Ailsa Harvey published

Reference Geoengineering is the use of technology to alter Earth's climate. This can take place on Earth or in space

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An artist's impression of the Hadean eon, when early Earth may have been struck by a renegard Mars-sized planet.

Weird structures near Earth's core may be scars from a primordial interplanetary collision

By Brandon Specktor published

A collision with a Mars-size planet 4.5 billion years ago may have left a permanent impact on our planet's deep mantle.

Trucks removing trees from a forest.

Deforestation: Facts, causes & effects

By Sarah Derouin published

Deforestation can include clearing the land for farming or livestock, or using the timber for fuel, construction or manufacturing.

Periodic Table of Elements.

Periodic Table of Elements

By Tim Sharp, Jeanna Bryner published

The Periodic Table, first created by Dmitri Mendeleev, organizes all of the known elements in an informative array.

A 3D rendering of Earth

Is Earth expanding or shrinking?

By Donavyn Coffey published

Do scientists know if Earth is shrinking or expanding, and if this difference over time will threaten life on our planet?

This image represents the new isotope, magnesium-18.

Scientists create never-before-seen isotope of magnesium

By Tom Metcalfe published

Scientists have just created the world's lightest form of magnesium — a never-before-seen isotope with just six neutrons in its atomic nuclei.

Aerial photograph of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. It is the largest rainforest in the world.

What are the largest rainforests in the world?

By Patrick Pester published

Rainforests are home to half of the world's plant and animal species. Here are the five largest rainforests in the world.

This artist's impressions shows what the the Spinosaurids would have looked like back in the day. Ceratosuchops inferodios in the foreground, Riparovenator milnerae in the background.

England museum scientists discover more than 550 new species in 2021

By Patrick Pester published

The Natural History Museum in London described more than 500 new species in 2021, including massive extinct dinosaurs and tiny shrimp-like crustaceans.

A photo of E.O. Wilson in his office at Harvard University.

Famed naturalist E.O. Wilson, 'Darwin's natural heir,' dies at 92

By Patrick Pester published

World leading naturalist E.O. Wilson has passed away at the age of 92. He was known as "Darwin’s natural heir" and the world's top authority on the study of ants.

images of bryozoans found deep beneath antarctic ice shelves

Unimaginable diversity of life discovered beneath Antarctic ice shelf

By Cameron Duke published