Planet Earth

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More than 50 earthquakes have shaken the ocean floor off the Oregon coast on Dec. 7 and 8, 2021.

Swarm of more than 55 earthquakes strikes off Oregon coast

By Stephanie Pappas published

More than 55 earthquakes have struck off the Oregon coast, but the swarm is not likely to trigger any danger to those on land.

Taiwan is currently fighting to contain an invasion of toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina).

Toxic cane toads are invading Taiwan. Conservationists race to contain warty amphibians.

By Harry Baker published

Taiwan is racing to contain an outbreak of invasive cane toads, which likely escaped from a black market breeder.

How It Works covers

Christmas sale: Read a free issue of How It Works magazine, plus save up to 57% on a subscription!

By Jeanna Bryner published

Our sister publication, How It Works, is the action-packed magazine that’s bursting with the answers to your curious questions.

A gold nugget

Gold: The rich element

By James S. Horton published

Reference Gold is a versatile and unique metal, here's how it forms and used today.

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green lens, black binoculars pictured at center of image with mountain scene in the background

Cyber Monday compact binocular deal saves 17% on Byakov 12x42s

By Morgan Bailee Boggess McCoy published

Deals Ideal for hunting, birdwatching, and more, this compact binoculars deal knocks $6 off the regular price!

Deals
Sunlit leaves, photosynthesis

What is photosynthesis?

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference Photosynthesis is the process used by plants, algae and certain bacteria to turn sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into food (sugars) and oxygen.

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Silfra hall between two tectonic plates in the Thingvellir, Iceland.

Scientists figure out what happens to Earth's disappearing crust

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published

Earth's outer shell is made of rocky rafts that dive beneath each other. The diving plates weaken, but do not break, according to a new study.

Beautiful hydrothermal vents, chimneys, and a large population of tubeworms seen on Dive 464, exploring the JaichaMaa' ja' ag vent field.

Wonderland of iridescent worms and hydrothermal vents found off Mexican coast

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The newfound hydrothermal vents are located off the coast of La Paz, Mexico.

The lowest part of Earth's atmosphere has been rising by 164 feet (50 meters) per decade since 1980.

Earth's lower atmosphere is expanding due to climate change

By Ben Turner published

The rate of atmospheric expansion has increased since the first measurements in the 1980s.

Researchers discovered the mineral davemaoite inside a diamond that was formed in Earth's mantle.

Diamond hauled from deep inside Earth holds never-before-seen mineral

By Harry Baker published

Researchers have discovered a new mineral from deep within Earth's mantle; it was trapped inside a diamond and brought to the surface.

An illustration of an extinct Glyptodon.

How would Earth be different if modern humans never existed?

By Patrick Pester published

Humanity shaped the world at the expense of many species, which were driven to extinction through our activities. How would Earth be different if modern humans never existed?

surgical mask floating in ocean water

28,000 tons of COVID-19 waste now swirling around in our oceans

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The pandemic intensified "pressure on this already out-of-control problem."

conceptual image of earth from space with only ocean visible

Earth's 1st continents arose hundreds of millions of years earlier than thought

By Nicoletta Lanese published

A new study hints at when and how Earth's first continents appeared.

The Bonin Islands are part of a geologic arc called Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc. The arc sits above the subduction zone, where the Pacific plate is slowly diving beneath the Philippine Sea Plate.

Deepest earthquake ever detected should have been impossible

By Stephanie Pappas published

Researchers have detected the deepest earthquake ever, 467 miles below the Earth's surface.

The first image collected by Landsat 9, on Oct. 31, 2021, shows remote coastal islands and inlets of the Kimberly region of Western Australia. In the top middle section of the image, the Mitchell River carves through sandstone, while to the left Bigge Island and the Coronation Islands stand out in the Indian Ocean.

Powerful Landsat 9 satellite beams home 1st photos of Earth

By Mike Wall published

Landsat 9's first photos show the Florida Panhandle, Detroit and its surrounding area, Navajo Country in northern Arizona, the high Himalayas and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Sunset on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

What's the most sunsets you could see on Earth in one day?

By Ashley P. Taylor published

Most people see only one sunset a day. How many more could you catch, if you really tried?

Monticello reservoir in South Carolina at sunset.

Strange earthquakes in South Carolina traced to man-made lake

By Stephanie Pappas published

Lake Monticello in South Carolina is causing a series of small earthquakes, the third time in its history that the man-made reservoir has created swarms of seismic activity.

The Atacama Desert.

Mysterious glass in the Atacama Desert may be from an ancient exploding comet

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published

An ancient comet may have burnt sand into mysterious pieces of twisted glass, according to a new study.

An amoeba under a microscope

What is an amoeba?

By Aparna Vidyasagar, Scott Dutfield published

Reference The term “amoeba” refers to simple eukaryotic organisms that move in a characteristic crawling fashion.

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ice stupas

Could artificial mini glaciers bring water to the driest, coldest places on Earth?

By Matteo Spagnolo published

Glaciers are not just spectacular indicators of climate change as they shrink and disappear due to global warming.