Planet Earth

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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists revealed the Doomsday Clock's new time on Jan. 20.

On the 'doorstep of doom': Doomsday Clock stands at 100 seconds to midnight

By Mindy Weisberger published

The hypothetical clock's hands mark our nearness to annihilation.

Earth seen from 1 million miles (1.6 million km) away. Global warming is the gradual heating of the planet's surface, oceans and atmosphere.

What is global warming?

By Stephanie Pappas published

Global warming is the gradual heating of Earth's surface, oceans and atmosphere.

The Enigma diamond, a 555.55 carat black diamond with 55 facets.

55-sided, 555-carat 'Enigma' black diamond (potentially from space) goes on sale

By Harry Baker published

The black diamond known as the "Enigma" will soon be sold at auction, but experts are unsure about the origins of the stunning gem.

The fossilized Florigerminis jurassica plant with a defined stem, bulbous fruit and fossilized flower bud (marked by the white arrow).

164 million-year-old plant fossil is the oldest example of a flowering bud

By Harry Baker published

Researchers in China have uncovered the oldest example of a fossilized flower bud ever.

Nuclear weapons, climate change and pandemics are global challenges; overcoming them requires unified actions by nations and world leaders.

Will the Doomsday Clock move forward or back? Watch live to find out

By Mindy Weisberger published

The Doomsday Clock debuted 75 years ago to highlight the threat of nuclear weapons to our survival as a species, a risk now accompanied by escalating climate change and global pandemics.

The remnants of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai island in Polynesia that was blasted apart by a powerful volcanic eruption on Jan. 15.

Ash from Tonga volcano eruption reaches record altitude but climate cooling unlikely

By Tereza Pultarova published

The volcanic eruption that destroyed a Polynesian island on Saturday injected ash into record altitude but won't cause any disruption to Earth's climate, experts said.

Nomuka island is covered in ash in this aerial photo taken after a massive volcanic eruption.

Dramatic photos show horrific aftermath of massive Tonga eruption and tsunami

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published

New aerial photos show a blanket of dust and ash covering the Pacific nation of Tonga following a massive underwater volcanic eruption.

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

Reference
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

Reference
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.