Earth's mantle has a gooey layer we never knew about By Stephanie Pappas published 10 February 23 While the mantle is mostly solid, a layer about 93 miles (150 kilometers) down is melty, new research finds.
Why was the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria so deadly? By Ben Turner published 8 February 23 The Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria was so deadly because the region sits on a boundary between multiple tectonic plates, while soil and building conditions make strong earthquakes more likely to cause damage.
Fault lines: Facts about cracks in the Earth By Becky Oskin last updated 8 February 23 Faults in the Earth are categorized into three general groups based on the sense of slip, or movement, that occur along them during earthquakes.
17-pound meteorite found in Antarctica, likely hidden for millennia, is perfectly intact By Harry Baker published 2 February 23 On a recent expedition to Antarctica, researchers discovered five perfectly-preserved meteorites that have likely been hiding beneath the ice for thousands of years.
Ultra-rare 'rainbow clouds' light up the Arctic Circle like auroras in stunning new photos By Harry Baker published 31 January 23 Rare clouds that give off bright, multi-colored light like an aurora were recently spotted at multiple locations in the Arctic. But what causes them?
Tonga's massive volcanic eruption wiped out unique, never-before-seen life-forms By Ben Turner published 30 January 23 The island was destroyed by the same volcano that formed it seven years before.
Some carnivorous plants evolved to eat poop instead of bugs. And they're better off for it. By Harry Baker published 30 January 23 Former bug-eating plants, which evolved to feed on animal droppings instead, have a more nutritious diet than their carnivorous cousins, a new study finds.
What is a squall? By Donavyn Coffey published 30 January 23 There are different types of squalls, including a sudden windy cold front and a short-term burst of heavy snow and wind.
How big is the largest possible earthquake? By Stephanie Pappas published 30 January 23 The amount of energy released in an earthquake is controlled by how much of the crust breaks. The good news is, we're not likely to see a magnitude 10.
What are the effects of global warming? By Alina Bradford, Stephanie Pappas last updated 27 January 23 Reference The effects of global warming will be far-reaching and often devastating, scientists have warned.
The 20 largest recorded earthquakes in history By Tia Ghose published 27 January 23 A handful of regions around the world regularly unleash terrifyingly large earthquakes. Here are the 20 largest earthquakes on record.
50 amazing facts about Antarctica By Andrea Thompson last updated 27 January 23 Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest continent on the planet, and researchers are still discovering many of its secrets. Find out some of the most interesting facts about the southernmost continent.
Doomsday clock advances to 90 seconds to midnight — the closest to apocalypse it's ever been By Ben Turner published 24 January 23 Humanity faces greater existential threats than it did during the Cold War, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Widening chasm births Antarctic iceberg larger than Los Angeles By Tom Metcalfe published 24 January 23 The giant chasm on Antarctica's Brunt Ice Shelf has split and created a massive iceberg.
Are rainbows really arches? By Elizabeth Rayne published 23 January 23 If you have the right vantage point, a rainbow might look circular. Here's the science behind why some rainbows look like arches and others don't.
Is the Yellowstone supervolcano really 'due' for an eruption? By Joe Phelan published 21 January 23 Yellowstone's supervolcano last erupted 70,000 years ago. Will it erupt again anytime soon?
Bloom entombed in amber is the largest fossilized flower ever found By Jennifer Nalewicki published 17 January 23 The fossilized flower is the largest ever discovered.
Never-before-seen volcanic magma chamber discovered deep under Mediterranean, near Santorini By JoAnna Wendel published 16 January 23 Using a technique to study seismic waves, researchers revealed a previously unknown magma chamber underneath a the Kolumbo submarine volcano.
Why does lightning zigzag? By Tom Metcalfe published 14 January 23 The characteristic zigzag pattern of lightning is caused by a highly conductive form of oxygen that builds up as the bolt travels toward the ground.
'Pac-Man' microorganisms gobble down viruses like power pellets By JoAnna Wendel published 12 January 23 If these organisms are eating viruses in nature, it could change the way scientists think about global carbon cycling.
