Planet Earth

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winter

Winter: The coldest season

By Nola Taylor Redd published

Reference Winter, the coldest season of the year, comes between autumn and spring. It is associated with plunging temperatures and icy weather, but its impact and timing change according to location.

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A church in Yakutsk, Siberia.

What is the coldest city in the world?

By Joe Phelan published

The coldest city in the world is in Siberia. Here's why it's so cold there.

A gold nugget

Gold: Facts, history and uses of the most malleable chemical element

By Stephanie Pappas published

Here's a look at the chemical element gold, including its properties, atomic structure and history.

The deadliest natural disasters cause widespread destruction

10 of the deadliest natural disasters in history

By Stephanie Pappas, Tiffany Means published

Reference Reminding us how powerful Mother Nature is.

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Volcano erupting

Volcano facts and types of volcanoes

By Mary Bagley, Jonathan Gordon published

Reference A volcano is an opening in Earth's crust where magma breaks through and when erupting can rain down molten rock, ash and gases. There are several types of volcanoes.

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Vector graphic of the land mass of the supercontinent Pangaea_Rainer Lesniewski via Getty Images

Pangaea: Facts about an ancient supercontinent

By Tia Ghose, Laura Geggel published

Reference Here's how Panagea formed and what it was like from about 320 million to 195 million years ago.

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A satellite image of massive 7-story waves crashing into the Portuguese coast near Nazaré on Oct. 29 2020.

Stunning satellite image shows immense power of monster 7-story waves in Portugal

By Harry Baker published

An 18-year-old surfer rode a record-breaking 101-foot-wave on the day this image was taken.

This 3D rendering of Earth shows Japan, under which lurks the Kumano Pluton.

Mountain-sized chunk of rock hiding under Japan is channeling earthquakes

By Stephanie Pappas published

A mountain-sized chunk of volcanic rock under Japan is changing the way that tectonic plates subduct and may be channeling the direction of earthquakes.

Waves crashed over Newhaven Harbor wall in Newhaven, southern England on Feb. 18, as Storm Eunice brought high winds across the country. Powerful storms such as this are becoming more frequent due to human induced climate change.

Humanity faces 'grave and mounting threat' of climate change — unless we act, IPCC report reveals

By Mindy Weisberger published

Humans are reeling under climate disruption, and there's worse to come, scientists warn in the latest UN climate assessment.

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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The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, shown here after the explosion on April 26, 1986, is at risk from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

What would happen if Russia bombed Chernobyl?

By Ashley Hamer published

Russian troops have captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which still contains nuclear waste that could pose a threat to the surrounding area.

Ukrainian servicemen ride on tanks towards the front line to engage with Russian forces in the Lugansk region of Ukraine, on Feb. 25.

Ukrainian scientists leave international climate report committee, amid safety fears

By Mindy Weisberger published

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led top Ukrainian scientists to withdraw from final approvals of a landmark climate report.

An aerial view of damage to Sukuiso, Japan, a week after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area in March, 2011. Also this isn't likely to happen on the East Coast, it's not inconceivable.

Japan earthquake & tsunami of 2011: Facts and information

By Becky Oskin published

Facts and information about the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan.

The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert.

The Sahara: Earth's largest hot desert

By Rachel Ross published

Reference The Sahara desert is the largest hot desert in the world, covering nearly all of northern Africa.

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The new study by a group of astrophysicists suggests that planets can become intelligent if they reach certain criteria.

Scientists say planetary intelligence is real, but Earth doesn't qualify yet

By Harry Baker published

A new study exploring planetary intelligence has revealed the key steps planets, including Earth, must take to become fully intelligent.

video clip shows the height of the volcanic plume generated by an underwater volcano called Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai

Tonga underwater volcano eruption shattered two records

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The eruption triggered nearly 590,000 lightning strikes.

Mysterious new substance possibly discovered inside Earth's core

By Ben Turner published

Scientists recreated core behavior using powerful computer simulations.

Storm waves smashed against the breakwater and lighthouse in Newhaven, England as Storm Eunice made landfall.

Record-breaking winds blast Europe in the worst storm in decades

By Ben Turner published

Although the storm is severe, scientists caution against linking it with climate change.

mount etna

Mount Etna is erupting and astronauts are watching it from space

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Sicilian volcano is 'smoking' and 'spitting lava,' one astronaut reports.

A recent slowdown in the melting of Iceland’s glaciers is likely caused by a patch of unusually cold water in the North Atlantic Ocean, known as the "Blue Blob," "according to a new study.

Unusually cold 'Blue Blob' is slowing the rapid melting of Iceland's glaciers, but not for long

By Harry Baker published

A new study into a cold patch of the Arctic, known as the "Blue Blob," has shown that it is slowing the rate Iceland's glaciers are melting, but only for a few more decades.