earth
Latest about earth
Which planet is closest to Earth? (Hint: There's more than 1 right answer.)
By Harry Baker published
It may initially seem like a simple question, but determining which planet is closest to Earth is surprisingly tricky and can have multiple correct answers.
Columbia, Rodinia and Pangaea: A history of Earth's supercontinents
By Patrick Pester published
Scientists have identified three definitive supercontinents in Earth's history and predict the landmasses we live on today will come together again in the future.
Earth's intense gravity may rip space rocks apart, reducing the risk of 'planet killer' asteroids
By Abha Jain published
Earth and other terrestrial planets probably use their gravitational forces to tear apart asteroids ― but this creates more streams of smaller asteroids.
How many times has the sun traveled around the Milky Way?
By Harry Baker published
Our solar system has been orbiting the Milky Way's black hole heart for 4.6 billion years. But it is hard to pin down exactly how many trips around the galaxy our sun has made during that time.
What would happen if you drilled all the way through Earth?
By Hannah Loss published
Intense pressure and sweltering temperature would accompany a trip down through Earth's layers and out through the other side. However, this trip would be possible only in science fiction.
Barringer Crater may have been formed by a cosmic 'curveball,' asteroid simulations show
By Deepa Jain published
Asteroids with different spins and bonding strengths may be responsible for the vast variety of impact craters on Earth, including Arizona's Barringer Crater, new simulations show.
The 1st life in the universe could have formed seconds after the Big Bang
By Paul Sutter published
The first life-forms capable of evolution could have appeared just moments after the Big Bang, a physicist explains.
How many times has Earth orbited the sun?
By Harry Baker published
We worked out how many trips each of the solar system's eight planets has taken around the sun over the past 4.6 billion years.
How long will Earth exist?
By Donavyn Coffey published
Humans will likely die long before our planet does.
'Cannibal' solar explosion likely to hit Earth today, bringing strong geomagnetic storm and widespread auroras
By Harry Baker last updated
A recent solar explosion that almost reached "X-class" status has hurled a massive coronal mass ejection toward Earth, which will likely hit our planet and trigger a geomagnetic storm on Dec. 1.
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