earth
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![An illustration of the solar system and the planet's orbits around the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FKSKQ5QRi4V7QGZX2gpeVW-320-80.jpg)
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.
![Fiery Earth caused by Apocalypse or Global Warming.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-320-80.jpg)
How long will Earth exist?
By Donavyn Coffey published
Humans will likely die long before our planet does.
![A picture of the sun with the new solar flare circled](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4wkyuVhjxssqsuUpzgrAM4-320-80.jpg)
'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.
![An artist's depiction of an intruder star disrupting an infant planetary system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ibgzYheR7BpEAdvNx5shQM-320-80.jpg)
A 'runaway star' could save Earth from extinction a billion years from now. Here's how.
By Abha Jain published
Earth will become too hot to handle in a billion years. There's a (very) remote chance a passing star could save us by knocking our planet back into the habitable zone.
![The NISAR satellite enters the thermal vacuum chamber at an ISRO facility in Bengaluru on Oct. 19. It emerged three weeks later having met all requirements of its performance under extreme temperatures and space-like vacuum.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hom5aHMHQ7j5cMYBe6umpQ-320-80.jpg)
NASA and India's debut climate satellite to launch in 2024. Here's what it'll do.
By Rahul Rao published
The NISAR satellite, a collaboration between NASA and India's space agency ISRO, will help scientists monitor how climate change is affecting Earth's varied landscapes.
![Close-up of a male astronaut in a space suit with a helmet looking up past the camera](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s7gAMDrQJQpFgAYYKkzQ6i-320-80.jpg)
Erectile dysfunction risk may rise on lengthy space missions, rat study reveals
By Emily Cooke published
Exposure to cosmic radiation and weightlessness in space could increase the risk of astronauts developing erectile dysfunction, according to research in rats.
![A close up image of the sunspots](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E88PFTNdFXBJD4FThTFM7k-320-80.jpg)
Enormous 'sunspot archipelago' 15 times wider than Earth could soon bombard us with solar flares
By Harry Baker published
A massive sunspot region made up of at least six different sunspot groups has emerged on the sun's nearside. The "archipelago" of dark patches is spitting out solar storms at an alarming rate and Earth will soon be in the firing line.
![A blurry image of a comet that appears to have two horns](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NKpnWpP4XPUhc5yDyNAAvS-320-80.jpg)
Volcanic 'devil comet' racing toward Earth resprouts its horns after erupting again
By Harry Baker published
The massive volcanic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which grows giant horns when it erupts, has exploded for a third time in five months as it continues to race toward the sun.
![A video clip of a plasma loop breaking off from the sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ojCEV7fhp9xKdrUot7jdva-320-80.gif)
Massive solar eruption carves 60,000-mile-long 'canyon of fire' into the sun on Halloween night
By Harry Baker published
A powerful explosion from the sun briefly opened up an enormous valley on the solar surface that was more than twice as wide as the contiguous U.S. and seven times longer than Earth.
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