Earth's Atmosphere | Live Science

Glaciers in modern-day Antarctica. The early oxygenation of Earth may have triggered ice ages that covered the surface of the Earth with glaciers like these.

Earth nearly lost all its oxygen 2.3 billion years ago

By Stephanie Pappas published 8 April 21

The permanent oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere took twice as long as previously believed and finally finished up to 100 million years later than expected.

The ozone hole (blue) can be seen here over Antarctica on Oct. 4, 2019.

Ozone Hole Over Antarctica Shrinks to Record-Small Size

By Jeanna Bryner published 22 October 19

The ozone hole over Antarctica has shrunk to its smallest size yet. Here's why.

What is the ionosphere? (And who is Steve?)

By Nicoletta Lanese published 15 July 19

A concentration of plasma in the Earth's atmosphere, called the ionosphere, interacts with solar winds, ultraviolet radiation and radio waves.

Mystery of Weird Sky-Glow Named 'STEVE' Finally Solved

By Mindy Weisberger published 26 April 19

Enigmatic STEVE is somewhat like an aurora...and somewhat different.

Bombing of a factory at Marienburg, Germany, on Oct. 9, 1943.

WWII Bombs Had Rippling Effect on the Edge of Space

By Megan Gannon published 26 September 18

The shock waves from Allied bombing raids during World War II briefly weakened the ionosphere.

A Solar Storm Is Coming Tonight — Here's Where You Might See the Aurora

By Rafi Letzter published 11 September 18

An alert released yesterday (Sept. 10) warns of a moderate geomagnetic storm that will lash the planet tonight. It shouldn't be dangerous, but might bring auroras.

Eerie Sky Glow Called 'Steve' Isn't an Aurora, Is 'Completely Unknown' to Science

By Brandon Specktor published 21 August 18

There is a beautiful mystery in the sky, and its name is Steve.

Ghostly 'Lightning' Waves Discovered Inside a Nuclear Reactor

By Marcus Woo published 18 May 18

Whistler waves are normally produced in the atmosphere by lightning. They could help protect nuclear fusion reactors from runaway electrons.

An enormous wildfire in British Columbia in the summer of 2017 sent huge plumes of smoke into the sky.

These 'Dirty' Thunderstorms Fill the Sky with As Much Smoke As a Volcanic Eruption

By Megan Gannon published 20 April 18

Wildfires can fuel "dirty" thunderstorms that fill the stratosphere with as much smoke as a volcanic eruption.

These Scientists Have a Wild Plan to Throw Salt into the Atmosphere. Here's Why.

By Laura Geggel published 27 March 18

Sprinkling large amounts of salt into the atmosphere could stave off climate change, a group of researchers has proposed.

The Hole in Earth's Ozone Layer Is Healing

By Calla Cofield published 8 January 18

Efforts to heal the hole in Earth's ozone layer over Antarctica appear to be paying off, according to a first-of-its-kind study that looked directly at ozone-destroying chemicals in the atmosphere.

NASA Goes for 'GOLD' to Scan the Border of Earth and Space

By Sarah Lewin published 5 January 18

A new NASA mission, the first to hitch a ride on a commercial communications satellite, will examine Earth's upper atmosphere to see how the boundary between Earth and space changes over time.

This composite image shows the progression of a total solar eclipse over Madras, Oregon, on Aug. 21, 2017.

Moon's Supersonic Shadow Created Waves During the Solar Eclipse

By Laura Geggel published 26 December 17

July Fourth Comes Early: NASA Sounding Rocket Releases Colorful Morning Cloud Show (Photos, Video)

By Doris Elin Salazar published 29 June 17

A NASA sounding rocket launched early this morning and lit up the skies over the U.S. East Coast with colorful clouds, ringing in an early July Fourth celebration.

Chicken Sandwich Takes One Giant Leap for Food-Kind

By Calla Cofield published 29 June 17

In what appears to be a historic first, a chicken sandwich was successfully carried to the edge of space today aboard a high-altitude balloon.

Artificial clouds should be visible shortly after 9 p.m. EDT on June 12 from New York to North Carolina if a NASA sounding rocket launches on time from the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

NASA Rocket to Create Colorful Artificial Clouds Over US East Coast Tonight (Watch Live)

By Mike Wall published 12 June 17

Ammonia Detected in Earth's Atmosphere for First Time

By Laura Geggel published 22 December 16

In an unexpected first, researchers have discovered ammonia in the troposphere, Earth's lowest atmospheric layer, a new study finds.

Radar echoes plotted over the course of two days show how the signal emerged at dawn, descended toward the ground, and then rose again over the course of the day.

Mystery of Bizarre Radar Echoes Solved, 50 Years Later

By Jeanna Bryner published 12 May 16

Weird radio echoes that appear at dawn every day over an observatory in Peru have long baffled scientists, until now.

Missing Electrons in the Atmosphere Possibly Found

By Tia Ghose published 29 December 15

The mysterious disappearance of electrons in the atmosphere could be caused by meteors burning up in the sky, new research suggests.

Whiffs of Antarctic Sulfur Hold Climate Clues

By Becky Oskin published 4 August 14

Huge wildfires sparked by a powerful El Niño event 16 years ago left a distinct tinge of sulfur in Antarctica's snow.