Angle down icon An icon in the shape of a downward pointing corner. The Earth’s inner core is showing unusual behavior. Christoph Burgstedt/Getty Images Scientists have been debating what happens to the Earth’s inner core for years. A new study provides compelling evidence that the inner core has changed direction and is slowing down. The … Read more
One of the major questions that has occupied Earth scientists over the past decade is, “What’s going on down there?” Beneath your feet, some 3,400 miles deep, lies the Earth’s inner core. It’s nearly the size of the moon, as hot as the surface of the sun, and helps maintain the planet’s magnetic field, which … Read more
The planet’s last surviving mammoth population was killed off by a random and sudden mysterious event, a new study has found. The population, which was isolated from the rest of the world for 6,000 years on Wrangel Island in present-day far northern Russia, was previously believed slowly exterminated by genetic inbreeding. But a new study … Read more
More than 400 million years ago, an upwelling of hot rock from the Earth’s mantle caused the Earth’s crust in Mongolia to tear apart. This created an ocean that lasted for 115 million years. The geological history of this ocean could help researchers understand the Wilson cycles, or the process by which supercontinents break apart … Read more
A rare nova explosion will soon be visible in Earth’s night sky, according to NASA officials. The event, which could happen anytime between now and September, is causing a stir within the astronomy community as both professional and amateur astronomers will be able to see the explosion. “We’re certainly seeing a lot of excitement as … Read more
Large numbers of low-Earth orbit satellites like Starlink’s could threaten the planet’s ozone layer once they reenter the atmosphere, according to recent research. Constellations of small satellites deployed for purposes such as broadband coverage typically have a relatively short lifespan, reportedly around five years for Starlink, after which they reenter the atmosphere and burn up, … Read more
Our planet was born about 4.5 billion years ago. To understand this mind-bogglingly long history, we must study rocks and the minerals from which they are made. The oldest rocks in Australia, which are among the oldest on Earth, are found in the Murchison District of Western Australia, 700 kilometers north of Perth. They have … Read more
This article was reviewed according to Science fact checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source written by researcher(s) proofread OK! Dikes in Norway cut into older layered sandstone rocks. Credit: Cato Andersen/Mapillary, CC BY-SA × close to Dikes in Norway cut into older layered sandstone rocks. Credit: Cato Andersen/Mapillary, CC BY-SA Our planet was born about 4.5 … Read more
Dikes in Norway cut into older layered sandstone rocks. Credit: Cato Andersen/Mapillary, CC BY-SA Our planet was born about 4.5 billion years ago. To understand this mind-bogglingly long history, we must study rocks and the minerals from which they are made. The oldest rocks in Australia, which are among the oldest on Earth, are found … Read more
Thousands of satellites have been deployed in “mega constellations” to meet the growing need for global internet services, and many more are scheduled for launch soon. However, these compact satellites have a short operational life and are known to emit pollutants that can damage the ozone layer when they disintegrate upon re-entry. A recent study … Read more