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Gates of Hell: Turkmenistan's methane-fueled fire pit that has been burning since 1971
By Sascha Pare published
Geologists set Turkmenistan's Darvaza gas crater ablaze in 1971, thinking the fire would die down within a few weeks, but the pit is still burning 53 years later.
Giant river system that existed 40 million years ago discovered deep below Antarctic ice
By Kristel Tjandra published
"There was this gigantic river system": Researchers find ancient lost world deep beneath Antarctic ice.
50 interesting facts about Earth
By Stephanie Pappas, Robert Roy Britt, Ailsa Harvey last updated
Reference We've collected some of the most interesting and amazing facts about Earth
Gulf Stream's fate to be decided by climate 'tug-of-war'
By Ben Turner published
New research suggests that runoff from the Greenland Ice Sheet could prevent icebergs from disrupting key ocean currents. But some scientists have cautioned that other factors may be at play.
Earth's rotating inner core is starting to slow down — and it could alter the length of our days
By Harry Baker published
A new study confirms that Earth's inner core has been rotating more slowly than usual since 2010. This mysterious "backtracking" could also end up slightly altering the planet's overall rotation, lengthening our days.
Is Earth really getting too hot for people to survive?
By Scott Denning published
To assess risk from heat, scientists use the "wet bulb temperature," looking at the point where the human body isn't able to let enough heat out.
Huge earthquake 2,500 years ago rerouted the Ganges River, study suggests
By Sascha Pare published
A new study suggests an earthquake of estimated magnitude 7.5 or 8 shook the Indian subcontinent 2,500 years ago, changing the course of the Ganges.
14 of the deadliest natural disasters in history
By Stephanie Pappas, Tiffany Means last updated
Reference The world's deadliest natural disasters span more than 2,500 years of human history and include earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones.
Y chromosome is evolving faster than the X, primate study reveals
By Nicola Williams published
The male Y chromosome in humans is evolving faster than the X. Scientists have now discovered the same trend in six species of primate.
Earth from space: Trio of ringed ice caps look otherworldly on Russian Arctic islands
By Harry Baker published
This 2018 satellite photo of ice caps on the Arctic islands of Russia's Severnaya Zemlya archipelago highlights the beautiful concentric rings of color in the ice, which stand out against the islands' barren landscape.
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