Planet Earth

Earth is one big spinning mystery in a constant state of change. With more than 4.5 billion years of history locked inside a ball of molten rock and iron, our planet is made up of a vast array of geological wonders, carved by the oceans, shaped by the shifting plates beneath our feet and sculpted by weather across the surface. 

—50 interesting facts about Earth

—The deadliest natural disasters in history

—25 weirdest things on Google Earth

Our team of expert science writers and editors are here to reveal our planet’s secrets — from the deepest depths of the ocean, through the coldest places on Earth to the very edge of space — keeping you up to date with the latest discoveries with planet Earth news, articles and features. 

Explore Planet Earth

Editor's Picks

The Earth's layers arranged like a Russian nesting doll in outer space
Earth's rotating inner core is starting to slow down — and it could alter the length of our days 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.
An illustration of "The Last Oil Rig" on display in a futuristic setting
The 165-year reign of oil is coming to an end. But will we ever be able to live without it? Like whale blubber, oil as a dominant source of energy will gradually be phased out over the next decades. Here's what that transition may look like.
A research vessel in front of a massive iceberg
Giant river system that existed 40 million years ago discovered deep below Antarctic ice "There was this gigantic river system": Researchers find ancient lost world deep beneath Antarctic ice.

Latest about Planet Earth

An underwater picture of seagrass in the immortal seagrass meadow at Shark Bay.

Shark Bay: Home to Earth's largest plant — an immortal, self-cloning seagrass meadow stretching 112 miles

By Sascha Pare published

A 77-square-mile seagrass meadow at the bottom of Shark Bay in Western Australia is both Earth's largest plant and largest clone.

Plants
Hurricane Beryl as seen from the International Space Station on July 1, 2024.

'It's hard to communicate how unbelievable this is': Hurricane Beryl is the earliest Category 5 storm on record

By Ben Turner published

Unprecedented sea surface temperatures have driven the powerful storm to form early in the year, sowing catastrophe across the Caribbean.

Hurricanes
Toward the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, the International Space Station orbits about 259 miles (417 kilometers) above Trinidad and Tobago as Hurricane Sam churns in the Atlantic Ocean in the fall of 2021.

Hurricane season 2024: How long it lasts and what to expect

By Tia Ghose last updated

This guide to the Atlantic hurricane season of 2024, includes predictions, tropical storm science, naming conventions and storm safety tips.

Hurricanes
Dried and dessicated moss, Syntrichia caninervis, attached to dried rock in Hackberry Canyon of Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado, USA

Near-indestructible moss can survive gamma rays and liquid nitrogen

By Stephanie Pappas published

This little moss withstands deadly blasts of radiation, extreme cold and dehydration — and could probably survive on Mars.

Plants
An astronaut photo of a winding grenn-color river covered partly by shadows from canyon walls

Earth from space: Green River winds through radioactive 'labyrinth of shadows'

By Harry Baker published

This 2018 astronaut photo shows a striking section of the Green River as it winds through Utah's "Labyrinth Canyon." The canyon's steep walls cast long shadows that hide many secrets, including caves and abandoned uranium mines.

Geology
Aerial view of the Argyle diamond mine with exposed earth and infrastructure.

Argyle mine: Earth's treasure trove of pink diamonds born during a supercontinent's break up

By Sascha Pare published

During 37 years of operations, the now-closed Argyle mine produced more than 865 million carats (191 tons) of rough diamonds and 90% of the world's pink diamonds.

Geology
A lonely rider at Altay Mountains.

Boiling rocks from Earth's crust tore an ocean into Mongolia 410 million years ago

By Stephanie Pappas published

An ocean that opened up in what is now Mongolia 410 million years ago was created by a hot upwelling of rock known as a mantle plume.

Geology
A satellite photo of the Sahara showing colorful rock folds and salt flats that look like abstract art

Earth from space: Near-lifeless 'Land of Terror' looks like an alien landscape in the Sahara

By Harry Baker published

A 2017 satellite image of the Sahara's Tanezrouft Basin shows the abstract beauty in ancient rock folds and colorful salt flats that have been sculpted in this terrifying region over millions of years.

Geology
A rendering of Lucy

Human ancestor 'Lucy' was hairless, new research suggests. Here's why that matters.

By Stacy Keltner published

Lucy is popularly depicted as being hairy, but new evidence suggests she wasn't. The discovery prompts new questions about the history of nudity.

Evolution
A grainy black and white photo of an alleged loch ness monster sighting

'Loch ness monster' microbe stretches its neck to 30 times its body length in seconds

By Lars Fischer published

A microbe can grow a neck that is 30 times as long as its body in just a few seconds. Origami folding explains how

Microbiology
123456789Archives