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.
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.
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![An underwater picture of seagrass in the immortal seagrass meadow at Shark Bay.](jpg/wy3pawedtefmdmuqjgg6ej-320-80.jpg)
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.
![Hurricane Beryl as seen from the International Space Station on July 1, 2024.](jpg/3ayarurpvvkwrmjkxkfwkd-320-80.jpg)
'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.
![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.](jpg/f2bgt77qu7zdpsjhbrrssi-320-80.jpg)
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.
![Dried and dessicated moss, Syntrichia caninervis, attached to dried rock in Hackberry Canyon of Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado, USA](jpg/nkapp6b6hlohiqxh5bjwdw-320-80.jpg)
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.
![An astronaut photo of a winding grenn-color river covered partly by shadows from canyon walls](png/thxljpvsu5fdbcwcsatpaj-320-80.png)
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.
![Aerial view of the Argyle diamond mine with exposed earth and infrastructure.](jpg/8ipizd2xb6wk5taryz3aqv-320-80.jpg)
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.
![A lonely rider at Altay Mountains.](jpg/r4hcqjvkeixuqenxma9mrs-320-80.jpg)
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.
![A satellite photo of the Sahara showing colorful rock folds and salt flats that look like abstract art](jpg/wwyvmhkgfhl5xqueqhaqfe-320-80.jpg)
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.
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