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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Editor's Picks
Latest about Planet Earth
![The pieces of Libyan desert glass that formed the basis of the study.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kfk9BWDnjwXR7ZZqZGsUbM-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Strange yellow glass found in Libyan desert may have formed from lost meteor impact
By Elizaveta Kovaleva published
A strange type of glass that was discovered in 1933 in the Libyan desert may come from a meteorite, an analysis shows, but impact crater is still missing.
![Fiery Earth caused by Apocalypse or Global Warming.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs3RCKQcvHEkpEuWAeSo6o-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
How long will Earth exist?
By Donavyn Coffey published
Humans will likely die long before our planet does.
![image showing the international space station orbiting above the ocean](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qcJGuS2MirpPCdWXD5Xgi-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
What is Point Nemo, the remote, watery satellite graveyard where the ISS will go to die?
By Emma Bryce published
In the furthest, deepest reaches of the ocean, there is a watery graveyard where the world's satellites and space stations go to rest.
![An aerial view of the latest eruption of an underwater volcano near Iwo Jima.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nz3TJnVHFMbMu4xiQgVV9H-1200-80.png 1200w)
Japan's new volcanic island has erupted again — and the dramatic explosion was caught on camera
By Sascha Pare published
An underwater volcano that gave birth to a new island off Japan's Iwo Jima island has erupted again, sending huge plumes of ash and smoke into the sky in footage released by Japan's Coast Guard.
![A hyrdothermal vent spewing plumes of liquid into the water.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yDNRgEKMo64KN6VHPkcK4n-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Enormous hydrothermal vent field with ancient, 50-foot tall chimneys discovered near underwater volcano
By Sascha Pare published
A 2,000-foot-long hydrothermal field teeming with life and giant chimneys spouting boiling water has been discovered next to an underwater volcano off the coast of Ecuador.
![Psychadelic false-color image of a glacier](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pBRpfSEeUnvxHyoww9QjhG-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Trippy satellite map of North America's largest glacier shows off 'hidden lagoon' and other secrets
By Harry Baker published
NASA has revealed a new false-color image of Alaska's Malaspina Glacier that highlights several recent findings about the massive ice mass.
![A man standing infront of a projection of the ozone hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9f7CUJCZm3BWwNXpu2euNd-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Controversial study suggesting ozone hole isn't recovering is skewed by bad data, experts say
By Harry Baker published
A new paper claims that the ozone hole above Antarctica is getting deeper, suggesting that it is not healing as expected. However, other researchers say the study's results are misleading.
![A large iceberg in the ocean surrounded by clouds](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fyBnDf4gjNy74tudK5YrhZ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
World's biggest iceberg 3 times the size of New York City is finally escaping Antarctica after being trapped for almost 40 years
By Harry Baker published
The gigantic iceberg A23a, which broke off from Antarctica in 1986, is finally moving away from the icy continent after being stuck on the seafloor for decades.
![A map of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean showing the difference from average sea temperature recorded in October 2023.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3TLPpiitHdgWArJ96iNuk6-1200-80.png 1200w)
Big blob of hot water in Pacific may be making El Niño act weirdly
By Sascha Pare published
El Niño is in full swing and will likely remain "strong" this winter, but its effect on weather patterns in the U.S. depends on the behavior of an unusually warm blob in the western Pacific, experts say.
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