Featured
How Famine Works
Famine might bring to mind historical tragedies or modern media coverage of tiny children with swollen bellies. But how does the unimaginable -- a widespread loss of food -- actually happen?
GEOPHYSICS
Geophysics is the study of the forces that shape the Earth from a global perspective. Learn about gravity, plate tectonics and other topics.
Stuff You Should Know
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Are the Earth's poles shifting in 2012?You've probably gotten accustomed to whatever little spot on this planet you call home. What would think if your hometown suddenly slid toward the South or North poles in 2012? Could pole shift play out any time soon? See more »
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Can we manufacture matter?
We humans love to create. We build soaring skyscrapers from the ground up. We fill blank canvasses with timeless, magnificent art. Can we achieve the ultimate feat and generate matter? See more »
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Could geothermal energy projects cause earthquakes?
What if we could just add water to something and solve the planet's energy crisis? That's essentially the idea behind artificial geothermal energy. But there's one possible catch: catastrophic earthquakes. See more »
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Everyday Science: Volcano Quiz
Fiery explosions, boiling lava, hot ash spewing everywhere -- total disaster is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think "volcano." And, yes, that is certainly a possibility. But do you know what’s really going on when a volcano erupts? See more »
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Everyday Science: Water Quiz
Water is quite arguably the most important substance on Earth. Its unique properties make it an incredibly versitile tool. Aside from fueling life, it's useful in cleaning, cooking and transportation, just to name a few things. See more »
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Exactly what happens if we run out of water?
On a planet that is 70 percent water, people don't have enough clean, safe water to drink. We're in a water crisis, and water rights are becoming a big issue. What happens if we just plain run out? See more »
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Fact or Fiction: The Ring of Fire Quiz
It burns, burns, burns ... No, this isn't a quiz about Johnny Cash. We're talking about the Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean: the volcano and earthquake center of the world. Test your seismic knowledge here. See more »
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How can a lake simply disappear?
A lake in South America has disappeared and has left scientists wondering where all the water went to. Is it possible that a lake can abruptly vanish? See more »
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How can parts of Canada be 'missing' gravity?
For more than 40 years, scientists have tried to figure out what's causing large parts of Canada to be 'missing' gravity. The force of gravity around Hudson Bay is lower than surrounding areas. Learn about two theories that may explain the phenomenon. See more »
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How did Lake Nyos suddenly kill 1,700 people?
One evening, people heard their local lake rumbling. A day and a half later, 1,700 people were dead. What happened on that fateful evening? See more »
