Geophysics is the study of the forces that shape the Earth from a global perspective. Learn about gravity, plate tectonics and other topics.
In its purest form, it's odorless, nearly colorless and tasteless. It's in your body, the food you eat and the beverages you drink. All forms of life need it. What substance is more necessary to our existence than any other? Water. See more »
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.
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Fiery explosions, boiling lava, hot ash spewing everywhere -- total disaster probably is the first thing that comes to mind when you think "volcano." And, yes, that is certainly a possibility.
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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.
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Water is crucial to all life on Earth ... that's common knowledge, right? You might even be drinking water right now. But how much do you know about why we can't live without water -- or why it does the things it does?
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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?
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Gravity is a force that we experience every minute of our lives, but hardly notice or give a passing thought to in our daily routines. Have you ever wondered what gravity is and how it works? Learn about the force of gravity in this article.
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Few things have done as much harm to humanity as fire, and few things have done as much good. Find out where fire comes from and see why it behaves the way it does. The answers might surprise you!
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Geysers are beautiful and their eruptions are exciting, but these fragile natural wonders are not to be trifled with. The water shooting from the geyser -- and the eruptions themselves -- can cause serious damage.
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Glaciers carve out lakes, grind down mountains and pulverize rocks to dust. These massive ice slabs shape our Earth, but they may be disappearing.
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One iceberg sank the unsinkable Titanic, and another exploded in front of an expedition. These floating chunks of ice carry their bulk deceptively below the surface of the water. What else are they hiding?
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It's no secret that maps are handy. If you get lost, a map can help you find your way. Maps are representations of data that can describe nearly anything about the world. Find out how map data is gathered and how maps are made.
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The Earth is incredibly heavy. How do scientists determine the weight of the Earth?
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Even though it's tiny compared to the rest of the universe, the Earth is enormous, and it's extremely complex. Systems powered by the sun are able to sustain the various life forms living on Earth. Learn what ties all the parts of the Earth together.
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In its purest form, it's odorless, nearly colorless and tasteless. It's in your body, the food you eat and the beverages you drink. All forms of life need it. What substance is more necessary to our existence than any other? Water.
See more »
What are they? We'll give you a hint -- or four. Earth, wind, water and fire aren't among them, but our old friend and force gravity is.
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The United States has an abundant supply to clean drinking water available in homes and businesses. But what if that water turned out not to be so clean? And what about the water supply around the world?
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