Earth Science

Earth Science covers all facets of how the earth works, from from volcanoes to the world's oceans.

Topics to Explore

How the Terracotta Army Works

Nevada's Fly Geyser Is a Manmade Wonder

Where Have All the Aquanauts Gone? The Story of Sealab

Why Are Whales So Big?

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Velociraptor Alert: The Feathered Dinosaur Quiz

Birds are — quite literally — living dinosaurs. Our quiz will test your knowledge of the fluffy, downy and winged dinos of the bygone Mesozoic era, from little Microraptor to the enormous Yutyrannus.

By Mark Mancini Geology / Paleontology

The Stratosphere: Where Birds and Planes Fly and Bacteria Thrives

The stratosphere is the second-lowest level in Earth's atmosphere. It's a bastion of ozone gas and rapid winds, where clouds are scarce, but life endures.

By Mark Mancini Mar 18, 2020 Earth Science / Geophysics

7 Hot Facts About the Pacific Ring of Fire

The Pacific's Ring of Fire is a 25,000 mile long "ring" that's home to 75 percent of all the world's volcanic activity and 90 percent of the planet's earthquakes. So what makes this area so active?

By Mark Mancini Mar 9, 2020 Geology / Geologic Processes

Is Old Faithful Petering Out?

Since its discovery in 1870, the Wyoming cone geyser Old Faithful has wowed spectators with its predictable eruptions, but its eruptions are not quite as predictable or prodigious as they once were.

By Mark Mancini Mar 4, 2020 Earth Science / Geophysics

What Is an Ice Volcano?

Ice volcanoes form when it's freezing cold outside and choppy water is forced to erupt through a hole in the ice around a body of water, cascading down into the classic shape of a volcano.

By Jesslyn Shields Mar 3, 2020 Earth Science / Geophysics

River-bottom Bones: The Strange World of Underwater Fossil Hunting

Not all fossils are found on dry land. In fact some of the most fascinating fossil finds in history have been submerged for centuries.

By Mark Mancini Feb 7, 2020 Geology / Paleontology

What Will Earth Look Like in 500 Years?

"The 26th century" doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as "the 21st century" does. But that hasn't stopped us from imagining what our hometown planet will be like in a few hundred years. Any guesses?

By Robert Lamb Geology / Geologic Processes

Why Is the Tropic of Cancer Important?

You've probably heard of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, but do you know the difference?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jan 1, 2020 Earth Science / Geophysics

Why Is the Tropic of Capricorn Important?

You've probably heard of the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, but do you know the difference?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Dec 31, 2019 Earth Science / Geophysics

6 Stone-cold Facts About the Arctic Circle

The Arctic Circle is a region marked by frigid temperatures, strange sunlight and glaciers galore. And for hundreds of thousands of people, it's also home sweet home.

By Mark Mancini Dec 16, 2019 Earth Science / Geophysics

Who Was the World's First King?

This is not an easy question to answer, thanks to the mists of time. But historians have put forth several possibilities. An ancient tablet claims one king ruled for 28,000 years!

By Nathan Chandler Dec 12, 2019 Earth Science / Archaeology

It Takes a DJ: Healthy Reef Sounds May Lure Fish to Damaged Reefs

If it looks like a party is on, maybe they'll come back. Playing the sounds of a noisy, healthy coral reef can attract important fish species to devastated reef habitats.

By Jesslyn Shields Dec 11, 2019 Earth Science / Oceanography

Why Does the 'Dirty Dancing' Lake Keep Draining?

Mountain Lake in Virginia is best known for its starring role in 'Dirty Dancing.' But today, it's nothing more than a muddy pit that's all but dried up ... and geologists think they may know why.

By Stephanie Parker Dec 10, 2019 Geology / Geologic Processes

How the Ancient Land Blob Gondwana Became Today's Continents

Gondwana was a humongous landmass that persisted for 300 million years before it began to break up, forming all the continents in the modern Southern Hemisphere.

By Jesslyn Shields Nov 15, 2019 Geology / Geologic Processes

Plate Tectonics Puts Together the Puzzle of Earth's Shifting Crust

The Earth is unique in the solar system because its surface is made of moving plates, which may enable the very existence of life.

By Patrick J. Kiger Oct 24, 2019 Geology / Geologic Processes

Green or Blue? The Best Turquoise Is More Valuable Than Diamonds

Cultures all over the world have treasured turquoise for its color and rarity for thousands of years — from Native American jewelry and Aztec and Mesoamerican art to King Tutankhamun's death mask.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Oct 22, 2019 Geology / Minerals

The Anthropocene Epoch: Humans vs. the Earth

Many scientists believe that humans influence Earth at a rate so massive that a change to the geologic time scale is in order.

By Mark Mancini Sep 16, 2019 Geology / Geologic Processes

Female Citizen Scientists Set Sail to Tackle Ocean Plastic

EXXpedition founder Emily Penn will captain the 300, all-female crew in its first Round the World sailing voyage.

By Patty Rasmussen Sep 9, 2019 Earth Science / Oceanography

Cobalt: Essential for Batteries and Bright Blues

Cobalt is associated with the color blue, but it's so needed for rechargeable batteries that the U.S. put it on the list of minerals it can't live without.

By Dave Roos Aug 28, 2019 Geology / Minerals

There's a Rhino-shaped Cave in Washington State

It's perhaps one of the strangest fossils ever discovered. We'll explain how it came to be 15 million years ago, and how hikers found it in the '30s.

By Mark Mancini Aug 7, 2019 Geology / Paleontology

6 Tough Facts About Titanium

What's as strong as steel but half the weight; able to live in almost any body part and an important part of both airplanes and cake frosting? Would you believe, titanium?

By Dave Roos Aug 6, 2019 Geology / Minerals