HowStuffWorks Newsletter
Earth Science covers all facets of how the earth works, from from volcanoes to the world's oceans.
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You've probably heard of the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, but do you know the difference?
You've probably heard of the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, but do you know the difference?
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
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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The Earth is unique in the solar system because its surface is made of moving plates, which may enable the very existence of life.
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.
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
EXXpedition founder Emily Penn will captain the 300, all-female crew in its first Round the World sailing voyage.
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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
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
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
Permafrost across the globe is rapidly melting. What could this mean for the future of the planet?
By Mark Mancini
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The world has only had time zones since the late 1800s. Some people think we should eliminate them and have just one universal time instead.
This white-hot metal not only makes beautiful jewelry, it's coveted for industrial, medical and military purposes too.
By Alia Hoyt
The U.S. is full of exceptional geological formations. But these five set the bar high as far as landmarks go.
By Mark Mancini
You can see these rocky formations in the Badlands of Nebraska, and they're as awe-inspiring as they are eerie.
By Mark Mancini
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Cross seas may looks super cool. But you never want to get caught up in the grid-patterned waves they generate.
Each year, Earth sees two equinoxes and two solstices. But how much do you actually know about these events? Take the quiz and find out!
By Alia Hoyt
If fettuccine rock exists on Mars, it would suggest the existence of microbial life there.
Water surrounds us, falling from the sky and pouring from faucets, and yet many of us never ask where it comes from. The answer stretches way back — before tides and thunderclouds to the big bang.
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To honor their prehistoric pasts, most U.S. states have designated official state fossils, ranging from trilobites to dinosaurs. Take our quiz to learn more!
By Mark Mancini
Caves are full of incredible geological formations, including stalagmites and stalactites. But you've probably never seen anything like cave popcorn before.
By Mark Mancini