Earth science
Jimi Hendrix called it the 'Third Stone from the Sun', James Lovelock knows it as Gaia, and to us it is our home, planet Earth. The atmosphere is a relatively thin blanket of gas, held in place by the Earth's gravity. Earth science is the study of rocks and minerals in the Earth's crust and plate tectonics looks at how movements of crust cause earthquakes and volcanoes. The 'Blue Marble' photo taken by Apollo 17 is sometimes credited for starting the modern conservation movement, because it underlines how isolated and fragile our planet is.

Spring equinox 2024: What and when is it?

Time to shrug off the winter cobwebs and finally start venturing outside again.
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Top 10 biggest earthquakes ever recorded

Earthquakes are one of the most deadly natural disasters. Here are the worst humans have witnessed so far.
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The real reason we have leap years – and how they’ll change in future

Leap years of the near future could be seriously weird. Here’s why.
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Top 10 largest rainforests in the world 2024

Rainforests are often referred to as the 'Lungs of the world'. But which is the biggest?
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Volcanoes across the globe are now erupting. Should we be worried?

With volcanic activity being reported everywhere from Iceland to Italy, should we be concerned that a catastrophic event is coming?
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Northern lights UK: The best ways to witness the auroras tonight

The northern lights could be visible over the UK, and wider parts of the world. Here’s how to see them.
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Chris Packham on the mind-blowing science of new BBC Earth series, and his TV legacy: ‘I’m not proud of anything!’

After conquering wildlife TV, presenter Chris Packham is taking on the planet in Earth, a BBC series that sheds new light on the history of our home. He talks us through the show’s biggest surprises – and getting pooped on by a giant condor.
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The 9 best science posters to brighten up your home in 2024

Kit out your house with these stylish science posters.
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Tornadoes: Everything you need to know

What is a tornado and how does it form? When is tornado season? And what are fire devils and snowspouts? All your questions, answered.
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How does soil store carbon?

It's made up of minerals, soil organic matter, living organisms, gas, and water, and plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle.
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Earth's magnetic field: Should we be worried about the poles flipping?

From time to time, the Earth's magnetic poles flip, leaving us without a protective magnetic field for up to centuries at a time.
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The thought experiment: What would happen if the ocean froze over?

Or maybe it should be what would happen if the ocean froze over again?
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The thought experiment: What if the Earth doubled in size?

Let's just say planet Earth is perfectly sized just as it is.
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How do ocean tides create magnetic fields?

Michael Faraday wondered if electrical conductors moving through magnetic fields might lead to a natural source of electricity- turns out it might.
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Why can’t we feel atmospheric pressure?

In the words of Queen and David Bowie: "Pressure pushing down on me, pressing down on you..."
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The Earth's magnetic field reverses more often – now we know why

New research proposes a link between plate tectonics and reversals of the Earth’s magnetic field.
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How to survive inside one of Earth’s deadliest volcanoes

Aldo Kane, former Royal Marine and expedition leader for BBC Two’s Expedition Volcano, describes his journey into Mount Nyiragongo, one of the most inhospitable places on the planet.
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