Planet Earth

Planet Earth

Mother Earth, Gaia, the third rock from the Sun - whatever you call it, this 4.5 billion-year-old planet is the one that we and all known living creatures call home.

Today, Earth is spinning faster than usual, and scientists are baffled

Earth's spin has mysteriously been speeding up for years
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Fungi could be conscious. Here's what that means

New research on fungi suggests they could be demonstrating some form of intelligence, but not all experts are convinced.
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Mysterious 'surge' under Earth crust could reshape world map, study claims

The pulsing will eventually rip Africa apart and create a new ocean
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These common 'natural beauty' ingredients are harming the planet

Consumers are right to be sensitive about what they put on their skin, but an emphasis on using 'natural' ingredients could be misleading
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Nature like you've never seen it: 18 jaw-dropping aerial photos

Our planet, like you've never seen it before
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How does background radiation affect particle detectors?

The strange science of radioactive steel and sunken treasure
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Scientists have found what sounds eerily like Atlantis off Australia’s coast

Over half a million people may have lived in the lost landscapes north of Australia... before they were consumed by the ocean
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What would a fusion energy disaster look like?

A nuclear fusion disaster would be nothing like a nuclear fission disaster
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Yes, even a mild UK heatwave feels much worse than in the US. Here's why

Paddling pool? Check. Ice cream? Check. Sweat patches? Check, check.
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This year’s most powerful scientific experiments, in 14 images

The annual Wellcome Trust image award shortlist showcases the most powerful images of global health challenges
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Can humans live under the sea? This live experiment plans to find out

An advanced new research station is being developed to explore the potential for a human settlement under the ocean
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From 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina: 15 unforgettable photos of Earth from space

As its mission ends, we look back at Landsat 7's most stunning and revealing images – a visual record of a world in constant change
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If an advanced civilisation lived on Earth millions of years ago, would we be able to tell?

If an advanced civilisation lived on Earth millions of years ago, would we be able to tell?
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Does the deep sea have seasons?

A recent study has suggested that currents sweeping over the deep seabed are not steady and continuous, as previously thought
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Hurricanes are getting so bad, we need a new category, expert warns

Nature’s fiercest phenomena are getting even more ferocious
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End of the Universe: 4 ways our cosmic apocalypse could unfold

A supercollider may one day help us predict the fate of the Universe. Scientists will use it to find a hidden instability built into the fabric of existence… one that could destroy everything.
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Top 10 most dangerous roads in the world 2025

Fasten your seatbelts and hang on for dear life.
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A 100 ft 'mega tsunami' could hit the US at any moment. And that’s only the beginning

This could be the biggest disaster in US history, and it just got a whole lot worse
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What’s behind Siberia’s mysterious exploding craters?

Climate change might make these bizarre explosions more common
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6 brutal hurricanes could soon hit the US. Here's what that means

Deepening ocean heat, shifting Pacific patterns and atmospheric quirks are lining up to fuel a busy Atlantic storm season – and some of the fiercest hurricanes may strike late in the year
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A vast hidden energy source is lurking beneath the US

It could meet 10 per cent of the country’s energy demand
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You don’t have to go (completely) vegetarian to save Earth, claims study

Limiting ourselves to a small portion of pork or chicken per week would allow the world to eat a healthy and sustainable diet
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What's the craziest thing ever stolen?

From bull semen to a commercial airliner, it doesn't get much weirder than this
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28 major US cities are now sinking. Here's why 

The sinking cities are at risk of flooding, cracking and crumbling as some areas sink more quickly than others
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