Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
24 results for "earth science"
NASA scientists discovered how Earth got the building blocks of life, and Jupiter played a starring role. New research reveals our planet's life-essential elements came from close to home, not deep space.
A groundbreaking space mission just launched to unlock the mysteries of how Earth protects itself from solar storms. Scientists will now get an unprecedented view of our planet's invisible magnetic defense system.
A groundbreaking space partnership launches this week to protect our planet from solar storms. The SMILE mission will help scientists predict dangerous space weather before it strikes.
Scientists are discovering minerals never before seen in nature by studying tiny flecks trapped inside diamonds from deep within Earth's mantle. These discoveries prove that material from our planet's surface travels hundreds of kilometers down and back up again in a continuous cycle.
NASA's Terra satellite captured a breathtaking view of autumn fog weaving through Victorian Alps valleys like nature's own artwork. The same weather patterns created a rare arch-shaped cloud stretching across Port Phillip Bay.
From the International Space Station, astronaut Chris Williams photographed our galaxy rising above a stunning natural light show created by Earth's own atmosphere. The rare shot shows airglow, a phenomenon where sunlight energizes atoms to create a soft, continuous glow around our planet.
Scientists discovered a global network of water trapped underground for up to 2.6 billion years that produces hydrogen and could support entire ecosystems we never knew existed. The finding doubles our estimates of where life might thrive on Earth and offers new hope for discovering life on Mars.
A new tool transforms weather data into moving animations that reveal how our planet breathes, showing temperature changes and pollution patterns as they happen across the globe. The daily maps help people see Earth's interconnected systems in action.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F4e%2F87%2F4e879c48-5def-43a6-97ae-c10bc4a66195%2Fearliest-plate-tectonics.jpg)
Scientists discovered evidence that Earth's tectonic plates were shifting 3.48 billion years ago, one billion years after our planet formed. This movement likely helped create the conditions that eventually made complex life possible.
Scientists have discovered a massive water reservoir trapped 700 kilometers beneath Earth's surface that could be larger than all our oceans combined. The finding challenges decades of assumptions about where our planet's water originally came from.
A major science organization is launching a digital series that shows how Earth science research translates into real solutions for communities worldwide. The series premiews in December 2026 and goes global in January 2027.
Scientists studying ancient rocks in Oman have discovered how Earth naturally locks away massive amounts of carbon dioxide for millions of years. The findings could reveal a hidden solution to understanding our planet's carbon cycle.
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking method to track Earth's vegetation health by calculating its "green center of mass," revealing an unexpected northward and eastward shift in global greenness. The discovery offers hope for understanding how our planet is adapting to environmental change.
NASA satellites captured a stunning natural phenomenon where winds created perfect spiraling clouds behind a volcanic island. The cosmic dance happens only when conditions are just right.
Scientists discovered Earth's magnetic field took up to 70,000 years to flip during one ancient reversal—seven times longer than expected. The finding helps us understand how our planet's protective shield has protected life through history.
Stanford researchers created the first global map of rare earthquakes that happen deep in Earth's mantle, not just the crust. The breakthrough could unlock secrets about how all earthquakes begin.
Scientists using a revolutionary technique discovered mysterious plate-like structures deep beneath the Pacific Ocean where nothing should exist. The finding could rewrite our understanding of how Earth's interior works and shapes our planet's surface.
Scientists discovered Earth's core contains enough hydrogen to equal 45 oceans of water, suggesting our planet formed with water already inside rather than getting it from comets. This breakthrough helps solve the mystery of where Earth's water really came from.
Scientists discovered Earth's core may contain up to 45 oceans' worth of hydrogen, making it the planet's largest water reservoir. This finding rewrites our understanding of how Earth got its water during the earliest days of planetary formation.
Geologists have finally explained how Wyoming's Green River carved through mountains instead of flowing around them. The discovery reveals how Earth's hidden forces shape the landscapes we see today.
Showing 20 of 24