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Special Report
Journey to the Center of Earth
The slip of tectonic plates and the fiery eruptions of volcanoes are just the surface manifestations of the beating heart of our planet. Earth is composed of layers, each one playing a different role in protecting all life from solar storms, recycling the planet's crust and even changing our climate. The ground beneath our feet is a dynamic place that affects us every day.
We may marvel at mountains that tower above our heads or hold our breath when confronted with dizzying views of canyons, but none of that would be possible without the inner Earth. Join us as we peel back the layers of our planet, exploring what scientists know about our world and what mysteries remain.
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Smithsonian’s Kirk Johnson Steps Up to Be the Rock Star of Geology
The new PBS science series “Making North America” features the director of the National Museum of Natural History
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Surreal Photos Reveal the Otherworldly Insides of Gemstones
If you thought gems were beautiful to the naked eye, take a look at them under a microscope
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Scientists Recently Realized That 1,240 Miles of Volcanoes Were Connected
Now the Cosgrove Volcano Track is the longest on Earth
Earth's Surface
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Earth Is Getting Dimmer—and the Northern Hemisphere Is Losing Brightness Faster Than Scientists Expected
New research challenges the idea that the hemispheres’ matching brightness is a fundamental property of the planet
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The Secrets of How Life Began May Be Hidden Inside the World’s Oldest Rocks
Smithsonian researchers trekked to a remote site in northern Canada to collect four-billion-year-old rock samples that could unlock mysteries about Earth’s earliest history
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How Enormous Glaciers on the Frozen ‘Snowball Earth’ Might Have Bulldozed the Path to Complex Life on Our Planet
A new study suggests glaciers carved metals out from the Earth’s surface 700 million years ago, leading to chemical reactions in the oceans that set the stage for early animal evolution
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NASA Astronaut Shares Breathtaking Photos From the ISS, Featuring Galaxies and Glowing ‘Star Trails’
On his fourth flight, Don Pettit is once again sharing the art of astrophotography, capturing and posting pictures of Earth, satellites and space
Earth's Crust
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East Africa Might Break Off From the Continent Sooner Than Scientists Thought—and a New Ocean May Fill the Gap
A new study suggests that a rift in Kenya and Ethiopia has reached a critical stage in the split-up process, and that water may flood it in a few million years
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This Greek Volcano Seemed Quiet for 100,000 Years. Then It Erupted Again. Should Scientists Take a Second Look at ‘Extinct’ Volcanoes?
By reconstructing a 700,000-year history of Methana volcano, geologists found a prehistoric phase when it appeared inactive on the surface, despite magma building up below ground
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When Did the Earth’s Crust Start to Shift? Scientists Uncover Evidence of Plate Tectonics Happening 3.48 Billion Years Ago
A new study provides the oldest direct evidence of tectonic plate movement ever recorded
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‘Volcanic Unrest’ at Alaska’s Mount Spurr Suggests 50-50 Chance an Eruption Could Be Coming
Volcanologists are closely monitoring the 11,070-foot-tall stratovolcano, located roughly 75 miles from Anchorage, after a recent uptick in earthquakes
Featured story
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Inner Earth Is Teeming With Exotic Forms of Life
More than a mile below the surface, our planet supports diverse creatures that could give us clues about life across the solar system
Earth's Mantle
East Africa Might Break Off From the Continent Sooner Than Scientists Thought—and a New Ocean May Fill the Gap
A new study suggests that a rift in Kenya and Ethiopia has reached a critical stage in the split-up process, and that water may flood it in a few million years
When Did the Earth’s Crust Start to Shift? Scientists Uncover Evidence of Plate Tectonics Happening 3.48 Billion Years Ago
A new study provides the oldest direct evidence of tectonic plate movement ever recorded
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Oldest Known Impact Crater Discovered in Australia
The discovery bolsters the theory that meteorite impacts played an important role in Earth’s early geological history
‘Volcanic Unrest’ at Alaska’s Mount Spurr Suggests 50-50 Chance an Eruption Could Be Coming
Volcanologists are closely monitoring the 11,070-foot-tall stratovolcano, located roughly 75 miles from Anchorage, after a recent uptick in earthquakes
Earth's Core
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Earth’s Core Might Hold Dozens of Oceans Worth of Hydrogen, Hinting at the Origins of the Planet’s Vast Water Supply
Scientists have long debated whether most of Earth’s vital liquid was delivered via icy comets or was homemade
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A Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field Is Growing, but Scientists Say Not to Worry. Here’s a Look at What Shields Us From Space Weather
Our planet’s magnetosphere has seen dramatic shifts across its history—even total reversals—but this recent wrinkle doesn’t pose a threat to life
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Earth’s Inner Core Is Changing Shape, Study Finds, Indicating Even More Dynamic Shifts Deep Within Our Planet
Seismic wave data previously suggested the Earth’s hot inner core is slowing its spin. Now, researchers say it’s also deforming around the edges
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Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Is Shifting Toward Siberia and Raising Questions About Unusual Movement
Scientists released an update to a model that maps the ever-moving pole and has significant implications for navigation systems