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.
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
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
Scientists Recently Realized That 1,240 Miles of Volcanoes Were Connected
Now the Cosgrove Volcano Track is the longest on Earth
Earth's Surface
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
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
Geologists Finally Explain New Jersey’s Strange Earthquake That Rocked the Northeast in April
A new study suggests the seismic energy traveled outward from a previously unmapped fault, emanating from the hypocenter in bouncing waves that shook distant areas
Slow-Motion Ripples in Earth’s Mantle Built Mysterious and Stunning Highland Landscapes, Study Finds
Following the break-up of an ancient supercontinent, waves propagated through the hot, rocky layer beneath the planet’s brittle crust and reshaped its surface over millions of years
Earth's Crust
‘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
An Undersea Volcano Near Oregon May Erupt in 2025, Scientists Predict. It Could Help Improve Eruption Forecasts
Axial Seamount doesn’t pose a threat to humans, but observing what happens before and after its potential eruption could help scientists learn about submerged volcanoes and strengthen predictions
Scientists Find the Mysterious Source of the Massive 1831 Volcanic Eruption That Cooled Earth and Made the Sun Appear Blue
The climate-altering eruption came from the Zavaritskii volcano on an uninhabited island in the Pacific that once hosted a Soviet submarine base, according to a new study
Will Yellowstone Erupt Soon? Scientists Are Using New Techniques to Find Out
Using magnetotellurics, researchers produced a detailed picture of the magma beneath Yellowstone, offering insights into a distant future of possible volcanic activity
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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
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
An Undersea Volcano Near Oregon May Erupt in 2025, Scientists Predict. It Could Help Improve Eruption Forecasts
Axial Seamount doesn’t pose a threat to humans, but observing what happens before and after its potential eruption could help scientists learn about submerged volcanoes and strengthen predictions
Scientists Find the Mysterious Source of the Massive 1831 Volcanic Eruption That Cooled Earth and Made the Sun Appear Blue
The climate-altering eruption came from the Zavaritskii volcano on an uninhabited island in the Pacific that once hosted a Soviet submarine base, according to a new study
Earth's Core
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
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
Largest Diamond Since 1905 Unearthed by Miners in Botswana
Volcanic eruptions long ago brought the 2,492-carat diamond—the latest in a string of stunning discoveries over the last decade—to the surface
Scientists Drill Deeper Into Earth’s Mantle Than Ever Before, Probing for the Origin of Life on Earth
The record-setting rock samples will provide insight into the chemical processes that may have kick-started life on our planet