Search Results - Earth

Why We Kiss: A New and Intriguing Theory That Predates Human Life on Earth

Credit: Pixabay The Origins of Kissing Most of us kiss at some point, whether romantically, with family, friends, or formally. However, the origin of this behavior and how it emerged among humans remain subjects of intense debate among historians and anthropologists. A new theory suggests that the evolutionary loss of body hair could be at the...

Scientists Warn About the Troubling State of Earth’s Trees

Credit: Pixabay Introduction: Iconic Trees at Risk From towering coastal redwoods to ancient Wollemi pines and firs that adorn Christmas, even the planet’s most iconic plants are facing severe issues. However, the loss of certain species won’t just endanger local forests; it will threaten entire ecosystems, as recent research indicates. In 2021, a global assessment titled "State...

Watch: Earth’s Wobble Creates a Twilight Zone Shadow

The view from the ISS as it orbits over the termination line known as the twilight zoneNASA A daily photo taken from September 2023 to September 2024 offers an intriguing view of the twilight zone transition caused by the Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt during its orbit around the Sun. Without the Earth's axial tilt, we wouldn't...

Scientists Detect Hidden Structure In Earth’s Core

Credit: Depositfotos Earth's Complex History Beneath Our Feet While many of us take the ground beneath our feet for granted, it holds Earth's complex history within its layers, like pages of a book. Research suggests there are lesser-known chapters in that history, buried deep in Earth's past. In fact, Earth's inner core seems to have another,...

Earth’s Potential Ring System and Climate Impact 499 Million Years Ago

If Earth had a ring system 446 million years ago, it could provide an explanation for the impact craters found in the geological record. Additionally, it might shed light on an unusual climate event during that time.Image Credit: ANDREI SALAUYOU/max dallocco/Shutterstock.com, modified by IFLScience New research suggests that a ring formed around the Earth about...

A Nuclear Explosion Could Protect Earth From An Asteroid

Credit: Depositphotos Nuclear Explosions as a Defense Against Asteroids Precisely detonating a nuclear bomb above an approaching asteroid could be our best chance of avoiding a catastrophic impact.Precisely detonating a nuclear bomb above an approaching asteroid could be our best chance of avoiding a catastrophic impact. A laboratory experiment conducted by an international team of researchers showed...

Scientists Warn: Earth’s Oceans May Soon Become Too Acidic to Support Life

Credit: Pixabay A recent report from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) warns that the world's oceans are nearing a level of acidity that could jeopardize marine life and climate stability. The report outlines nine key factors essential for maintaining the planet's capacity to support life. Recent years have seen human activity push the...

X-rays May Help Divert Hazardous Asteroids Heading toward Earth

A new study demonstrates a possible way to deflect an Earthbound asteroidDepositphotos Asteroids pose a serious threat to Earth, as history has shown – just ask the dinosaurs. Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have now demonstrated a potential method for diverting a dangerous asteroid using X-rays. NASA's Current Defense Measures NASA has already taken proactive steps to...

A New Mini-Moon to Arrive in Earth’s Orbit Later This Month

Credit: Pixabay Step aside, Moon—Earth is about to gain a new natural satellite. This "mini-moon" will stay with us for the next two months, though it’s not its first visit, and it won’t be the last. This temporary mini-moon is actually a small asteroid, about 10 meters (33 feet) wide, officially named 2024 PT₅. Discovered just...

Earth May Have Had a Ring Like Saturn – and It Caused Havoc

An artist's impression of Earth with a ring – a phase suggested by new evidenceOliver Hull New Evidence of Earth's Potential Ring System Saturn's rings are famous, but new evidence suggests that Earth might have also had a ring at some point in its history. This ring would have caused significant impacts on the surface. We...