Latest News About Earth
Astronauts face grip strength challenge in space and on Earth, scientists find
April 20, 2026
It turns out that living in space can have a lasting impact on how your brain works, researchers have found. Read more
Light pollution has brightened Earth by 16% since 2014, satellites find
April 9, 2026
But some regions are dimming due to energy-saving policies, wars and disasters. Read more
Best images of our planet and satellite captured by the Artemis II crew during their mission
April 7, 2026
A selection of images of Earth and the Moon captured during Artemis II. Read more
Space launches are changing the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere, studies warn.
March 8, 2026
Studies warn of ozone depletion, stratospheric heating and new metal aerosols from burning spacecraft. Read more
Ancient reversal of Earth’s magnetic field took an extraordinarily long time
March 3, 2026
These findings could have important implications for our understanding of Earth’s climate and evolutionary history. Read more
Snowball Earth's liquid seas dipped way below freezing
March 1, 2026
Iron isotopes show that salty seawater pockets beneath the ice were as cold as −15°C. Read more
Antarctica's 'gravity hole' reveals the evolution of Earth's deep interior
February 25, 2026
A dip in Earth's gravity field beneath Antarctica is helping scientists track deep-Earth changes. Read more
Too many satellites?
February 17, 2026
Earth’s orbit is on track for a catastrophe – but we can stop it. Read more
Earth orbit is getting crowded
February 10, 2026
Can this map of 1 million routes around our planet help prevent satellite collisions? Read more
Scientists propose surprising link between space weather and earthquakes
February 10, 2026
A new theoretical study explores how activity high above Earth could subtly influence processes deep within the planet’s crust. Read more
The way Earth's surface moves has a bigger impact on shifting the climate than we knew
February 7, 2026
New research reveals the source of this carbon – and the driving forces behind it – are far more complex than previously thought. Read more
How Earth's atmosphere and climate come together to create a polar vortex
January 28, 2026
To understand what Americans are experiencing with this winter blast, we need to look more than 20 miles above the surface of Earth Read more
Earthquake sensors can track space junk that crashes back to Earth
January 24, 2026
"Starlink satellites demise over the Pacific, but there is no way to actually check that out." Read more
Satellites help map Antarctica's subglacial surface like never before
January 15, 2026
Understanding Antarctica's topography beneath the ice is crucial to predicting ice loss and sea level rise. Read more
The US isn't prepared for a big solar storm, exercise finds
December 14, 2025
We need more satellites to keep tabs on incoming clouds of solar particles. Read more
Earth and solar system may have been shaped by nearby exploding star
December 11, 2025
A new explanation for the solar system's radioactive elements suggests Earth-like planets might be found orbiting up to 50 per cent of sun-like stars Read more
Earth's newfound 'episodic-squishy lid' may guide our search for habitable worlds
November 30, 2025
A newly discovered tectonic "regime" may explain why Earth has active plates while Venus remains stagnant. Read more
Scientists put moss on the outside of the International Space Station for 9 months — then kept it growing back on Earth
November 20, 2025
80% of the samples kept reproducing when returned to Earth. Read more
Scientists find a surprising twist in Earth's magnetic field
November 13, 2025
Simulations and satellite data reveal that Earth's magnetic field is more complex than scientists had thought. Read more
Will Earth have 2 moons orbiting it?
October 22, 2025
Astronomers explain the 'quasi-moon' Read more
Swarm reveals growing weak spot in Earth’s magnetic field
October 13, 2025
The weak region in Earth's magnetic field has expanded by an area nearly half the size of continental Europe since 2014. Read more
Scientists discover Earth's oldest impact crater in Australia
October 3, 2025
"This is a major breakthrough in understanding early Earth" Read more
Earth may not be so special after all, new study finds
September 25, 2025
Our solar system contain far less surface water than scientists once believed Read more
It came from outer space: Scientists solve decades-long mystery of the Silverpit Crater
September 23, 2025
"It is very rewarding to have finally found the silver bullet." Read more
Fascinating Facts About Earth
- If the sun were as tall as a typical front door, Earth would be the size of a nickel.
- Earth completes an orbit of the Sun every 365.25 days; this is where the 366th day of the leap year comes from, and we add it to keep yearly calendars consistent with our orbit around the sun.
- Earth is the only planet not named after a god or goddess.
- Earth is different from the other rocky planets because 70 percent of its surface is covered in oceans. Although most of the Earth’s surface is covered in oceans, water only makes up 0.13% of the total volume of the planet. Hence, if Earth was the size of a basketball, all the water in the world would amount to two teaspoons.
- Earth's atmosphere protects us from incoming meteoroids, most of which break up in our atmosphere before they can strike the surface as meteorites.
- The first being to orbit the Earth was Laika the dog in 1957. A few years later, dogs Belka and Strelka became the first creatures to return from space alive.
- Earth is the densest planet with a density of 5.52 grams per cubic centimeter. The density of water is 1 gram per cubic centimeter.
Missions
Ice, Clouds, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) (2018)
Mission to measure the height of a changing Earth
Soil Moisture Active Passive (2014)
Mission to provide soil moisture and freeze/thaw measurements
ISS-RapidScat (2014)
Mission to measure near-surface ocean wind speed and direction
Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) (2014)
Mission to study atmospheric carbon dioxide
Landsat 8 (2013)
Mission to monitor, understand and manage resources
Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment (ATTREX) (2013)
Mission to study moisture and chemical composition of upper atmosphere
Van Allen Probes (2012)
Mission to study Van Allen Radiation Belts around Earth
Suomi NPP (2011)
Mission to acquire land, ocean and atmospheric measurements
Glory (2011)
Mission to understand climate system
DISCOVER-AQ (2011)
Mission to measure difference in air quality in upper atmosphere and near surface
Aquarius (2011)
Mission to measure sea surface salinity
IceBridge (2009)
Mission to produce three-dimensional view of Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets
NOAA-N Prime (2009)
Mission to improve weather forecasting and monitor environmental events
ARCTAS (2008)
Mission to study effect of air pollution in the Arctic
CloudSat (2006)
Mission to study role of clouds and atmospheric aerosols in climate, weather and air quality regulation
Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) (2006)
Mission to study role of clouds and atmospheric aerosols in climate, weather and air quality regulation
SERVIR (2005)
Mission to provide monitoring, imaging and mapping data and geospatial information
NOAA-N (2005)
Mission to collect information about the atmosphere and environment
Aura (2004)
Mission to study chemistry and dynamics of the atmosphere
Ice, Clouds, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) (2003)
Mission to understand effect of atmosphere and climate change on polar masses
Aqua (2002)
Mission to collect a variety of global data sets from six observation instruments
Jason (2001)
Mission to continue study of ocean surface topography
Terra (1999)
Mission to collect observational data of Earth
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) (1997)
Mission to study rainfall for weather and climate research
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) (1991)
Mission to study role of upper atmosphere in varying climate
Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (1983)
Network of specialized communications satellites to provide communication services to NASA spacecraft
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) (1975)
Mission to help meteorologists predict local weather events
Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES) (1960)
Mission to provide operational climate data