Latest News About Earth
Why the most valuable meteorites rarely make it to Earth
April 16, 2025
Meteorites are more than space debris: they’re time capsules of the early Solar System Read more
'Major disruption' has caused Arctic polar vortex to slide off North Pole
April 7, 2025
A sudden stratospheric warming event reversed the winds that make up the northern polar vortex Read more
Cosmic rays may be the elusive spark for lightning here on Earth
March 31, 2025
A new study suggests that showers of cosmic rays may be the missing link Read more
Two astronauts stuck in space for 9 months have returned to Earth
March 18, 2025
A planned eight-day mission turned into months aboard the International Space Station Read more
Study: Climate change will reduce the number of satellites that can safely orbit in space
March 10, 2025
Increasing emissions will reduce the atmosphere’s ability to burn up old space junk Read more
Scientists discover Earth's oldest impact crater in Australia
March 7, 2025
"This is a major breakthrough in understanding early Earth" Read more
Metal made in space lands on Earth
February 27, 2025
The sample was produced in ESA's Metal 3D Printer on the ISS and returned successfully Read more
Asteroid 2024 YR4’s odds of hitting Earth just got a lot smaller
February 20, 2025
New data dramatically shrank the odds that this asteroid will hit Earth, but astronomers will continue to study it Read more
Scientists accidentally discover Earth's inner core is less solid than expected
February 17, 2025
The new research could help us better understand our planet's thermal and magnetic fields Read more
Solar flares in May 2024 revealed Earth’s vulnerability to space weather
February 12, 2025
"The CMEs merged, amplifying one another, to create a major event" Read more
Asteroid fragments upend theory of how life on Earth bloomed
January 29, 2025
Samples from Bennu contain the chemical building blocks of life — but with a twist Read more
SEE FEB 20 ARTICLE FOR UPDATE: Astronomers discover 196-foot asteroid with 1-in-83 chance of hitting Earth
January 28, 2025
It will most likely be a close approaching rock that misses us. Read more
NASA scientists find new human-caused shifts in global water cycle
January 16, 2025
These shifts could have impacts on ecosystems and water management Read more
Saltwater to widely taint coastal groundwater by 2100
December 11, 2024
Intrusion of saltwater into coastal groundwater can make water there unusable, damage ecosystems, and corrode infrastructure Read more
Crops, forests responding to changing rainfall patterns
December 11, 2024
Earth’s rainy days are changing: They’re becoming less frequent, but more intense Read more
Geomagnetic storms cause “mass migrations” of satellites
December 11, 2024
Geomagnetic storms that create auroral displays can also affect satellite orbits and collision avoidance efforts Read more
Tiny asteroid detected hours before hitting Earth to become 4th 'imminent impactor' of 2024
December 3, 2024
The asteroid should create a harmless fireball over Siberia Read more
Did plate tectonics give rise to life?
November 8, 2024
Emerging evidence suggests that plate tectonics may have begun much earlier than previously thought Read more
'Crumb trails' of meteoroids could reveal potential 'planet-killer' comets years before they reach Earth
November 7, 2024
Comets that rarely swing past the sun could ram into our planet, but we could spot them using their "crumbs" Read more
'God of chaos' asteroid may be transformed by tremors and landslides during 2029 flyby of Earth
November 3, 2024
Our planet's gravity may trigger tremors and landslides that totally change the asteroid's surface Read more
A meteorite 100 times bigger than the dinosaur-killing space rock may have nourished early microbial life
November 2, 2024
On a young Earth, giant meteors might have been a harbinger of life, not death Read more
Earth's mantle is split into two halves thanks to supercontinent Pangaea
October 26, 2024
The mantle is split up into two domains that emerged when supercontinent Pangaea broke apart Read more
Are diamonds Earth’s best friend? Gem dust could cool the planet
October 17, 2024
Idea would cost trillions, but could avoid issues with other “geoengineering” schemes Read more
Mass extinctions on Earth can help us find alien life in the cosmos. Here's how
October 3, 2024
These events can either be a catastrophe or the best thing that has happened to our planet. 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