Earth

In an exclusive podcast for astrobio.net, Dr. David Grinspoon, astrobiology curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, discusses our violent Earth. He explains why earthquakes, severe weather, and other aspects of the dynamic environment may be necessary for life to exist.

New research is helping scientists understand fundamental properties of the Earth, such as the spread of sea floors and melting of the outer core.

New research shows that the Earth's core is simultaneously melting and freezing due to the circulation of heat in our planet's mantle.

New research shows that the Earth's core is simultaneously melting and freezing due to the circulation of heat in our planet's mantle.

A new study is causing scientists to re-think the events that led to the end of a 'Snowball Earth' ice age some 600 million years ago.

New visualizations of the Earth from space provide a unique image of how the Earth has changed over the past 750 million years.

New visualizations of the Earth from space provide a unique image of how the Earth has changed over the past 750 million years.

Observations from ESA's GOCE satellite have provided the best ever map of Earth's gravity. The research could further our understanding of the Earth.

Observations from ESA's GOCE satellite have provided the best ever map of Earth's gravity. The research could further our understanding of the Earth.

The magnitude 8.9 earthquake in Japan was the result of thrust faulting between the Pacific and North American plates. The shift of mass made the Earth's rotation speed up by 1.6 microseconds.