Planet Earth
Earth is one big spinning mystery in a constant state of change. With more than 4.5 billion years of history locked inside a ball of molten rock and iron, our planet is made up of a vast array of geological wonders, carved by the oceans, shaped by the shifting plates beneath our feet and sculpted by weather across the surface.
Our team of expert science writers and editors are here to reveal our planet’s secrets — from the deepest depths of the ocean, through the coldest places on Earth to the very edge of space — keeping you up to date with the latest discoveries with planet Earth news, articles and features.
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Latest about Planet Earth
![Aerial view of the Argyle diamond mine with exposed earth and infrastructure.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8ipizD2xb6wK5taRyZ3aqV-320-80.jpg)
Argyle mine: Earth's treasure trove of pink diamonds born during a supercontinent's break up
By Sascha Pare published
During 37 years of operations, the now-closed Argyle mine produced more than 865 million carats (191 tons) of rough diamonds and 90% of the world's pink diamonds.
![A lonely rider at Altay Mountains.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R4hCqjVkeiXuQenXMa9MrS-320-80.jpg)
Boiling rocks from Earth's crust tore an ocean into Mongolia 410 million years ago
By Stephanie Pappas published
An ocean that opened up in what is now Mongolia 410 million years ago was created by a hot upwelling of rock known as a mantle plume.
![A satellite photo of the Sahara showing colorful rock folds and salt flats that look like abstract art](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWYVMhkgfHL5XqUEQHAQfe-320-80.jpg)
Earth from space: Near-lifeless 'Land of Terror' looks like an alien landscape in the Sahara
By Harry Baker published
A 2017 satellite image of the Sahara's Tanezrouft Basin shows the abstract beauty in ancient rock folds and colorful salt flats that have been sculpted in this terrifying region over millions of years.
![A rendering of Lucy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2StKjLopujbANRPZgrWHyP-320-80.jpg)
Human ancestor 'Lucy' was hairless, new research suggests. Here's why that matters.
By Stacy Keltner published
Lucy is popularly depicted as being hairy, but new evidence suggests she wasn't. The discovery prompts new questions about the history of nudity.
![A grainy black and white photo of an alleged loch ness monster sighting](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6igQoUToPxTwTBVYsUFkhS-320-80.jpg)
'Loch ness monster' microbe stretches its neck to 30 times its body length in seconds
By Lars Fischer published
A microbe can grow a neck that is 30 times as long as its body in just a few seconds. Origami folding explains how
![A picture of the Darvaza gas crater at night shows fire burning inside the crater.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5pCSAfXnCULyF9BifgXo2X-320-80.jpg)
Gates of Hell: Turkmenistan's methane-fueled fire pit that has been burning since 1971
By Sascha Pare published
Geologists set Turkmenistan's Darvaza gas crater ablaze in 1971, thinking the fire would die down within a few weeks, but the pit is still burning 53 years later.
![A research vessel in front of a massive iceberg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4hiz2MPrtVPJpqh8YuttG-320-80.jpg)
Giant river system that existed 40 million years ago discovered deep below Antarctic ice
By Kristel Tjandra published
"There was this gigantic river system": Researchers find ancient lost world deep beneath Antarctic ice.
![Facts about Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xm5tNGu2r7gT9WzeXqd8S9-320-80.jpg)
50 interesting facts about Earth
By Stephanie Pappas, Robert Roy Britt, Ailsa Harvey last updated
Reference We've collected some of the most interesting and amazing facts about Earth
![Icebergs float in Iluissat fjord in Greenland.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J24UpQ2jag3Q8sJAjFM7yU-320-80.jpg)
Gulf Stream's fate to be decided by climate 'tug-of-war'
By Ben Turner published
New research suggests that runoff from the Greenland Ice Sheet could prevent icebergs from disrupting key ocean currents. But some scientists have cautioned that other factors may be at play.
![The Earth's layers arranged like a Russian nesting doll in outer space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-320-80.jpg)
Earth's rotating inner core is starting to slow down — and it could alter the length of our days
By Harry Baker published
A new study confirms that Earth's inner core has been rotating more slowly than usual since 2010. This mysterious "backtracking" could also end up slightly altering the planet's overall rotation, lengthening our days.
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