Planet Earth

Planet Earth

Mother Earth, Gaia, the third rock from the Sun - whatever you call it, this 4.5 billion-year-old planet is the one that we and all known living creatures call home.

Inside the bizarre race to secure Earth’s nuclear tombs

With nuclear energy production increasing globally, the problem of what to do with the waste demands a solution. But where do you store something that stays dangerous for thousands of years?
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The 7 most expensive substances ever found on planet Earth

Silver, gold, platinum… palladium? Pah! When it comes to the really precious materials, you’d be surprised by what fetches the highest prices
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Scientists may have discovered a whole new type of life

A strange giant cylindrical lifeform might not be a fungus after all
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Something very strange is happening to tornadoes across the US. And scientists are baffled

After another explosive start to tornado season, twisters are cropping up in unexpected places – and the big picture isn’t looking any clearer
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A 'Bermuda Triangle of Space' has created a no-go region above Earth. Here's how

Above Earth, there is a void, a no-go zone that spacecraft enter at their own peril
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The 17 worst ideas of the 21st century (so far)

Sorry, Google Glass
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This bizarre spiked mammal is basically a real-life Pokemon

I choose you, lowland streaked tenrec
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How we're about to solve the world’s greatest archaeological puzzle

Artificial intelligence is helping archaeologists unlock Earth’s oldest secrets.
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Strange microscopic lightning may have kickstarted life on Earth

Tiny zaps of electricity may have provided the energy to form life as we know it.
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The 7 biggest ocean mysteries scientists can't explain

Weird noises, mysterious constructions and strange disappearances have left scientists scratching their heads. Here are seven phenomena we still can’t explain.
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The world's driest deserts are flooding, and it has scientists puzzled

These are usually the driest places on Earth. So why are they seeing so much rain, and what can we do about it?
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Could marine cloud brightening help us fight climate change?

Is the future of keeping Earth cool floating above us?
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What is Mexico's blue hole?

The world's deepest marine sinkhole is at least 420m deep but remains a mystery to scientists.
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Are we the only species to have been through a stone age?

Who is the originator of the stone tool? The evidence leaves a confusing mystery.
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The strange science of how fog forms

Fog occurs when air saturated with water vapour is cooled suddenly, and there are several different ways this can happen.
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This ‘internet of animals’ could unlock the secrets of nature’s greatest superpowers

Scientists are using electronic tags and satellites to track wild animals and build a data network.
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The hidden climate tipping point scientists worry most about

With collapsing ice sheets, loss of the Amazon rainforest, and melting permafrost, key parts of Earth’s climate system are in trouble.
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Here's how scientists are rewriting the origin story of Earth & life itself

Although key details are missing from the story of how our Solar System formed, recent discoveries are helping scientists fill in the blanks and understand how rare it is.
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8 incredible animals alive today that survived the dinosaurs

Meet the 'living fossils' that give us a glimpse into life in the distant past
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Top 10 biggest statues in the world

The tallest monuments found on planet Earth.
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How many countries are there in 2025?

Here's the surprisingly complex answer to the simple question.
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Top 10 largest countries in the world 2025

Listed by total area, these are the biggest countries on Earth in 2024.
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