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New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Earth

We know of no other planet like Earth. The Earth sciences, which include geology, hydrology and atmospheric science, have helped us uncover the 4.5-billion-year history of our home. Explore the mysteries of our planet and learn its diverse natural wonders with our expert coverage.

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Ocean thunderstorms generate the most intense lightning ever observed

An analysis of satellite observations has identified some extreme thunderstorms over the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Mexico with lightning flashes so frequent that the sky would appear continuously lit

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Lightning during volcanic eruptions may have sparked life on Earth

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The volcanic lightning that occurs within the ash clouds emitted during some volcanic eruptions could be a source of nitrogen

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Lithium mining looks set to reshape Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni salt flat

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Lithium mining looks set to reshape Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni salt flat
A crater on the Yamal Peninsula, northern Siberia

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Siberia’s mysterious exploding craters may be caused by hot gas

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World's first tunnel to a magma chamber could unleash unlimited energy

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World's first tunnel to a magma chamber could unleash unlimited energy

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Vast submerged area near Australia may once have hosted 500,000 people

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?Goleuadau?r Gogledd? ? Mathew Browne Wales, United Kingdom The title of this image, ?Goleuadau?r Gogledd,? translates to ?Northern Lights? in Welsh. Finding the accurate translation proved challenging, as this phrase isn?t commonly used in everyday conversations here in South Wales. Witnessing the aurora borealis this far south is a rare occurrence, and capturing it at an iconic location like Paxton?s Tower adds to its uniqueness. Paxton?s Tower, a hilltop folly with a history spanning over 200 years, overlooks the picturesque Carmarthenshire countryside. For over an hour, the horizon beyond the clouds emitted hues of green and pink. However, for a brief yet magical moment, the sky came alive with impressive pink pillars, visible to the naked eye

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See a dazzling collection of the year's best northern lights pictures

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A0XHR7 Fall colored trees reflected off Crawford Lake Ontario Canada

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We might officially enter the Anthropocene epoch in 2024

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China started drilling ultra-deep holes in 2023 in a hunt for oil

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PALMS instrument

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Dead spacecraft are seeding the upper atmosphere with metal

The stratosphere seems to be full of aluminium particles and other metals that come from spacecraft burning up in the atmosphere, and those particles could mess up polar clouds

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Volcano erupts on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula

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Iceland volcano: Watch the Fagradalsfjall eruption live

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2R0BH12 The Fra Mauro map, ca 1450 by the Venetian cartographer Fra Mauro

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The magnificent medieval map that made cartography into a science

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Popocatepetl near Mexico City

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Popocatépetl: Predicting Mexico's most dangerous volcano

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Cano Cristales (River of five colors), La Macarena, Meta, Colombia; Shutterstock ID 774676180; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

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Forget the Amazon – are these the most remarkable rivers in the world?

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