Earth.com — Science, Climate, Environment and Nature News

Top Trending
Astronauts living in microgravity can experience changes in digestion and gut bacteria.
August 17, 2026
Why do astronauts get constipated in space? Scientists have a new clue
Glowing pahoehoe lava flow spreading across cooled black basalt at dusk. Credit: Shutterstock
August 17, 2026
Volcanoes deliver rock older than the continents
A printed atlas page shows the five Great Lakes in blue, with Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario labeled alongside cities including Detroit, Toronto, and Cleveland.
August 17, 2026
Scientists determine the Great Lakes are nonrenewable
Woman lying awake in bed with her hand covering her forehead.
August 17, 2026
Work stress may help explain exhaustion even after a full night’s sleep
Trending News
Woman speaking with a mental health professional during an assessment.
August 17, 2026
Early and late autism diagnoses may not describe the same condition
Two children lie side by side with the soles of their bare feet facing the camera.
August 17, 2026
The most ticklish parts of your body follow a surprising pattern
Higher-than-normal sea levels spread across the central and eastern Pacific on June 8, 2026, just days before El Niño was officially declared. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin
August 17, 2026
El Niño is growing stronger, and a satellite is watching it happen
The broad-cheeked Nocturnal-Sweat Bee (Megalopta genalis), the species studied here. Credit: Carmelo Lopez
August 17, 2026
A queen bee’s perfume tells her daughters whether to stay or leave
Orphaned grizzly cub, returned to the wild after rehabilitation. Credit: Alana Paterson
August 17, 2026
Rescued grizzly cubs struggle to survive after returning to the wild
A shopper considers a package of plant-based meat at a supermarket.
August 17, 2026
Meat eaters see plant-based meat as risky and poor value
A woman shelters beneath an umbrella on a hot, sunny day as extreme heat becomes more prolonged.
August 17, 2026
Hot days may last four hours longer as climate change intensifies
Industrial fishing vessels sort and transfer a large catch at sea.
August 17, 2026
Illegal fishing is booming despite decades of efforts to stop it

IMAGE OF THE DAY

August 17, 2026
Birth of the Milky Way revealed in a cosmic collision
A dwarf galaxy collides with the young Milky Way about 12 billion years ago in this artist’s concept. Credit: NASA, ESA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

EARTHPEDIA LATEST ARTICLES

What Exactly is Iron Ore?
What Exactly is Iron Ore?
The industrial era and the power of steel have vastly shaped our societies today. Iron ore is a big part of that. Maybe you're learning about the history of the region where you live.…
Read more...
The History of Earth in Exactly 2000 Words
The History of Earth in Exactly 2000 Words
Earth’s Magnetic Field: Origin, Structure, and Impact on Humanity
Earth’s Magnetic Field: Origin, Structure, and Impact on Humanity
A Beginner’s Guide to Mycology
A Beginner’s Guide to Mycology
Understanding Fungi: Characteristics and Function
Understanding Fungi: Characteristics and Function
Chimpanzees vs. Bonobos: What’s the Difference?
Chimpanzees vs. Bonobos: What’s the Difference?

LATEST NEWS

Taro fields spread across Hanalei Valley on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where the crop has deep cultural and agricultural importance across the Pacific.
August 17, 2026
Climate
Traditional knowledge is helping Pacific farms adapt to climate change
Pacific farmers are combining traditional knowledge with new farming methods to protect crops, conserve water, and reduce chemical use as the climate changes.
Read more...
A fin whale surfaces in the open ocean, sending a towering plume of spray into the air.
August 17, 2026
Animals
Blue and fin whales are returning to waters where whaling wiped them out
Blue whales and fin whales are appearing more often in the southeastern Atlantic, offering cautious signs of recovery after decades of commercial whaling.
Read more...
Reconstructed image of "Lucy "by John Gurche
August 16, 2026
Science
Sugar from fruit and honey helped the human brain evolve as much as meat did
Human brain evolution may owe as much to the consumption of fruit and honey as to meat, according to a new Analytical Review.
Read more...
Recycling food waste comes with a cost. Credit: Shutterstock
August 16, 2026
Environment
Recycling America’s food waste could slash emissions – but also bury microplastics in the soil
Composting and digesting the millions of tons of U.S. food waste would cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly but add microplastics into farm soils.
Read more...
Adult female dolphin 'shelling' to catch fish. Credit: UniSC
August 16, 2026
Animals
Rare footage shows dolphins using empty seashells as tools to catch fish, a skill called ‘shelling’
Video footage shows dolphins using empty seashells to catch fish and a calf potentially learning the hunting technique from its mother.
Read more...
New mountain horned dragon species, Acanthosaura syrax. Credit: ZooKeys
August 16, 2026
Animals
Newly-discovered dragon lizard named after a ‘Game of Thrones’ character
Scientists discovered a new yellow mountain horned dragon in Thailand and named it Acanthosaura syrax after a dragon from House of the Dragon.
Read more...
New coral species Laurinque elenya. Credit: ZooKeys
August 16, 2026
Earth Science
A newly discovered coral species is so genetically unique that scientists had to create an entirely new family to classify it
Scientists diving in Costa Rica found a new coral species, Laurinque elenya, that is so genetically distinct it required the creation of an entirely new family for its classification.
Read more...
Change in the clean water gap and the water demand: future periods (2021–2100, every 20 years) relative to the reference period (2005–2020). Credit: npj Clean Water
August 16, 2026
Environment
Two-thirds of the world’s population will soon have to contend with too little water or poor quality water
Water quality may worsen water scarcity, leaving billions without enough suitable water for homes, farms, factories and power.
Read more...
A woman wades through a neighborhood flooded by extreme weather.
August 16, 2026
Climate
Extreme weather is deadlier than many people realize
Many Americans underestimate the health risks of extreme weather, including flooding, wildfire smoke, drought, and extreme temperatures.
Read more...
Uranus appears as a pale blue-green world against the darkness of space. Credit: NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute
August 16, 2026
Space
Uranus and Neptune may not be what we thought
Scientists are rethinking Uranus and Neptune as new evidence suggests the so-called ice giants may contain far less ice than once believed.
Read more...
Baobab trees rise against the sunset in Madagascar, home to seven of the world’s nine known baobab species.
August 16, 2026
Plants
Baobab tree hidden for 100 years turns out to be its own species
DNA reveals that a Madagascar baobab tree mistaken for another species for more than 100 years is actually a distinct species.
Read more...
An older couple enjoys a walk together along a country path.
August 16, 2026
Science
People the same age become less alike in health as they get older
A new study finds that people the same age become increasingly different in their burden of chronic illness as they get older.
Read more...
Archaeopteryx fossil. Credit: Shutterstock
August 16, 2026
Animals
Scientists think they know how the first birds on Earth learned to fly
A computer model suggests Archaeopteryx may have used two or three powerful leaps to build enough speed for flight.
Read more...
A colorful illustration of human cells highlights the complex biological processes that change as the body ages.
August 16, 2026
Science
Scientists finally know what biological age clocks are measuring
Scientists reveal what biological age clocks are actually measuring and why different clocks can tell different stories about how the body is aging.
Read more...
A cement production facility stores and processes the raw materials used to make cement.
August 16, 2026
Environment
Cement plants could pull more carbon from the air than they release
Cement plants could become carbon-negative by combining electric kilns with direct air capture to pull CO2 from the atmosphere.
Read more...

WEEK'S TOP VIDEOS

Layered red sandstone mesa lit by low sunlight at sunset, with a natural rock arch in the foreground and purple storm clouds overhead. Credit: Shutterstock
August 17, 2026
Grand Canyon timeline rewritten by uranium dating
Study reveals how hair grays
August 10, 2026
Study reveals how hair grays
Coyotes live longer near more people
August 6, 2026
Coyotes live longer in areas with larger human populations
Fishing is draining nutrients from the ocean
August 5, 2026
Commercial fishing is draining vital nutrients from the ocean
Pets are absorbing household chemicals
July 30, 2026
Pets are absorbing household chemicals

WEEK'S TOP IMAGES

Ancient forces shaped Lake Michigan’s hidden islands
August 7, 2026
Ancient forces shaped Lake Michigan’s hidden islands
Why the Black Sea turns turquoise every summer
August 6, 2026
Why the Black Sea turns turquoise every summer
Washington wildfires blanket the Northwest in thick smoke
August 5, 2026
Washington wildfires blanket the Northwest in thick smoke
Hidden baby stars emerge in stunning Webb image
August 4, 2026
Hidden baby stars emerge in stunning Webb image
James Webb captures one of the universe's rarest optical illusions
August 3, 2026
James Webb captures one of the universe’s rarest optical illusions

Editor's Choice

Prehistoric rock wall painting seems to depict a dicynodont creature that went extinct 200 million years earlier. Credit: PLOS One
August 9, 2026
Prehistoric rock wall painting seems to depict a creature that went extinct 200 million years ago
Tiny red sea slug linked to a potential new species discovered in Havana, Cuba
August 9, 2026
Tiny red creature measuring just 0.16 inches was discovered by chance in Cuba, and 25 years later it is linked to the 2026 World Cup
Underwater AI companion robot can count a scuba diver's breaths from the bubbles alone. Credit: Junaed Sattar
August 9, 2026
Underwater robots can tell when divers are in trouble by watching their bubbles
Fani Maoré underwater volcano east of Mayotte where ancient mantle material was detected
August 9, 2026
A volcano that erupted near Mayotte in 2018 brought something extraordinary to the surface: a material from Earth’s birth 4.4 billion years ago
The Milky Way may have flipped on its side, called a "disk flip," and the Sun went along for the ride. Credit: Auriga Project
August 9, 2026
The Milky Way may have flipped on its side, and the Sun went along for the ride
Fluffy nets inspired by seaweed capture microplastics of all sizes
August 9, 2026
Fluffy nets inspired by seaweed capture microplastics of all sizes
What makes you a mosquito magnet? Scientists tested 450 people to find out
August 9, 2026
What makes you a mosquito magnet? Scientists tested 450 people to find out
Sheep grazing between solar panels at Volkswagen’s Września factory in Poland
August 9, 2026
About 100 sheep arrived at a massive Volkswagen solar plant, and their reason for being there has nothing to do with generating electricity

Must-see

Small-brained human relative, Homo naledi, braved terrifying Rising Star cave system to bury their dead females. Credit: eLife
Primitive cousin of modern humans braved terrifying cave crawls to honor their dead, upending the accepted theory of human evolution
Most people assume that only modern humans, Homo sapiens, bury and honor their dead in ritualistic ceremonies. Yet the oldest proposed burial ground on Earth belongs to Homo naledi, an extinct human cousin with…
Read more...
Climate change is making city life more unequal, study finds
Extreme heat is exposing a hidden divide in city life
Rising seas are drowning 84% of America’s coastal wetlands
Rising seas are drowning 84% of America’s coastal wetlands
Birds around the world build their songs from the same eight sounds
Birds around the world build their songs from the same eight sounds
Melting Arctic sea ice is quietly building its own clouds
Melting Arctic sea ice is quietly building its own clouds
Supermassive 'wandering' black hole found lurking at the edge of a galaxy for the first time ever. Credit: Robert David Stein
Wandering black hole found 30,000 light-years from its galaxy’s center

Most Viewed Videos

Microplastic research points to weaker bones
July 24, 2026
Microplastic research points to weaker bones
White House proposes largest science funding overhaul since 1945
July 24, 2026
White House proposes largest science funding overhaul since 1945
Cockroaches sailed the world on ancient ships
July 22, 2026
Cockroaches sailed the world on ancient ships
Extreme pressure forces gold to do the impossible
July 21, 2026
Extreme pressure forces gold to do the impossible
Cyclospora outbreak spreading across 34 states and counting
July 20, 2026
Cyclospora outbreak spreading across 34 states and counting

Trends of the week

Man reading on a laptop as research links conspiracy beliefs and unfairness.
August 8, 2026
How people interpret hardship may explain why some embrace conspiracy theories
Primate brains grew larger because of vision, not higher reasoning
August 8, 2026
Primate brains grew larger because of vision, not higher reasoning
Laser scans can pinpoint a tree’s weakest spot before pruning
August 8, 2026
Laser scans can pinpoint a tree’s weakest spot before pruning
Corroded radioactive waste barrel on the Atlantic seafloor beside deep-sea scientific equipment
August 8, 2026
Scientists descended more than 15,400 feet into the Atlantic and found more than 200,000 barrels of leaking radioactive waste
Your body chemistry decides which mosquitoes will target you
August 8, 2026
Your body chemistry decides which mosquitoes will target you
Tiny sensors may decide whether baby turtles are male or female
August 8, 2026
Tiny sensors may decide whether baby turtles are male or female
Tiny animals beneath our feet are quietly rebuilding forests
August 8, 2026
Tiny animals beneath our feet are quietly rebuilding forests
Scientists propose a new explanation for why our bodies age
August 8, 2026
New theory of aging challenges why we grow old
Why does your dog tilt its head Researchers have an answer
August 8, 2026
Thoughts became words: how a brain implant gave him back his life
Raccoon walking through a tropical forest, highlighting the rich diversity of Honduras mammals documented in a nationwide wildlife review.
August 7, 2026
Honduras just completed its first mammal inventory in nearly 30 years
Why does your dog tilt its head?
August 7, 2026
Why does your dog tilt its head? Researchers have an answer
Scientists think they've solved the mystery of why overconfidence evolved
August 7, 2026
Why are humans overly confident? A new evolutionary theory may explain it

More Earth

A gray wolf moves through falling snow, representing the modern carnivores that eventually rose to dominate after ancient predator groups disappeared.
Ancient predators vanished while modern carnivores took over
Climate shifts, not competition alone, helped shape the rise of modern carnivores as ancient hyaenodont predators disappeared.
Read more...
A young girl talks with an adult while sitting together at home.
Small words that children use can predict future mental health risks
A honey bee gathers pollen and nectar from a bright yellow flower, helping pollinate plants as it feeds.
World Honey Bee Day 2026: America’s bees are still in trouble
A teenager smiles while looking at her smartphone, reflecting how screen use has become a routine part of daily life.
Screen time may not be as bad for young brains as we thought
Floodwaters surround homes in a residential neighborhood, highlighting the widespread impact of major disasters.
Why some natural disasters get more global news coverage
Clouds drift above the mountains and coastal waters of Svalbard, where researchers traced marine salt and sugars high into the Arctic atmosphere.
Sugars from the ocean are reaching clouds high above the Arctic
News coming your way
The biggest news about our planet delivered to you each day
Subscribe
logo
About Us
Privacy Policy
Editorial Policy
Terms of Service
Site Map
Authors
EARTH.COM
News
Videos
Images
Take action
EARTH NEWS
Breaking News
Environment
Lifestyle
Animals
Plants
Earthsnap
Get the app
Privacy Policy
Terms of service
GET IN TOUCH
facebook icon
instagram icon
x icon
pinterest icon
Contact Us
© 2026 Earth.com
All rights reserved