Earth's Systems

  1. Environment

    Explainer: All crude oil is not alike

    Crude oil comes in conventional and unconventional types.

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  2. Earth

    How Earth’s surface morphs

    Partly melted rock acts like grease to help huge masses of the planet’s surface slip up, around and down.

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  3. Climate

    Explainer: Why a tornado forms

    Tornadoes start with a thunderstorm. But they also require other ingredients, such as instability.

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  4. Climate

    Explainer: El Niño and La Niña

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  5. Chemistry

    Explainer: Ocean acidification

    Here’s why shellfish and other animals in the sea suffer when the ocean is forced to absorb too much carbon dioxide.

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  6. Climate

    Watching our seas rise

    Satellites, coral reefs, ancient Roman fishponds and sinking cities help us understand how humans are changing sea level.

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  7. Environment

    Ozone hits a new low

    Scientists discover a major thinning in the protective atmosphere over Arctic.

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  8. Earth

    Big rocks’ balancing acts

    Scientists study how balanced boulders resist falling over — and what that may say about earthquakes.

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  9. Earth

    Tsunami’s trek traced in the sky

    Scientists photograph atmospheric ripples that followed the March tsunami across the Pacific.

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  10. Climate

    Germy weather

    Bacteria high in the sky could be causing rain, snow and hail.

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  11. Animals

    Ants aweigh!

    In a flood, fire ants cling together to keep afloat.

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  12. Earth

    Ash blast

    Tiny particles ejected from a 2010 volcanic eruption pose big problems.

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