The study of Earth’s systems, including its physical structure, natural processes, and interactions between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Earth sciences investigate phenomena such as weather, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions to understand our planet’s past, present, and future.
A global analysis of satellite gravity data shows that El Niño and La Niña have been the dominant drivers of drought and flood extremes worldwide over the past two decades, synchronizing wet and dry conditions across continents.
Direct observations from two Chinese megacities show that urban air holds vast numbers of microplastic and nanoplastic particles, placing the atmosphere at the center of the global plastic cycle rather than its margins.
A second fragment of the Al Khor meteorite was recovered in northern Qatar after a four-month search effort, with the discovery announced on January 11, 2026. The find was confirmed by Sheikh Salman bin Jabor al-Thani, head of the Qatar Astronomical Centre, who announced the recovery on his X account.
They were supposed to be some of the cleanest places on Earth — yet inside NASA’s spacecraft assembly cleanrooms, scientists have discovered 26 previously unknown bacterial species, organisms that not only survived extreme sterilization protocols but also carry genetic traits that could help them endure the harsh conditions of space.
Ancient rocks exposed in southern Africa show that Earth already had oceans, intense volcanism, strong earthquakes, and microbial life more than 3.2 billion years ago. Preserved in the Makhonjwa Mountains of South Africa and Eswatini, these formations provide one of the clearest geological records of early Earth surface conditions.
Before dawn, while most of central Mexico sleeps, a small group of scientists climbs the dark slopes of Popocatépetl, one of the country’s most active volcanoes. Their goal is to recover seismic instruments that, after five years of continuous monitoring, have allowed researchers to construct the first complete three-dimensional image of the volcano’s interior. The model reveals multiple zones where magma accumulates beneath the crater, extending to depths of about 18 km (11 miles), and offers new insight into how Popocatépetl functions and how its eruptions may develop.
When powerful northerly winds swept through Los Angeles on January 7, 2025, they unleashed one of the most destructive urban firestorms in U.S. history. A new study attributes those winds to a rare “jet-forced Santa Ana” pattern — a collision of upper-level atmospheric forces that produced gusts over 35 m/s (80 mph), destroyed more than 16 000 structures, and killed 31 people. The event struck ahead of the first winter rain, after months of near-record dryness that left vegetation tinder-dry.
Wintertime earthquakes along the Australian Antarctic Ridge were found to influence massive summer phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean, according to a Nature Geoscience study published on December 9, 2025.
When a M9.1–M9.3 megathrust earthquake struck northern Sumatra at 00:58 UTC (07:58 local time) on December 26, 2004, it unleashed a basin-wide tsunami that killed more than 227 000 people and transformed global approaches to tsunami warning and coastal preparedness.
Strong nighttime cooling in volcanic valleys produces deep temperature inversions that suppress mixing and allow gases and ash to accumulate in low-lying areas. The timing of morning breakup governs when pollutants disperse, making these atmospheric structures a critical factor in assessing overnight hazards and morning exposure windows.
