The threat from space rock 2024 YR4 has surpassed that of Apophis, an asteroid feared by scientists 20 years ago. The danger remains low, but experts are estimating the damage that could be done.
Author: ROBIN GEORGE ANDREWS
How a Nuclear Bomb Could Save Earth From a Stealthy Asteroid
An atomic blast is not the preferred solution for planetary defense, but 3-D models are helping scientists prepare for a worst-case scenario.
Watch This Billion-Year Journey of Earth’s Tectonic Plates
A new simulation offers a different view of how the continents we live on drifted into their current configuration.
Antarctica vs. Science
For researchers using delicate, one-of-a-kind equipment, the extreme conditions at the bottom of the planet pose special challenges.
Coronavirus Turns Urban Life’s Roar to Whisper on World’s Seismographs
Geoscientists are getting a clearer picture of what’s going on beneath our feet as lockdowns keep many of us at home.
A 3D Encounter With a Violent Volcano’s Underbelly
Scientists spent days aboard a helicopter with special sensors over a volcano to develop a picture of how its insides affect its frequent eruptions.
A Burning Lava Lake Concealed by a Volcano’s Glacial Ice
Persistent pools of lava are quite rare on Earth, and it took years of satellite images to find this one.
A Signal in Giant Earthquakes That Could Save Lives
The full power of the biggest temblors could be determined in as little as 10 to 15 seconds after they begin, a new study finds, and long before it ends.
A Signal in Giant Earthquakes That Could Save Lives
The full power of the biggest temblors could be determined in as little as 10 to 15 seconds after they begin, a new study finds, and long before it ends.
Trilobites: Volcanoes! Lightning! And Radioactive Gas, Too
Studying radon’s role in the electrification of plumes above volcanoes could help people anticipate the damage resulting from eruptions, scientists say.