Earth had oxygen 800 million years earlier than thought The atmosphere contained oxygen 3.8 billion years ago, raising new questions about the history of life on Earth.
Half of Amazon Rainforests on the verge of extinction Up to 57 per cent of all tree species in the Amazon Rainforest are on the verge of extinction, shows new research.
Scientists discover the cause behind prehistoric climate change Scientists now know why the climate underwent dramatic changes at the end of the last Ice Age.
Underground animal world crucial for life above ground New study shows that subterranean bacteria, worms, and beetles play a critical role in climate and plant life above ground.
Mega volcanoes caused earthquakes in the UK and Denmark Geologists used to think that a massive meteorite strike 201 million years ago had left its mark in rock formations in England but new research points to extreme volcanic eruptions as the actual culprit.
Scientists construct climate model for the core of the Earth For the last year, three satellites have been collecting data about the Earth's magnetism. According to the scientists the enormous quantities of data are extremely detailed and can help them build models to better understand the Earth's magnetic field.
Study: we have pushed Earth beyond its limits Four out of nine planetary boundaries have already been exceeded.
Huge meltwater reservoir found under Greenland ice A reservoir of meltwater the size of Ireland has been found within Greenland’s ice sheet. The reservoir may increase the melting of the inland ice in the future and provides fundamental new insights into the dynamics of the Greenland ice cap.
Overlooked life on seabed gorges on fish faeces Bacteria are not the only organisms that feed on dead plankton and fish faeces. The so-called ‘archaea’ also play an important – and hitherto overlooked – role in carbon cycling in the seabed.
Oceans drive climate change Researchers say that changes in the climate can be traced in the ocean hundreds of years before there is any trace of it in the atmosphere.
Bacteria thrive at the bottom of the Mariana Trench Scientists have found bacteria in one of the world’s most hostile and extreme environments 11 km below sea level.
Live bacteria found deep below the seabed Scientists have found live microbial communities in the earth’s crust deep below the seabed. The discovery may affect our conception of Earth's orbit.
Here’s the weather report – from 5,200 years ago Scientists can now tell us how the weather in the North Atlantic has changed over the last 5,200 years. New research enables them to ‘see’ more than 4,000 years further back in time than before.
Greenland is rising out of the sea Melting ice is currently causing Greenland to rise by 3 cm a year. This rate is accelerating, and if the entire ice sheet is to disappear, the island would rise about one kilometre, new GPS readings reveal.
Modern plate tectonics arose 3.2 billion years ago Plate tectonics – geological developments that have given the Earth its current appearance, with oceans, continents, mountains and deep valleys – started 3.2 billion years ago, new research shows.
Colour secrets revealed in fossilised fish-eye A Swedish palaeontologist and Danish researchers have now proved that prehistoric fossils still have traces of colouring from the animal’s skin, hair or feathers.
Still time to save our plants from climate change Climate change will cause plant species to disappear more slowly than previously thought. While this gives us time to rescue our plant life, it means we may begin to underestimate the effects of global warming.
The North Pole is on thin ice While the world’s political leaders have left the negotiating table again without an agreement to reduce greenhouse gases, the Arctic has greater problems than ever – 75 percent of the sea ice has disappeared.
