Ozone Layer: Earth’s Protective Shield Has a Hole In It
What makes Earth unique is its ozone layer. Ozone is a colorless gas made up of three oxygen atoms which protects us from harmful UV radiation from the sun.
Articles
What is Magnetic Reconnection in the Magnetosphere?
Charged particles or plasma makes up about 99% of the universe. Magnetic reconnection involves how this plasma interacts with magnetic fields (like Earth’s)
How Much Space Junk Orbits Earth? [Infographic]
There is over 5500 tons of space junk above Earth’s surface. They mostly consist of small and medium debris within 700 – 36,000 km range in the atmosphere.
5 Facts About the Sun [Infographic]
Today, we’re exploring facts about the sun. First, you have to realize the enormous size of the sun. It’s so big that nearly 1300 Jupiters can fit the sun!
Aurora Borealis Facts: How the Northern Lights Work
During magnetic storms, trapped plasma flashes lights that are observable around the globe. This disturbance in the magnetosphere is the Aurora Borealis.
A Beginner’s Guide to Earth Magnetic Field
The magnetic field gives us a layer out in space called the magnetosphere. Without it, Earth would be exposed to solar and cosmic radiation.
The Cenozoic Era: From Dinosaur Extinction to Human Evolution
The Cenozoic Era started with the extinction of dinosaurs and moved into the age of mammals.This led to the diversification and increase in size of mammals.
Was the Late Heavy Bombardment a Violent Stage in Earth’s History?
At the end of the Hadean Eon, the Earth was in the late bombardment stage. Earth and the entire solar system was pelted by asteroids, comets and objects.
The History of the Universe: The Big Bang and Beyond [Infographic]
What’s the history of the universe? Follow us on a journey that starts with the Big Bang. All the way to the formation of stars, galaxies and eventually us.
The Human Footprint: 8 Billion People on Earth
In flesh and blood, 7.6 billion humans live on Earth. The emergence of humans has left a profound impact. The demand for resources is the human footprint.
What Are the 3 Types of Galaxies?
Hubble galaxy classification assigns a class to galaxies based on their visual appearance. These classes of galaxies are ellipticals, lenticulars and spirals
Milky Way Galaxy: 200 Billion Stars and Our Solar System
Galaxies are just large accumulation of stars. For example, we live in the Milky Way galaxy. It houses about 200 billion stars including Alpha Centauri.
How Does the Supercontinent Cycle Work?
If you went 200 million years back in time, Earth was 1 supercontinent. Now, it’s made up of 7 separate continents. This is the supercontinent cycle at work.
15 Climate Feedback Loops and Examples
Climate feedback loops either amplify or reduce climate change. Positive feedback loops like permafrost melt amplifies climate change because it releases methane.
Earth Age: How Old Is the Earth?
By dating meteorites, we find the oldest rocks are 4.5 billion or so years old. Thus, we conclude the same staggering 4,543,000,000 years for Earth’s age.