Earth From Afar Would Look Only 82% Right For Life

From Lunar orbit, Earth is obviously habitable. But from a distant point in the galaxy, not so much.

New study zeros in on plate tectonics' start date: Analysis of trace elements places the onset of plate tectonics about 3 billion years ago

A new study suggests that plate tectonics -- the dynamic processes that formed Earth's mountains, volcanoes and continents -- began about 3 billion years ago. By analyzing trace element ratios that correlate to magnesium content in ancient Earth's crust, the researchers provide first-order geochemical evidence for when plate tectonics first got underway.

NASA Is Taking Asteroid Threats To Earth Seriously, Forms New Defense Office

NASA announced the creation of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office on Thursday. Pictured are orbits of near-Earth asteroids (blue) and potentially hazardous asteroids (orange).

Leap-second decision delayed by eight years

Some want to scrap adjustment that keeps atomic time in sync with Earth

The world's biggest volcano is a magnetic mix-up

Five weeks of mapping at sea suggests two possible origins for the underwater Tamu Massif.

Rare Earth element tellurium detected for the first time in ancient stars

Nearly 13.7 billion years ago, the universe was made of only hydrogen, helium and traces of lithium — byproducts of the Big Bang. Some 300 million years later, the very first stars emerged, creating additional chemical elements throughout the universe. Since then, giant stellar explosions, or supernovas, have given rise to carbon, oxygen, iron and the rest of the 94 naturally occurring elements of the periodic table. 

Supervolcanoes: not a threat for 2012

The geological record holds clues that throughout Earth

Moon and Earth may be younger than originally thought

New research using a technique that measures the isotopes of lead and neodymium in lunar crustal rocks shows that the moon and Earth may be millions of years younger than originally thought.

Sun unleashes X6.9 class flare; Earth spared this time

On August 9, 2011 at 3:48 a.m. EDT, the sun emitted an Earth-directed X6.9 flare, as measured by the NOAA GOES satellite. This was the largest flare of

Researchers prove existence of antiproton radiation belt around Earth

Italian researchers using data from the satellite PAMELA have proven that theories showing there ought to be a ring of antiprotons encircling the Earth due to cosmic rays colliding with nuclei in the upper atmosphere are correct. Piergiorgio Picozza from the University of Rome, Tor Vergata, and a host of colleagues have published the results of their findings in arXiv.

Study: Earth shares its orbit with tiny asteroid

(AP) -- Like a poodle on a leash, a tiny asteroid runs ahead of Earth on the planet

Mini black holes that look like atoms could pass through Earth daily

(PhysOrg.com) -- In a new study, scientists have proposed that mini black holes may interact with matter very differently than previously thought. If the proposal is correct, it would mean that the time it would take for a mini black hole to swallow the Earth would be many orders of magnitude longer than the age of the Universe.

Huge asteroid to pass near Earth in November

The Asteroid 2005 YU55, about 1,300 feet in diameter, will approach Earth within 0.85 lunar distances in early November 2011. Discovered on December 28,

Solar flare: space weather disrupts communications, threatens other technologies

A powerful solar flare has ushered in the largest space weather storm in at least four years and has already disrupted some ground communications on Earth.

Sun unleashes huge solar flare towards Earth

The Sun has unleashed its strongest flare in four years, observers say.