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Was life on Earth sparked by cloud-to-ground lightning strikes?
By Stefanie Waldek published
Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes simulated in a biosphere mimicking conditions on a young Earth led to chemical reactions resulting in "remarkable yields" of the building blocks for life.

We used 1,000 historical photos to reconstruct Antarctic glaciers before a dramatic collapse
By Ryan North, Tim Barrows published
Although Antarctica is far away, and changing conditions there may seem distant, the changes can have a profound effect for us all.

Here's what the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris look like from space (photos)
By Samantha Mathewson published
The 2024 Summer Olympics started Friday (July 26) in Paris with the opening ceremony highlighting historic landmarks along the Seine River, which can be seen in a new satellite image from space.

Earth's plate tectonics fired up hundreds of millions of years earlier than we thought, ancient crystals reveal
By Stephanie Pappas published
New research hints that plate tectonics began earlier than 4 billion years ago — not long after Earth had formed.

Discovery of 'dark oxygen' from deep-sea metal lumps could trigger rethink of origins of life
By Sascha Pare published
In a global first, scientists working in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the North Pacific Ocean have found that metallic nodules on the seafloor produce their own oxygen, dubbed "dark oxygen."

1st stratospheric skydive by a woman delayed to 2026, Hera Rising says
By Elizabeth Howell published
Hera Rising, the first effort to bring a woman skydiver into the stratosphere, now plans to launch its historic mission in 2026. Fundraising is one of the things the group is working on.

Huge earthquake 2,500 years ago rerouted the Ganges River, study suggests
By Sascha Pare published
A new study suggests an earthquake of estimated magnitude 7.5 or 8 shook the Indian subcontinent 2,500 years ago, changing the course of the Ganges.

Saharan dust outbreak lingers across some US states this week
By Meredith Garofalo published
A large plume of Saharan dust settled across the Gulf states this week after an epic journey from Africa.
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