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![Earth in space with a two blue fields emanating from it indicating the planet's magnetic field](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nRxyGrDk93kNfgfsXJfm75-320-80.jpg)
Why do Earth's magnetic poles flip?
By Conor Feehly published
Space mysteries Every so often, Earth's magnetic poles completely flip. What causes this to happen? And how do these reversals affect life on Earth?
![a black and white picture of a satellite with earth in behind and the sun shining at right](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c7pb55y3Ljmtg3JsNjTHna-320-80.jpg)
Space rescue! Watch a satellite being saved from a wire snag (video)
By Elizabeth Howell published
A satellite testing solar power in space faced a strange deployment issue in 2023. The lessons learned will make future designs even better, its team says.
![Yellowish rings of gas are seen around a tiny star. Planets and rocks float in the rings.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v4nxwCpBcRLaT8aTDdkRjY-320-80.jpg)
Earth's water might have come from ancient space rocks, meteorite discovery suggests
By Rahul Rao published
Scientists have found fingerprints of water in ancient meteorites reminiscent of the planetesimals that formed Earth.
![purple and yellow sky during one morning aboard the Hurtigruten Coastal Express](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oHvg55C2ZMFC4PmQ9w7RrX-320-80.jpg)
Goodbye sun: What it's like to experience the polar night along Norway's rugged coastline
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Find out what it's like to experience the polar night while hunting the northern lights along the Norwegian coast with Hurtigruten's Astronomy Voyage.
![a satellite image of buildings with a glowing pool of lava beside](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zAYbW6n2LCz3Z2BrKgdKRN-320-80.jpg)
Satellites watch Iceland volcano spew lava towards fishing village (photo)
By Elizabeth Howell published
The tiny Icelandic town of Grindavík lies under threat from a lava flow, imaged from space by a satellite.
![gif animation showing Earth spinning, there is a little graphic in the top right corner that reads "space mysteries"](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oB6gwMbLBDyS35SVrUnTRb-320-80.gif)
What would happen if Earth stopped spinning?
By Rebecca Sohn published
We can't feel Earth spinning and you probably take it for granted, but what would happen if it stopped spinning? We take a look at the disastrous impacts it would have.
![a map of the world showing high temperatures worldwide](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DD2A6t8yr6yNx9ggA7tJG4-320-80.jpg)
2023 was the hottest year on record, NASA and NOAA say
By Brett Tingley published
NASA and NOAA announced that 2023 was the hottest year Earth has experienced, causing severe human and economic impacts worldwide. Models predict that next year could be even hotter.
![four images showing a coastline moving after an earthquake](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atw2VsKYTyLqjQouyhM8HW-320-80.gif)
Japanese earthquake on Jan. 1 shifted coastline over 800 feet, satellite photos show
By Samantha Mathewson published
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Jan. 1, causing uplift that extended the coastline along areas of the Noto Peninsula by up to 820 feet (250 meters), as new satellite images show.
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