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![Video footage of the the ozone hole opening above Antarctica during a simulation](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-320-80.gif 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-450-80.gif 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-500-80.gif 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-650-80.gif 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-840-80.gif 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-970-80.gif 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-1024-80.gif 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TfFSdikRZEXoapsiRiY9TM-1200-80.gif 1200w)
'One of the biggest on record': Ozone hole bigger than North America opens above Antarctica
By Harry Baker published
Satellite data shows that this year's ozone hole grew to around twice the size of Antarctica. Researchers say the eruption of Tonga's underwater volcano early last year may be partially to blame for the enormous cavity.
![The Earth's layers arranged like a Russian nesting doll in outer space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8oyp8YzygP5ZbwUsQNJN2K-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Earth's solid inner core is 'surprisingly soft' thanks to hyperactive atoms jostling around
By Harry Baker published
Atoms within the enormous ball of iron in Earth's inner core may move around much more than previously thought, which could explain recent findings about the core's surprising softness.
![Video footage of an iceberg colliding with an island](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-320-80.gif 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-450-80.gif 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-500-80.gif 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-650-80.gif 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-840-80.gif 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-970-80.gif 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-1024-80.gif 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3TNpnUzeuyquk9hzF6RPB-1200-80.gif 1200w)
45-mile-long iceberg slams into penguin refuge in Antarctica, almost causing ecological disaster
By Harry Baker published
Hefty iceberg D-30A has collided with Clarence Island — an important refuge for breeding penguins in Antarctica. But luckily, the penguins weren't at home when the berg struck.
![A silver-colored raw chunk of neodymium stone, part of the rare earth group, the world's strongest magnetic ore used in the technology industry.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxinBZxTgfRMjA8iSFbieS-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Why are rare earth elements so rare?
By Victoria Atkinson published
There are 17 rare earth elements on the periodic table, but a better name for them would be the "troublesome earths." Here's why.
![A lone stone grave surrounded by wild summer flowers meadow with a stone wall in the background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yAsVBfWXzQnQbyTd33RsjW-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
After you die, your microbiome cooperates with soil microbes to 'recycle' your body
By Jennifer DeBruyn published
After you die, bacteria harvest your body for the nutrients that help push daisies.
![Light shines through the water of a rocky cave in the deep sea.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cLTe9ZuWq2ynCwKrbsUCq8-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'We know far more about the deep ocean than the moon or Mars,' says explorer Jon Copley
By Sascha Pare published
The deep sea, which encompasses waters deeper than 660 feet (200 meters), is home to alien-like creatures, but we know far more about these inky depths than people think, ocean explorer Jon Copley tells Live Science.
![The skyline of Seattle during sunset](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nkkZPaEVT46Ht6o4BXufvN-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Simultaneous rupture of faults triggered massive earthquake in Seattle area 1,100 years ago — and it could happen again
By Harry Baker published
Fossilized tree analysis finds a single massive earthquake may have rocked what is now Seattle around 1,100 years ago rather than several smaller quakes, and that another equally powerful one could hit the city in the future.
![a volcano erupting with lightning strikes coming from the crater](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsuGt6c4jb5so2kGNUVXbc-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Mammals may be driven to extinction by volcanic new supercontinent Pangaea Ultima
By Ben Turner published
The next supercontinent, Pangea Ultima, is likely to get so hot so quickly that mammals cannot adapt, a new supercomputer simulation has forecast.
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