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![Rough diamond, precious stone in mine.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sxsoknLrTFRxJs8L88kQvm-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Fountains of diamonds erupt from Earth's center as supercontinents break up
By Stephanie Pappas published
Researchers have discovered a pattern where diamonds spew from deep beneath Earth's surface in huge, explosive volcanic eruptions.
![Layers of ice hanging off a glacier melt and drip water.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XwSVEp6bFRbcRuFyZRT3yj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age
By Sascha Pare published
Methane emissions from tropical wetlands have been soaring since 2006 and accelerating at the same breakneck speed as when Earth's climate has flipped from a glacial to an interglacial period.
![a map of Maui with Lahaina highlighted y a white box. A majority of the town is covered in flames.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pr2AAfeDwQUtrtiBDVYpF5-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Hawaii satellite photo shows devastation wildfires inflicted on Maui
By Harry Baker published
The Landsat 8 satellite captured the deadly flames that burned through the town of Lahaina in Hawaii and killed at least 99 people.
![A picture of the ocean on the Pacific coast in San Diego.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCB7246mHFTsovgg6aBVzm-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Odds of 'strong' El Niño now over 95%, with ocean temperatures to 'substantially exceed' last big warming event
By Sascha Pare published
Sizzling ocean temperatures in the east-central tropical Pacific throughout July indicate there is a good chance El Niño conditions will remain strong for the next six months.
![an unusual species of succulent known as baby's bum because of its pink globe-like leaves](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKN7y35XjhbRaGVazb2mJ3-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
This bizarre little succulent looks like a baby's butt
By Megan Shersby published
Gibbaeum heathii is endemic to a valley in South Africa that is surrounded by mountains and receives very little rainfall, allowing a huge range of succulent species to thrive. This bababoutjies — or baby's bum — is one of them.
![A picture of snowy peaks in the Himalayan mountain system.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTQskhQNBfwXbGcRpXSx2B-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
A single massive tectonic collision? That's not how the Himalayas came to be, scientists say
By Sascha Pare published
The world's highest mountain system may have reached 60% of its current elevation before the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates crashed into each other, giving the peaks an extra push.
![earth from space with europe and the arctic and northern africa in view](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y2xZcmMTQ4RJuNG6yHS6kR-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Earth Day: When is it and why do we celebrate it?
By Patrick Pester last updated
Earth Day is an annual global event on April 22 that celebrates Earth and raises public awareness about the environment.
![Lava erupts from a volcano in a huge shower of red molten rock.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7eM54eGZR8Savu9YMyX4g3-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Volcanoes like Kīlauea and Mauna Loa don't erupt like we thought they did, scientists discover
By Sascha Pare published
The magma that erupts from basaltic volcanoes in the middle of tectonic plates originates from within Earth's mantle — rather than from the outer crust — and is propelled upward by CO2, not water.
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