HOW ON EARTH

Don't believe everything you've been told about lightning.

Wild Misconceptions About Weather

From the color of snow to the shape of rainbows, weather breeds a lot of misconceptions.

How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

Beryl, Helene, Milton—recent hurricane monikers aren’t exactly the most popular girls’ and boys’ names.

Tropical Storm Debby came with a storm surge warning in Florida's Big Bend region in 2024.

7 Things to Know About Storm Surges

Wind isn’t the only danger a hurricane can bring to coastal communities. Storm surges are often more destructive.

A tornado south of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, touched down on April 15, 2012.

10 of the Most Terrifying Tornadoes in History

Tornadoes can (and do) happen anywhere. Here are 10 of the most terrible twisters to ever take a turn on Earth.

Tons of melting ice in Greenland and Antarctica is making Earth’s days just a teeny bit longer.

Global Warming Is Making Earth Days Longer, New Studies Show

Melting polar ice is slowing Earth’s rotation speed, extending the length of each day by a few milliseconds per century.

The San Andreas Faultline north of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles May Survive the Worst of the “Big One,” According to a New Earthquake Simulation

The nightmare scenario described in an influential 2008 study may end up being less destructive than scientists thought, but Angelenos still shouldn't get too comfortable.

The busy 2010 Atlantic hurricane season shows Hurricane Karl west of the Yucatan Peninsula, Hurricane Igor east of Puerto Rico, and Hurricane Julia in mid-Atlantic.

12 Powerful Facts About Hurricanes

The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. Here’s what you need to know about these destructive storms.

10 of the Biggest Earthquakes in History

From a surprise temblor in the Mississippi Valley to colossal ruptures and tsunamis around the Pacific Ring of Fire, these are some of the biggest earthquakes in modern times.

Snow blankets the Donner Lake area in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

10 of the Biggest Blizzards in History

The United States has hosted half of the biggest blizzards in history. Discover what makes these snowstorms so legendary.

Vienna’s Wienflussportal, showing the spot where the Vienna River emerges from its underground course.

10 Rivers Buried Under Cities

Discover the hidden rivers buried beneath cities around the world. From Moscow to Tokyo, explore the history and modern efforts to reopen these forgotten waterways.

Atmospheric rivers slammed Southern California in February 2024 and caused widespread floods and mudslides.

What Is an Atmospheric River?

Explore the role of these weather systems in transporting moisture from the tropics and spreading it worldwide.

A photo of the Bayou Corne sinkhole taken shortly after it appeared on August 3, 2012.

When a Lake Swallowed the Earth: The Story of the Louisiana Sinkhole

The residents of Bayou Corne, Louisiana, woke up one morning in 2012 and found a gigantic sinkhole devouring their town.

The winter solstice marks the return of longer days.

25 Facts About the Winter Solstice, the Shortest Day of the Year

Whether you’re a fan of winter or wish it would go away, here are 25 things to note about the winter solstice, a.k.a. the shortest day of the year.

8 Fascinating Facts About Quicksand

In the 1960s, one in 35 movies featured someone getting sucked into quicksand.

15 Surprising Facts About Winter Weather

Whether you like bundling up in your coziest gear or are counting the days until spring, you’ll enjoy these facts about winter weather.

10 Chilling Facts About Permafrost

About 11 percent of the Earth’s surface is perpetually frozen, though that will surely change as global warming continues.

Three hurricanes swirl in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean in 2010.

What’s the Difference Between Hurricanes, Cyclones, and Typhoons?

Depending on where they originate, these destructive storms go by different names.

On August 21, 1986, Lake Nyos produced a deadly cloud of carbon dioxide.

Killer Lakes: Why Limnic Eruptions May Be the World’s Rarest Natural Disasters

Two events in Cameroon are the only recorded instances of limnic eruptions. Scientists are trying to prevent a third.

A strong El Niño in 2016 appears like a red tongue in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

What Is El Niño, and Why Does It Have Such a Big Impact?

How can warm water in the Pacific Ocean affect the weather thousands of miles away? Everything is connected.

A sign on the Hoover Dam warns of dangerous heat levels on September 16, 2022, in Boulder City, Nevada.

What Is a Heat Dome?

Heat domes are masses of hot air trapped within the atmosphere by high pressure. And they're becoming more common, thanks to climate change.

8 Granular Facts About Sand

Every summer at the beach, sand becomes an essential ingredient in the recipe for fun. But what the heck is it?

CNN's graphics team took this map and made it interactive.

What’s the Earthquake Risk in Your City? This Interactive Map Shows You

This color-coded earthquake risk map can help you determine your chances of feeling seismic activity in your area.

🎇 New mud volcano discovered in Norwegian waters

Watch a Newly-Discovered Mud Volcano Erupt Underwater

Scientists recently recorded an underwater mud volcano—the second discovered in Norwegian waters.

This Blue Marble Earth montage shows many stunning details of our home planet.

8 Amazing Facts About Earth

Our planet is spinning more than 1000 mph at the equator while simultaneously zipping through space at 67,000 mph.