Our Planet

Humpback Whale Thanks Rescuers After Being Freed From Nets [Video]

An amazing and wonderful video that I came across a few years ago: Michael Fishbach, co-founder of The Great Whale Conservancy, his family and friends rescued a Humpback Whale from fishnets, and after being freed, the whale shows amazing appreciation to the rescuers.

The Great Whale Conservancy was launched in 2010 to advocate for the great whales, they need our help and protection to survive, to learn more about our current efforts, and find out how we can work together.

Top 5 largest prehistoric cats

The largest prehistoric cat: Smilodon populator

The prehistoric world was home to an array of magnificent and fearsome creatures, and among them, the large cats ruled supreme. These ancient feline predators prowled the Earth with power and grace, displaying unmatched dominance. In this article, we will explore the top 5 largest prehistoric cats that once roamed the planet. From the mighty Smilodon with its deadly saber teeth to the massive American Lion, these awe-inspiring creatures left an indelible mark on the history of big cats.

Whiteface Mountain [New York] hits -114 °F [-81.11 °C] wind chill at its summit

While New York City suffers the coldest Valentine’s Day in 100 years, as East Coast is hit with a record-low wind chill of -36 °F (-37.77 °C), Whiteface Mountain reached -114 °F (-81.11 °C) wind chill at its summit. And it was even colder than the windchill in Antarctica.

With an elevation of 1,483 meters (4,865 feet) above sea level, Whiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest mountain in the U.S. state of New York. On Saturday night (February 13-14, 2016), the Arctic winds blew at 45 mph (72.42 km/h) at the summit, and according to the U.S. National Weather Service, it was actually colder than Antarctica on Sunday. It’s probably one of the lowest temperatures ever recorded outside of the poles of Earth.

Earth to scale [See How Tiny our planet is in the Grand Scheme of the Universe]

6 Earths could fit across Saturn's rings.

When we look up at the night sky, we may feel small and insignificant compared to the vast expanse of space. However, our sense of smallness is put into perspective when we consider the true scale of the universe. Our planet Earth is just a tiny speck in a vast and complex system of planets, stars, galaxies, and beyond. In this article, we will explore just how small Earth is when compared to the larger structures of our solar system, the Milky Way galaxy, and the universe as a whole. By understanding our place in the universe, we can gain a greater appreciation for the sheer magnitude and complexity of the cosmos.

There might be a 9th planet beyond Pluto [and it’s a giant!]

Astronomers now think there’s a 9th planet in the solar system almost certainly (hint: it’s not Pluto). The farthest planet from our Sun is probably a giant, smaller than Neptune but likely larger than the Earth. It is informally called Phattie, but commonly known as Planet Nine.

If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel [The most accurate map of the Solar System]

The Solar System is vast and complex, encompassing countless celestial bodies such as planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. To visualize the vastness of our cosmic neighborhood, we often use maps and models that represent the planets and their orbits in a scaled-down form. However, even the most detailed models can fail to convey the true scale of the Solar System. One intriguing way to explore the scale of our cosmic surroundings is to imagine if the Moon were only one pixel in diameter on a map. This thought experiment can help us appreciate the sheer enormity of the distances and sizes involved in our Solar System.

Machimosaurus rex: a giant prehistoric crocodile discovered in the Sahara

The Sahara desert, with its endless stretches of sand and searing heat, may not be the first place you’d expect to find a prehistoric sea monster. But that’s exactly where National Geographic grantee Federico Fanti and his team of paleontologists made an astonishing discovery: the remains of a massive marine crocodile named Machimosaurus rex.

With estimated lengths of up to 30 feet (9.14 meters) and razor-sharp teeth, M. rex was a true apex predator of the Late Jurassic seas. Fanti and his colleagues pieced together the crocodile’s fossilized bones, unlocking clues about its anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary history. This groundbreaking research sheds new light on the ancient ecosystems of North Africa and the fascinating creatures that roamed them millions of years ago.

Anthropocene: The New Geological Era, According to Scientists

Our planet is experiencing a new geological era, according to a growing number of scientists. The Anthropocene, as it is being called, marks the first time in Earth’s history that human activities have had a significant and lasting impact on the planet’s ecosystems, geology, and climate. The term “Anthropocene” is derived from the Greek words “anthropos,” meaning human, and “kainos,” meaning new, to reflect the idea that humans are the driving force behind this new epoch. While the idea of the Anthropocene is still a subject of debate among some scientists, the concept has gained widespread acceptance and is viewed as a call to action to address the environmental challenges that our planet faces today.

10 Most Beautiful Earth Images Taken From the International Space Station in 2015

Nile at Night from International Space Station (September 22, 2015)

The International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting Earth since 1998, providing scientists and astronauts with a unique vantage point to observe and study our planet. In addition to its scientific mission, the ISS has also captured some of the most breathtaking images of Earth from space. In this article, we will take a look at the 10 most beautiful Earth images taken from the ISS in 2015. From stunning views of the Northern Lights to majestic mountain ranges and turquoise waters, these images remind us of the incredible beauty of our planet and the importance of protecting it for future generations.

Here’s what Earth would look like if all the ice melted

Our planet is getting warmer every year, and the horrible fact is, global warming is accelerating. As a natural result, the glaciers are melting at an increasing speed. What if all the Earth’s ice melted?

Almost 10% of the world’s land surface is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. The amount of water locked up in ice and snow is only about 1.7 percent of all water on Earth (332,500,000 cubic miles, or 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers), but the majority of total freshwater on Earth, about 68.7%, is held in ice caps and glaciers. And if all land ice melted the seas would rise about 70 meters (about 230 feet).

What if all this ice melted? What would Earth look like? Alex Kuzoian of Business Insider prepared a video showing the effects of the global melting, and if it happens, “this would dramatically reshape the continents and drown many of the world’s major cities.”