Learn how some of Earth’s magnetic field flips last longer than others, weakening our defenses against cosmic radiation.

The Earth's magnetic field and oxygen evolved together over 540 million years, according to a major NASA study.

Deep beneath the ocean floor, ancient sediments hint that Earth’s magnetic field sometimes changed far more slowly than expected.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The Earth's magnetic field deflects particles emitted by the Sun. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images The Earth’s ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. David Bressan is a geologist who covers curiosities about Earth. Without its magnetic field, life on Earth would not be possible ...

Deep inside Earth, two massive hot rock structures have been quietly shaping the planet’s magnetic field for millions of ...

Some bacterial species possess an astonishing ability: They use Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves. To better ...

Space is full of radiation. So much radiation, in fact, that the only thing standing between us and our planet being bathed in radioactive energy from the Sun is the Earth's magnetic field. And this ...

Earth's magnetic field is generated by the churn of its liquid nickel-iron outer core, but it is not a constant feature. Every so often, the magnetic north and south poles swap places in what are ...

A team of geologists found for the first time evidence linking regions of low seismic velocity and the shape of the Earth’s magnetic field.

Earth’s magnetic field is often described as a steady shield, but the geological record tells a more restless story. Polarity ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The Earth's magnetic field deflects particles emitted by the Sun. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images The Earth’s ...