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

Ancient rocks show Earth’s magnetic field followed deep heat patterns inside the planet for hundreds of millions of years.

Earth’s magnetic field can linger in a weakened, unstable state for tens of thousands of years before fully flipping.

Earth's magnetic field is generated by the churn of its liquid nickel-iron outer core, but it is not a constant feature.

The continent-sized blobs are much hotter than the lower mantle, creating a significant temperature gradient in the rocky ...

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 ...

Learn about the continent-sized rocks hidden deep within Earth's mantle that have influenced the magnetic field for millions ...

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

Scientists have debated for decades whether Earth’s magnetic field plays a role in keeping the planet habitable. The question matters because Earth stands apart from other rocky worlds. It has a ...