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Life and Living things

Crewed Missions

Humans have been travelling to space since the 1950s. 

We have used telescopes to study space for centuries, but it was the invention of massive rockets which finally let us explore space in person. 

Astronaut performing a spacewalk attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm with Earth visible in the background
This work by NASA is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal
An astronaut on an EVA (extravehicular activity) on the International Space Station

Seasons

There are four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Parts of the Earth experience each season once each year.

The image shows the Earth's orbit around the Sun with four key points labeled: March (MAR), June (JUN), September (SEP), and December (DEC). The Sun is at the center, and the Earth is depicted at each of these points in its orbit. The Earth's tilt is indicated by arrows pointing north and south. The path of the Earth's orbit is represented by a dotted line with arrows, and it is labeled "path of Earth's orbit."
This work by The Schools' Observatory is licensed under All rights reserved
Seasons in the Earth's Northern Hemisphere during 1 orbit of the Sun.

Tides

The level of the sea rises and falls about two times each day. We call these changes tides.

The image shows waves from the ocean crashing onto a sandy beach.
This work by Dan Gold is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal
Waves coming towards the shore.

Life Elsewhere

Astrobiologists believe that three ingredients which are vital for life. They are water, energy, and organic molecules such as carbon (C). Energy and organic molecules are abundant in the Universe. But liquid water is rare. 

A photograph of a black smoker, an underwater hydrothermal vent located on the ocean floor. The structure releases dark clouds of mineral-rich water, which are visible as it rises from the chimney-like formation, creating a striking contrast against the deep blue background of the ocean
This work by NOAA Ocean Explorer is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal
Black smoker thermal vent at the bottom of the ocean

Life on Earth

Planet Earth was formed around 4.5 billion years ago.  The first signs of life began about 3.6 billion years ago, in the ocean. The water in the ocean protected organisms living there from the dangerous rays of the sun. 

An illustrated timeline of the evolution of life on Earth, starting with the ignition of the Sun and the formation of the Earth and Moon. The timeline tracks key events such as the appearance of prokaryotes, the development of photosynthesis, the rise of eukaryotes, and the Cambrian explosion. Further along the timeline, it shows the evolution of vertebrates, reptiles, mammals, birds, and humans, with markers for significant milestones such as fire, writing, and the appearance of Homo sapiens
This work by LadyofHats is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal
The timeline of life evolving on Earth

Climate Change

The Earth's climate is always changing. It shifts through a regular cycle of temperatures. These cycles last around 100,000 years. They move the Earth through warm periods, then cold ones. This is known as climate oscillation. 

An infographic illustrating changes in average temperature, displayed in Fahrenheit. The graphic uses color gradients and numerical values to represent temperature shifts over time, indicating warming trends
This work by NASA is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal