LIVE SCIENCE
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Is the Leaning Tower of Pisa really falling over?
April 18, 2022
Millions of tourists flock to the Leaning Tower of Pisa every year, drawn to its gravity-defying tilt that has withstood centuries. But how much longer will this iconic Italian attraction stand? Understanding the tower's future structural integrity (or lack thereof) requires a look at its past.
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What's the longest-burning fire in the world?
March 14, 2022
Today, most flames in our day-to-day lives are fleeting, lasting only as long as the wick in a candle or the logs in a fireplace. But around the world, various self-sustaining blazes have burned for centuries — even millennia. So, of these, what's the longest-burning fire on record?
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What's the oldest mountain range in the world? (How about the youngest?)
Feb. 6, 2022
In general, tall mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, tend to be young, whereas ranges with shorter peaks from millennia of erosion, like the Appalachians, are often older. But due to Earth's ever-changing topography, this superlative is hard to assign — and it demands an understanding of how these peaks rise and fall over time.