Earth is our home planet.
It’s not named after a god; its name is an old German word that means dirt. Everything about Earth is just right to support life as we know it. Our planet is at just the right distance from the Sun for water to stay liquid, rather than freeze or evaporate. All life as we know it depends on water. Earth also has oxygen, another thing needed by life as we know it.
Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen and oxygen. It protects the planet from dangerous ultraviolet radiation the Sun gives off. It also keeps the surface temperature from getting too hot or too cold.
However, Earth’s temperature has gone up over the past several decades. Some causes include pollution and the misuse of resources. This has created a phenomenon known as global warming. If it continues, the delicate balance that allows life on Earth may be threatened.
