Is Earth leaking into space? Yes, it slowly loses hydrogen and helium from its upper atmosphere.

• ✓Atmospheric escape (Jeans escape and related mechanisms)

Earth is literally leaking into space right now. Our planet continuously loses hydrogen and helium from its upper atmosphere to space through atmospheric escape, and this has been happening throughout its history. Way up in the exosphere — the outermost layer of our atmosphere — gas molecules move so fast they can outrun Earth's gravity entirely and drift away forever. Hydrogen escapes most easily because it is the lightest element, barely held by gravity at all. Helium follows close behind for the same reason. Heavier gases like nitrogen and oxygen stay locked in place, which is why we still have air to breathe after four and a half billion years. But do not panic — the leak is so slow that Earth will stay livable for billions of years to come. Follow for a fact every day.