Researchers found fossilized fungal hyphae in subseafloor Eocene basalts, suggesting a non-prokaryotic biosphere. This discovery has implications for our understanding of the deep subseafloor environment.
Researchers have discovered that massive volcanic eruptions in the late Permian period likely caused the extinction of nearly all marine species and a majority of land life. Mercury levels were found to be significantly higher than today's human-caused emissions, contributing to the loss of 95% of life in the sea.
Lund University has received a total of SEK 40 million in funding for its geology and biology research. This includes SEK 25 million for Birger Schmitz's ERC-funded project Astrogeobiosphere, which explores the link between life on Earth and astronomical events.
The article discusses the discovery of missing mid-Cenozoic sediments in the Lomonosov Ridge drilling, the variation in the Intertropical Convergence Zone's (ITCZ) position with global climate changes, and the decoupling of taxonomic and ecological severities of major mass extinctions. The ITCZ's position was more southward than today ...
Scientists have discovered tranquillityite in Australia's Eel Creek Formation, a mineral previously believed to originate on the Moon. Meanwhile, researchers in Hong Kong present the first three-dimensional seismic velocity model of the region, providing insights into crustal structures and earthquake activity.
A new analysis of ancient midge larvae reveals that the region was significantly cooler than expected during the early Holocene epoch. The findings offer a detailed record of temperature variation over the last 10,000 years in Alaska and have important ecological and societal implications.
Researchers found zircon crystals with ages matching those from western source sites, indicating a dramatic shift in atmospheric winds. The study improves climate modeling by suggesting alternating northwesterly and westerly sources for loess during glacial periods.
The December 2011 Geology issue presents several studies. Researchers discovered microfossils in the Tayshir Formation, Mongolia, shedding light on ancient life forms. Additionally, a study investigated melt migration mechanisms, finding evidence for porosity waves in the sub-arc mantle of Kohistan Island Arc.
Researchers have made significant findings on the San Andreas Fault and Japan's 1944 Tonankai earthquake. The study reveals that seismic slip can propagate to shallow levels along megasplay faults, while another discovery sheds light on osmium behavior in a subduction system using chromian spinel from Bonin Island beach sands.
Scientists at Delft University of Technology have developed a new method using luminescence dating to determine the year of historic storm floods. By analyzing layers of sediment in the dunes near Heemskerk, they were able to establish that the flood occurred in either 1775 or 1776.
The new GSA field guide covers a diverse range of geological topics in Minnesota and the surrounding region, including Precambrian geology, economic geology, and glacial geology. The guide features 25 field trips and provides best practices for educators conducting geology course field trips.
Researchers have uncovered a well-preserved example of a massive landslide triggered by a volcanic eruption on Tenerife. The study provides insights into the long-term effects of such events on hazardous pyroclastic dispersal, with potential implications for tsunami risk assessment and global preparedness.
A joint program between Shell and the University of Texas at Austin aims to address challenges in the unconventional oil and gas industry through research and collaboration, focusing on developing safe and responsible methods for harnessing shale gas resources.
Researchers found diverse mineralogies in two troughs of Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars, indicating a potentially habitable environment and liquid water presence. Additionally, studies on EarthScope seismic observations and the formation of high delta18O fayalite-bearing A-type granite reveal key factors for these unique rock types.
The September issue of GSA Today focuses on the Upper Midwest's geology, introducing the Mid-Continent Rift System and its evolution. The articles also emphasize the role of geologists in sustainable resource use and long-term resilience.
The University of Cincinnati is testing lightweight, compact sleeping platforms and warm sleeping bags for its geology team working at high altitudes. The goal is to increase work efficiency and comfort while collecting rock and soil samples.
Debris flow hazard assessment and dune migration in Antarctica are among the highlights from the September issue of GEOLOGY. Additionally, a new study has confirmed the existence of the Luizi impact structure in Central Africa, while another research reveals a determination of fungal disease's role in Permian woodland deterioration.
The Geological Society of America recognizes Paul F. Hoffman, Susan L. Brantley, Jasper A. Vrugt, Naomi E. Levin, A. Wesley Ward, Scott F. Burns, Richard C. Berg, and Brendan Murphy for their exceptional contributions to geology, hydrogeology, paleoclimate, and public service.
A University at Buffalo study found that Jakobshavn Isbrae expanded outward at a similar pace as it retreated in recent years, supporting evidence that calving glaciers are sensitive to climate change. The glacier's growth was linked to the Little Ice Age period around 200 years ago.
This article covers various geological topics from August 2011, including microbial activity in banded-iron formations, the San Andreas fault system's deformation patterns, and earthquake hazards. Researchers also investigated porosity redistribution in crystal-rich magmas and boundaries conditions on laboratory models of simple shear.
A study by Syracuse and Yale universities provides a clearer picture of the Earth's temperature approximately 50 million years ago. The researchers found that average Eocene water temperature along the subtropical U.S. Gulf Coast was around 27 degrees centigrade (80 degrees Fahrenheit), slightly cooler than earlier studies predicted.
A new study simulates small-scale convection at the base of the Pacific plate to explain the Hawaiian hotspot's complex observations, including secondary volcanism and chemical asymmetry. The findings provide insight into the composition and dynamics of the mantle.
A new themed issue of Geosphere delves into the geology and tectonic history of northern San Francisco Bay region, featuring studies on sedimentary and volcanic deposits cut by active strike-slip faults. The papers provide insights into groundwater hydrology, seismic hazard, and plate margin evolution.
Researchers analyzed a pristine meteorite, finding that its organic compounds changed over time due to asteroid geology changes. Amino acids and monocarboxylic acids were present, essential for the evolution of first life forms on Earth.
A Baylor University geology researcher and scientists from Rice University tested a new soil additive called biochar on common earthworms. They found that wetting the biochar before applying it to the soil reduces harm to earthworms, allowing them to perform essential functions in the soil ecosystem.
Researchers created a 3D model of Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption to better understand pyroclastic density currents and their impact on terrain. The model accurately reproduced the blast's effects, revealing that gravity and terrain shape play key roles in determining damage zones.
Researchers studied sediment transfer from land to deep sea using LiDAR and cosmogenic radionuclide-derived erosion rates. They found that sediment fluxes influence landscape evolution and geochemical cycling. Additionally, unique sedimentary desiccation structures were discovered in Bahamian ooid grainstone.
Five University of Houston graduates have received National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships to pursue advanced degrees in physics, geology, psychology, and the life sciences. The recipients will cover tuition and receive annual stipends, with plans to conduct research and teach at top universities.
Yuribia Munoz, a senior in the department of Earth and atmospheric sciences at UH, recently earned fellowships through the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Merage Foundation for the American Dream. The $110,000 awards will support her graduate research in geology over the next three years.
A 2,300-year climate record reveals sharp drops in tropical monsoon rainfall since 1900, leading to severe droughts and water shortages. The study suggests that rising Northern Hemisphere temperatures are drawing the Intertropical Convergence Zone north, reducing rainfall on which tropical areas rely.
Scientists have discovered new records of shelled amoebas living with methane seeps and ancient trilobites. Additionally, researchers have found evidence of micrometeorites in 240 million-year-old sediments and a deep biosphere community in the Atlantic Ocean.
Ancient cave systems near Allgäu Mountains preserved oldest radiometrically dated dripstones from European Alps. The study quantifies erosion and uplift rates for northern rim of Alps over 2 million years, with significant altitudinal changes attributed to glacial erosion.
The new booklet, Antarctica: A Journey of Discovery, provides an introduction to cutting-edge Antarctic research in various subjects. It covers topics such as the food web, ice cores, particle physics, and geology, offering insights into the continent's past and its development.
A new method using leaf size and shape traits reconstructs past climates over 120 million years with improved accuracy. The study, funded by NSF, offers strong improvements in precision over existing models.
Researchers studied freshwater fish fossils to understand the Neogene water cycle in Central Africa. A study proposed that Nuna was Earth's first supercontinent. Ancient cave systems near the Allgau Mountains preserved the oldest radiometrically dated dripstones known in the European Alps.
Researchers at Caltech propose that an entirely different mechanism is at play in Tibet, with a strong lower crust originating from India. This new understanding of the processes shaping the Himalaya Mountains and Tibet improves our knowledge of tectonic activity and earthquakes in the region.
Fossil teeth analysis reveals different herbivore families responded differently to the emergence of C4 warm-season grasses in East Africa. The shift occurred at varying rates and times, with some animals adapting to their new diet before grasslands spread rapidly.
This new book from The Geological Society of America features detailed descriptions of eight geological field trips across eastern Ohio to the Central Appalachian Valley and Ridge. These trips highlight the region's geology, covering topics such as paleontology, history, and industrial development.
The April 2011 Geosphere issue features articles on exploring the deep sea, including modeling of submarine cyclic steps, linking tectonism to deep-sea sedimentation, and submarine canyon profiles. New developments in Grenville geology also highlight fresh insights into the Lyon Mountain Granite.
Researchers investigate widespread basement erosion during late Paleocene-early Eocene in Laramide Rocky Mountains. Additionally, they explore anomalous clastic wedge development and V-shaped conjugate strike-slip faults with implications for planetary geology.
A new study published in Geology reveals that rock formations along the Canadian-US border date back to 120 million years ago. The research suggests that ancient rivers flowing through western North America were separated by the modern-day border.
Baylor University researchers have discovered the oldest archaeological evidence of human occupation in the Americas at a Central Texas site. The findings, published in the journal Science, date the peopling of the Americas to around 15,500 years ago, contradicting previous estimates of 13,000 years.
A Baylor University study reveals Native Americans significantly altered the eastern North American landscape and floodplain development hundreds of years prior to European settlement. The research found that prehistoric indigenous land use caused widespread ecological change and increased sedimentation in hydrologic systems during the...
A team of paleontologists used a living brachiopod species to understand how ancient brachiopods fed. They found that the modern animals generated relatively weak and strong feeding currents when opening and closing their shells.
Researchers studied earthquakes, volcanoes and land use in North America. They found evidence of localized active extension in Italy's central Apennines and a unique rare earth element signature in hydrothermal systems.
A team of researchers from Kent State University has studied the history of drought in the Pacific Northwest over the past 6,000 years. They used sediment records and tree-ring data to find that drought duration increased in response to decadal oscillations driven by marine processes.
Researchers at UC Davis are presenting innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, including electrification of vehicles and producing biofuels. The university is also exploring celestial superfluids, which offer potential breakthroughs in materials science and technology.
Researchers extracted a 6,000-year climate record from Washington state's Castor Lake, revealing longer, more extreme dry spells since 1200 AD, linked to changing El Niño/La Niú patterns.
A team of scientists drilling near an Icelandic volcano hit magma in 2009, resulting in a potentially game-changing discovery for geothermal energy. The team estimated that the steam generated from the magma could power up to 25,000 homes.
Researchers studying magma flows in Iceland's Krafla volcano have found a rare opportunity to examine supercritical water and its potential as an energy source. The team discovered rhyolite magma, formed by partial melting of basaltic rock, which can generate significant electricity if harnessed.
Studies reveal marine ferromanganese crusts as potential mineral resources, while CO2 emissions from volcanic lakes are also highlighted. Additionally, progressive uplift of the north Tibetan Plateau is confirmed since the middle Miocene, with implications for geological processes and catastrophic events.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno and Las Vegas have devised a new model for how Nevada's Carlin-type gold deposits formed, which may help in exploration efforts. This model relates to a change in plate tectonics and a major magma event about 40 million years ago.
The February 2011 Geosphere issue explores recent advances in Grenville geology, including pegmatite geochronology and 3D characterization of sandstone using X-ray CT. This themed issue honors James McLelland's contributions to understanding the Grenville Province.
The February issue of Geology explores Patagonian glaciations, the Younger Dryas cold period, and ancient megalakes in Australia. The study provides new insights into the Rio Grande Rift's seismic activity to gain insights into past climate changes.
By adding subsoil information to a sedimentation and erosion model, researchers at Delft University of Technology gained a clearer picture of how rivers and deltas develop over time. This new understanding can help with delta management and reservoir geology, particularly in finding oil reserves.
Researchers from UC Davis and UC Berkeley have discovered a new dinosaur, Eodramaeus, that lived 230 million years ago in South America. The carefully dated fossils suggest dinosaurs existed alongside other animals during the same periods of extinction, challenging the prevailing hypothesis about their origin.
Researchers studied ancient rain, microbial life, and ocean islands to understand uplift and climate change. They found that the North American Cordillera was uplifted by ancient rain, while microbial life existed inside fluid inclusions in modern and ancient salt crystals.
A team of geologists discovered that an ancient wind brought life to the region and preserved the dead in South Africa's Soom Shale. The unique structures found in the shale layers suggest that fierce glacial winds carried nutrients into the surface waters, fuelling prolific life.
Recent studies shed light on ancient C4 plants, submarine channels with helical flow reversal, and the genesis of granite. Researchers have also discovered mysterious rock layers containing petrified remains, cohabiting bacteria in ancient environments, and deep-cave stromatolites.
A new study presents the first geological evidence that the ancestors of C4 grasses emerged millions of years earlier than previously established. Researchers analyzed carbon isotope ratios in individual grains of grass pollen, finding unequivocal evidence for C4 grasses in southwestern Europe by the Early Oligocene.