New research suggests that corals build their hard, calcium carbonate skeletons faster and in bigger pieces than previously thought. This active construction method helps them grow much faster and with greater control.
A team of international archaeologists has re-examined a c. 8,500-year-old by-product from metal smelting and found conclusive evidence of an incidental copper firing event. The discovery provides new insights into the origins of metallurgy in the Near East.
Researchers developed a portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (PXRF) device to measure calcium levels in soils. The device provides accurate data on 20 elements in 60 seconds, improving field assessments for soil scientists.
A groundbreaking study applies big data analysis to mineralogy, predicting the existence of 1,500 missing minerals and new deposits. The technique enables scientists to represent data from multiple variables on thousands of minerals in a single graph, revealing patterns of occurrence and distribution.
Researchers studied iron carbonate under extreme conditions to understand the deep Earth's carbon cycle and its role in global warming. They found unprecedented structural stability of a tetracarbonate phase at high pressures, suggesting self-oxidation-reduction reactions can preserve carbonates in the lower mantle.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered that the capture and release of ions at the interface between water and muscovite mica is controlled by electrostatic properties. This breakthrough allows for real-time observations of ion transport dynamics, giving new insights into environmental processes.
A species of millipede called Pneumodesmus newmani was once believed to be the world's oldest known air-breathing land creature, but a new study reveals it is actually around 14 million years younger and cannot be considered as such.
Researchers found that seawater's interaction with Roman concrete leads to the growth of rare minerals, increasing its cohesion and strength. The unique pozzolanic reaction and interlocking mineral crystals provide a system contrary to modern cement-based concrete.
A study by Wildlife Conservation Society found that Congo's miners often hunt wildlife for food due to lack of alternative protein sources. The authors suggest strengthening wildlife-friendly mining regulations and increasing domestic food sources as solutions.
Podoconiosis is preventable by wearing shoes in areas with red clay minerals, yet many Ethiopian children have misconceptions about the disease and its prevention. Research found that children believed barefoot exposure to dew or pond water was a risk factor, despite knowing symptoms and benefits of proper footwear.
A team of scientists found that dehydration of minerals deep below the ocean floor influenced the severity of the 2004 Sumatra earthquake. The researchers used ocean drilling samples to understand the process and its potential impact on other subduction zones.
Research shows that pasta-eating children and adolescents have greater intakes of essential vitamins and minerals, while lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat. Pasta is recommended as a nutrient-dense food to complement a well-balanced meal.
Researchers have mapped areas with high rare earth mineral resource potential within heavy mineral sands in the southeastern United States. The study suggests that a large percentage of these minerals are derived from specific Piedmont province rocks via coastal processes during Atlantic opening.
Scientists at McGill University propose a new theory on how Earth's crust was created, suggesting that silica-rich minerals condensed and fell back to earth over about a million years. This process, called aerial metasomatism, could provide clues for the search for life on exoplanets.
A new study finds that long-term exposure to soil minerals from walking barefoot in volcanic soils is the cause of a debilitating and disfiguring skin condition in western Uganda. The researchers found that people had been suffering silently for decades before symptoms became apparent.
A team of scientists has discovered a rare sample of the mineral majorite, which originated at least 235 miles below Earth's surface. The discovery provides valuable insights into the dynamic processes occurring deep inside the Earth and its history, including the formation of mountain ranges that persist today.
Scientists developed a unique type of wheat that can increase the digestibility of phosphorus and other minerals, improving health for undernourished populations. The new wheat, HIGHPHY, was tested in broilers and demonstrated improved digestion coefficients for calcium and phosphorus.
A global research team warns of severe mineral supply constraints due to lack of international coordination on exploration investment efforts and geological data sharing. The shortage could lead to rising prices and critical shortages of essential resources, including technology minerals and base metals.
The LOH-Theory suggests that amino-acids and primitive organisms arose in semi-liquid water systems saturated with functional organic substances, allowing for exothermal and thermodynamically feasible syntheses. The theory is supported by analyses of available literature and paleontological data on the origins of life on Earth.
Scientists at Tohoku University simulated the formation of super-deep diamonds using high-pressure and high-temperature experiments. The study suggests that these rare diamonds can form through the reaction of Mg-carbonate and silica minerals at extreme depths, offering new insights into Earth's interior conditions.
Researchers found the average temperature of Earth's mantle beneath ocean basins is about 60 degrees Celsius higher than previously thought, thanks to water in deep minerals. This discovery may change our understanding of tectonic plate movements and mantle viscosity.
Researchers identify 208 minerals formed due to human activities, bolstering the argument for a new geological time interval. The vast majority of these minerals originated through mining and human industry since the mid-1700s, underscoring the immense impact of human activities on Earth's mineral diversity.
The Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech are teaming up to develop an integrated approach to locating, characterizing, and visualizing mineral resources. The consortium aims to boost exploration success rates, advance mining operations, and cut costs while minimizing financial risk and environmental impact.
Researchers are discovering new, eco-friendly catalysts in unexpected places, such as earthworm powder and plants that absorb high levels of metals from soil and water. This shift could reduce traditional animal and plant sources, decrease mining waste, and create more sustainable production methods for medicines, fuels, and electronics.
The five researchers were honored for their accomplishments in chemical engineering, energy and minerals engineering, environmental engineering and computer science. They also received recognition for mentoring young women scientists in their respective countries.
Researchers from Stanford University review biomimetic strategies to heal bone defects, focusing on cell transplantation and grafts based on soluble bone minerals or structural proteins. The study highlights the potential of biomimetics in regenerative medicine.
A new study from Tufts University reveals that honey bees fine-tune their nutrient-seeking behavior based on the seasonality of their floral diet. Bees forage for minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium in water sources that reflect what's lacking in their pollen-based diet.
Researchers have identified three new uranium minerals, leesite, leószilárdite, and redcanyonite, found growing on the walls of old uranium mines in southern Utah. These minerals provide valuable insights into the chemistry and structure of uranyl compounds and their interactions with the environment.
Researchers discovered minerals from 43 ancient meteorites, including rare and unknown types. This finding suggests a dramatically different solar system history, requiring a revision of current understanding. The study's results confirm a hypothesis presented last summer and show that the solar system is not stable over time.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered a 500-year cycle of flooding in central China, which can be used to predict broad precipitation patterns in the future. The findings provide insight into climate change over time and improve understanding of monsoon regions.
New research suggests that erionite's carcinogenic effect may be caused by its fibrous structure, rather than iron present in accompanying minerals. The mineralogists' findings raise questions about the role of ferrous particles in erionite's toxicity.
Physicist Tyrone Daulton reviews Younger Dryas sediments for nanodiamonds and finds none, contradicting the impact hypothesis. He attributes this to misidentification of similar carbon structures, such as graphene and graphane.
The study found significant changes in calcium, magnesium, and sulfate levels in the Yukon River over three decades, likely due to increased weathering and groundwater enrichment. These changes have cascading effects on Arctic Ocean currents and weather patterns worldwide.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that water is stored far deeper in the Earth than previously thought. Researchers estimate that water exists between 400 to 600 kilometers into the mantle, where it is transported through a high-pressure polymorph of brucite.
A team of researchers from the University of Oregon has discovered microfossils in Australian rocks that suggest life in soils may have existed on Earth over 3,000 million years ago. The findings indicate that ancient ecosystems thrived in terrestrial environments, challenging traditional views of early life on Earth.
New research suggests that fast-cooking dry beans retain more protein, iron, and other minerals compared to slower-cooking varieties. This finding has significant implications for addressing global nutrient deficiencies, particularly among people with limited access to food options.
Researchers analyzed diamonds from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and University of British Columbia, gaining a rare look at the processes that led to Earth's crust formation. The study reveals an incredible 3-billion-year journey through tectonic collisions and volcanic eruptions.
A team of scientists from Michigan Technological University and other institutions has discovered a new mineral, merelaniite, with a complex structure composed of layers of molybdenum disulfide and lead sulfide. The discovery showcases the intricate microscopic beauty of exotic materials, which may have useful applications.
New research reveals that ancient rocks can supply energy to microorganisms kilometers below Earth's surface through reactions between water and minerals. This discovery has significant implications for the search for life on Mars, where similar geological settings may support microbial life.
Research finds that insects can contribute well-rounded meals with essential minerals like calcium, copper and zinc. Crickets have higher levels of iron than other insects, making them a promising source of this crucial nutrient.
Researchers observed wild-bearded capuchin monkeys in Brazil creating fractured flakes and cores with characteristics of early Stone Age hominin tools. The monkeys' behavior suggests they may be extracting minerals or lichen from stones, but their actions are unintentional and distinct from human tool-making.
Florida State University geology researcher Mainak Mookherjee explores feldspar elasticity to explain seismic discontinuity. At extreme pressures, feldspar decomposes into denser mineral phases, which could partially explain this phenomenon.
A nationally representative survey found that US adults' supplement use remained stable between 1999 and 2012, with 52% reporting use of any supplements in 2011-2012. Multivitamin use decreased during this time period, from 37% to 31%.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati find non-deleterious sulfate minerals in ancient soil and water, increasing fertility for maize cultivation. The discovery sheds new light on the Ancestral Puebloans' thriving agricultural urban center.
Researchers find Gli1 positive stem cells, which can become smooth muscle cells, bone-building osteoblasts, and other connective tissues, contribute to vascular calcification. The study provides insights into the active process behind calcified blood vessels in chronic kidney disease.
Geophysicists at the University of Bonn have visualized plant root activity using electrical impedance tomography, allowing for non-invasive monitoring of nutrient uptake. The method provides insights into plant behavior under different conditions, such as drought or nutrient stress.
Researchers at McGill University found that two rare minerals, stepanovite and zhemchuzhnikovite, have the same structure as man-made MOFs. This discovery opens up new possibilities for using these materials in various applications such as hydrogen storage and carbon sequestration.
A new study suggests that the weathering of rocks by early non-vascular plants, such as mosses and lichens, may have contributed to the cooling of the climate during the Late Ordovician period. This process, known as chemical weathering, can draw down atmospheric CO2, leading to global cooling.
Researchers have created stable silver clusters within zeolite frameworks, maintaining their unique optical properties. This breakthrough has great potential for the development of more efficient and affordable fluorescent and LED lighting.
Researchers have discovered a new type of meteorite called Ost 65, which appears to be from the missing partner in a massive asteroid collision 470 million years ago. The discovery provides insights into the history of our solar system and may shed light on the evolution of life on Earth.
Researchers found that basaltic rocks can effectively store carbon dioxide, a potential solution to mitigate climate change. By injecting CO2 into these rocks, the greenhouse gas is converted into stable carbonate minerals, reducing leakage risks.
Scientists at the Hellisheidi power plant in Iceland have developed a method to convert CO2 emissions into solid minerals within months, significantly faster than predicted. The process involves mixing CO2 with water and injecting it into volcanic basalt, resulting in the formation of whitish, chalky minerals.
Researchers developed a new method to calculate elasticity of minerals at high pressure and temperature, reducing computational loads by up to tenfold. This allows for the constraining of Earth's interior composition and temperature with increased precision.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London developed a new lighting material using silver, which can emit light with high efficiency and is cheap to produce.
These unique ecosystems sustain a diverse range of marine life, including tube worms, giant crabs, and mussels, which consume methane and toxic sulfide. The hydrothermal vents and seeps also release minerals and heat, creating rocks and habitat that can last for tens of thousands of years.
Research by University of Sussex professor Constantin Blome found that industry collaboration and consumer pressure can make a big impact in the global drive to stop profits from mineral trade falling into the hands of armed groups. Simple measures such as sharing lists of certified smelters and refineries can help.
A team of researchers from Germany and the UK used high-resolution electron microscopy to study magnetic vortices in magnetite minerals, revealing that they are surprisingly resilient to temperature changes. The findings have significant implications for understanding the Earth's magnetic field history and plate tectonics.
Researchers have identified two novel molecular players necessary to regulate plasmodesmata in plants under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. These enzymes help control the flow of nutrients, minerals, and cellular signals between cells by altering callose levels at the plasmodesmata channel.
Researchers studied the electrical conductivity of hydrous silicate minerals under controlled temperature and pressure to understand water distribution in the Earth's interior. The study found that dehydration and pressure effects significantly impact bulk conductivity, with implications for understanding subduction zones.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a method to break down glyphosate, a common commercial herbicide, using manganese oxide minerals. The study found that the mineral can degrade glyphosate and AMPA, a major byproduct, within hours, providing a potential solution to environmental concerns about these compounds.