A study in Evolution Canyon, Israel, shows that scorpion species exhibit different distributions on the south-facing and north-facing slopes, despite identical regional geology. The results suggest that environmental pressures, such as sunlight and drought, can lead to local changes in biodiversity.
Early human fossils found in 500-million-year-old rocks show that ancient pioneers may have carried shells on their backs to breathe, providing insights into how they adapted to life on land. Researchers also discovered large perturbations of the carbon and sulfur cycle accompanying a mass extinction event in South China and linked vol...
Researchers at the University of Utah developed a new method to locate trapped miners in collapsed mines by installing seismic listening devices on the ground. The system uses unique 'fingerprints' generated by miners banging on iron plates to pinpoint their location, showing promising results in tests.
Scientists found reduced export of North Atlantic deep water during Heinrich event 1, supporting hypothesis on freshwater's impact. However, they dispute the existence of a terminal extinction event in the Karoo Basin's continental record.
A team of Yale scientists has discovered that a significant drop in CO2 levels triggered the rapid formation of massive ice sheets in Antarctica around 34 million years ago. The findings refute previous theories and suggest that a decline in greenhouse gases played a crucial role in shaping the climate during this period.
Researchers from the University of Leicester and British Geological Survey have devised a method to identify levels of environmental arsenic by testing toenail clippings. They found elevated levels of arsenic in people living close to a former arsenic mine, but more research is needed to confirm potential health risks.
Recent research on Mars includes studies on the planet's geology and potential habitability. A new method for classifying Quaternary glacial deposits was also proposed by GSA Today's science article.
Researchers at Iowa State University used NCSS data to create a detailed Quaternary geologic map of the Des Moines Lobe, achieving strong agreement with existing maps. The map showcases finer detail and user-controllable scale, making it suitable for various disciplines.
Research on submarine displacement rates reveals some of the highest strike-slip rates on Earth, with implications for plate boundary deformation. Volcanic ice-slurry flows are also studied, showing extreme mobility and hazards at snow-capped volcanoes, with insights into their kinematic properties.
A researcher has discovered a tool that can reveal hundreds of hidden meteorite craters using aerial forest surveys. The technology was tested on a crater near Whitecourt, Alberta, and shows great potential for finding more undiscovered sites globally.
The article discusses recent geological findings, including rapid exhumation of ice-covered rocks in Southeast Alaska, a 9-degree warming in Greenland 14,700 years ago, and the onset of biomineralization in skeletal metazoans. It also presents a newly recognized eastern extension of the Nile deep-sea fan.
Researchers from the University of Leicester and Cambridge have solved the mystery of how soft tissues in 500-million-year-old fossils were preserved. The team found that deep heating transformed delicate organic tissues into mineral-rich sites, revealing intricate details such as gills, guts, and eyes.
A study published in Nature Geoscience suggests a connection between Himalayan erosion and monsoon climate over 23 million years. Geochemical data from sediment cores reveal an increase in East Asian monsoon intensity from 23 to 10 million years ago, followed by weakening until 4 million years ago.
A team of paleontologists from the University of Utah and independent scientists have found no evidence of dinosaur tracks at the 'dinosaur dance floor' site in northern Arizona. Instead, they suggest the features may be unusual potholes eroded in the sandstone.
A revised theory suggests that carbon dioxide levels have already entered a danger zone, necessitating a reduction below current levels of 385 parts per million (ppm). The study concludes that coal is the largest source of atmospheric CO2 and that phasing out its use could lead to a significant decline in CO2 emissions.
A new model for Grand Canyon erosion proposes that tectonic uplift drove incision, while opal formation on Mars suggests interaction with water occurred over a longer period. Fossils from the Burgess Shale have preserved soft tissues through mineralization, providing insights into ancient life.
The German research vessel Polarstern has completed its Arctic expedition, collecting data on the geology of the Arctic area and the development of ocean currents. Researchers discovered large sliding masses beneath the seafloor, indicating significant sediment relocations in the region.
Philip R. Christensen, Regents' Professor of Geological Sciences at ASU, has been awarded the G.K. Gilbert Award for his work on remote sensing of minerals on Mars using infrared instruments. The award recognizes his discoveries, including a large deposit of hematite and silica minerals, which may offer clues about a Martian biosphere.
Lisa White, associate dean at San Francisco State University, received the Geological Society of America's first Bromery Award for founding SF Rocks, a program introducing underrepresented minorities to geosciences. The award recognizes her efforts to increase diversity in the field.
UT Battelle has donated $47,500 in lab equipment and grants to Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Sevier counties to enhance math and science education. This will enable teachers to conduct hands-on experiments, increasing student participation and interest in scientific subjects.
A study examines the connection between Civil War battlefields and casualties, finding that geology plays a significant role in determining fighter outcomes. Researchers discovered areas with favorable terrain and unfavorable geology resulted in distinct casualty rates.
Researchers discover single mode of fossilization for soft tissues preserved in Burgess Shale-type deposits, using carbon isotope analysis. Hydrothermal circulation models reveal variations along slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges affect site distribution.
The University of Houston has trained its first class of 'homegrown' oil geophysicists in Africa, addressing a critical shortage in the petroleum industry. The program, in collaboration with the University of Cape Town, provided a comprehensive education in petroleum geophysics and prepared students for jobs in the oil industry.
Researchers explore climate change through corals and bat guano, as well as the Mississippi Delta's complex history of uplift and subsidence. Additionally, a study reveals that mantle upwelling controls the depth of fast-spreading ridges, while asteroid dust found in Antarctic ice provides insight into the Koronis asteroids.
Researchers found that water temperature in Antarctica was too warm for modern-day ice to exist, with temperatures ranging from 11-13°C at the surface and 23-25°C at the bottom. The study suggests a greenhouse Earth, with warmer seas and little or no ice in Antarctica, according to research published this week in Geology.
A recent Ohio State University study reveals that a single typhoon in Taiwan buries as much carbon in the ocean as all other rains combined, with 500,000 tons of carbon being washed away during Typhoon Mindulle. This finding could help scientists develop better models of global climate change.
University of Cincinnati geology researcher Tom Lowell discusses the latest research on the Younger Dryas event, a significant climate change event that occurred around 12,900 years ago. Lowell's team has found evidence of discrepancies in dating techniques used to study the event, which could have implications for understanding global...
Researchers found that fossilized bird feathers contain pigments that once gave birds their color. The discovery enables scientists to predict the original colors of feathered dinosaurs using fossilized melanosomes.
A team of geologists from the University of Florida has found evidence that six major basins in India were formed over a billion years ago, removing an obstacle to the Snowball Earth theory. The discovery also suggests that complex life may have originated hundreds of millions of years earlier than previously thought.
MESSENGER data reveals widespread volcanism on Mercury's surface, with lava plains and iron-deficient rock units mapped. The spacecraft has identified three major rock units and confirmed an apparent planet-wide iron deficiency in Mercury's surface rocks.
A new analysis of the devastating May 12 earthquake in China found that it resulted from faults with little seismic activity. The quake occurred at a boundary between two tectonic plates and was caused by the obstruction of rapidly flowing crustal material, leading to a simultaneous rupture of two separate but contiguous faults.
Recent research published in July 2008 Geology and GSA Today sheds new light on geological phenomena around the world. The study of ghostly lithospheres past reveals insights into southern Africa's volcanic rocks and Scotland's ancient sandstones, while another paper explores Wyoming's badlands and their ancient mammal fossils.
Researchers analyzed GPS data and coral growth bands to understand strain buildup between earthquakes. They found that locked fault zones store strain, which releases during future large earthquakes. The study aims to improve earthquake models and tsunami risk assessment.
Samoa has been reinstated as a primary hotspot trail based on new data, confirming its age progression and eliminating arguments against a plume origin. High-resolution climate recordings suggest extreme storm events' effects on landscapes and carbon dioxide levels. Meanwhile, research also explores icebergs along the southern US Atlan...
A University of Houston geologist has found over 300 surface faults in Harris County, posing a risk to buildings and infrastructure. The faults could move up to 1 inch a year, causing damage over several years and potentially leading to flooding on the subsiding side.
Scientists at Brown University found evidence of recent glaciation on Mars, challenging the notion that the planet's active climate was confined to the distant past. The team discovered ice packs up to 2.5 kilometers thick existed along Mars' mid-latitude belt as recently as 100 million years ago.
A UM Marine geology and geophysics student has been awarded the prestigious MARGINS Student Prize for her research on slow slip and slide dynamics in the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Her study revealed a 'slow slip event', where energy is released over several weeks instead of seconds, sparing damage to the surface environment.
UC Davis researchers analyzed sediment cores from the Antarctic Ross Sea, revealing evidence of magnetic field vortices beneath the South Pole. This discovery contrasts with earlier studies at lower latitudes and may improve our understanding of core processes.
The Advanced Energy Consortium aims to improve oil and gas production by developing intelligent subsurface micro and nanosensors. The technology will help characterize reservoirs in three dimensions, increasing recovery rates of existing and new hydrocarbon resources.
The discovery of a 480-million-year-old machaeridian fossil has provided new insights into the evolution of annelid worms. The specimen's soft tissues have revealed an elongate body with paired limb-like extensions and stiff bristles, confirming its classification as an annelid worm.
A 390-million-year-old sea scorpion fossil found in Germany shows that ancient arthropods like spiders and insects were much larger than their modern-day equivalents. The fossil claw is over a foot-and-a-half long, indicating these creatures were among the largest extinct arthropods.
Geologists at the University of Illinois report a direct relationship between magma production and tectonic plate convergence rates in a Caribbean submarine volcano. Analyzing rock samples from Kick'em Jenny, they found a higher protactinium-to-uranium ratio indicative of slower melting rates due to slow subduction rates.
Researchers are exploring land-based 'black smoker' sites to gain insights into harnessing geothermal energy. The project, led by UC Davis, uses a deep drilling approach to study the interaction between hot rocks and fluids.
Researchers describe four types of cnidarian fossils preserving traits related to modern jellyfish orders, pushing the known occurrence of definitive jellyfish back to 505 million years. The discovery provides insights into rapid species diversification during the Cambrian radiation.
Fedorov's work focuses on understanding abrupt climate changes, including simulations of sudden climate change and investigation into permanent El Niño-like conditions. His research has significant social importance, with potential consequences for global ecosystems and economies.
Researchers at Penn State suggest a canal existed in the quarry, enabling stone transportation, and propose solutions to prevent water damage. Preservation efforts are crucial to protect the site's unique archaeological record.
Researchers propose a new model, Frigid Faithful, which explains the formation of fractures and ridges on Saturn's moon Enceladus without requiring liquid water. The model describes how heat from a shallow source beneath the surface could lead to geyser-like activity and complex tectonic features.
Scientists at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory report that the Transantarctic Mountains formed from the remnants of a gigantic high plateau. The study reveals that the adjacent land sank, and glaciers accentuated the topography, leading to peaks up to 4.5 kilometers high.
Researchers from the University of Alberta have discovered that portions of Canada collided at least 500 million years earlier than thought. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of how North America's continental fragments assembled billions of years ago.
Engineers at MIT developed a simple system to determine an area's landslide risk using data on history of landslides, bedrock type, slope inclination, and vegetation growth. The tool is especially applicable to developing countries in Southeast Asia where detailed analysis has not been performed.
A University of Utah study reveals that temperature differences within Earth's crust and upper mantle explain about half of North America's elevation. Coastal cities, including New York City and Boston, would be underwater if not for the buoyant effect of heat on rock, with elevations ranging from 1,427 to 3,756 feet below sea level.
The University at Buffalo team conducts research on Baffin Island's fjords and sediments to reconstruct past climates and study the effects of climate change. They also educate the local Inuit community about global warming's impact on their traditional way of life.
The Deep Phreatic Thermal Explorer (DEPTHX) mission aims to study the physical dimensions, geothermal vents, and potential life in El Zacatón's depths. Using a 2.5-meter-diameter submarine, the team will collect water samples and core samples from the cenote walls.
Scientists at the University of Chicago have reclassified Prototaxites as a giant fungus, based on new evidence and chemical analysis. The fungus is believed to have stood up to 20 feet tall and thrived on land during the Silurian and Devonian periods.
Kent State faculty members Dr. Michael Kalinski and Dr. Daniel Holm have been awarded Fulbright grants to study and teach abroad, with Kalinski heading to India and Holm researching in Poland
Five UH geosciences professors are recognized for their outstanding achievements in various fields of study. Janok Bhattacharya receives the Grover E. Murray Memorial Distinguished Educator Award, while Aibing Li receives a $450,000 NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award supporting research and education integration. Fred Hilterman...
Researchers at Yale University discovered that ice sheets sometimes mesh together when colliding, forming a series of interlocking blocks dubbed finger rafting. This curiosity has puzzled scientists for over 50 years.
Researchers have discovered intermediary stage embryos between early-stage animal embryos and their adult forms, shedding light on the development of Earth's first animals. The discoveries were made using microfocus X-ray computed tomography (microCT) imaging and suggest that these embryos would have grown into tubular organisms.
Research suggests that massive ancient carbon releases caused global warming 55 million years ago, with temperatures increasing by up to 9°F (5°C) in just 10,000 years. The findings imply high climate sensitivity to CO2 and contradict skepticism about the Earth's response to increased carbon dioxide emissions.
Scientists from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School have developed an approach to investigate ocean reefs, which are considered the core of most living organisms. The new study has shed light on how stromatolites form and offers a new way to explore the origins of these living records.