Researchers discovered a rare doublet earthquake event near Japan, with two large quakes occurring over 60 days apart. The second quake was triggered by bending of the Pacific plate, shedding light on seismic dynamics and potential hazards in regions far from tectonic plate boundaries.
Nikolai Pogorelov, a UC Riverside researcher, has been awarded 850,000 processor hours on the seventh fastest computer in the world to study the outer heliosphere and its interaction with interstellar medium. The research will help plan future space missions and analyze fluxes of galactic cosmic rays.
New seismic images of the Chicxulub crater suggest the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs landed in deeper water than previously thought. This led to a larger release of water vapor into the atmosphere, which could have exacerbated the effects of acid rain and climate change.
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.
Scientists have discovered a possible explanation for Mars' limestone-free climate: sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. The greenhouse gas interfered with carbonate rock formation, but led to the creation of silicates and sulfites instead.
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission will precisely map the moon's gravitational pull, revealing differences in density of the moon's crust and mantle. The detailed information gained will facilitate future manned or unmanned missions to land on the moon.
New research brings scientists closer to exploring Jupiter's moon Europa, discovering potential for life in its ice-covered ocean. Refined methods and data analysis reveal a habitable environment, with improved measurements potentially detecting compounds indicative of life.
Researchers suggest that large earthquakes emit electromagnetic signals days or weeks before they strike, potentially providing early warnings. However, the scientific community needs to take notice and verify these findings.
Researchers found strong variation in tectonic stresses in the Nankai Trough, a region notorious for generating devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. The study used advanced drilling technology to collect data on rock and sediment density, porosity, and other geological properties.
Computer simulation predicts Voyager 2 will reach major milestone in space, crossing the 'termination shock' one more time in mid-2008. The spacecraft's expected crossing of the spherical shell marks a significant event in its journey into interstellar space.
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.
A new study led by UK scientists aims to reduce China's CO2 emissions from coal use, which are set to double by 2030. The 'Near Zero Emissions Coal' project uses carbon capture and storage technology to achieve up to a 90% reduction in emissions.
Scientists have identified a major fault and recent fault activity that contribute to massive tsunamis in the Nankai Trough. The research provides insights into the risk of giant tsunamis in other regions, allowing for better assessments and mitigation strategies.
Scientists at the University of Utah report that Yellowstone's caldera floor has risen by almost 3 inches per year for three years, with a total uplift of 7 inches during the past 30 months. This rate is more than three times faster than previous observations and may be due to an injection of a Los Angeles-sized blob of molten rock.
Arizona State University faculty members Matthew J. Fouch and Jenefer Husman received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for their innovative research in geophysics and educational psychology. The award recognizes their work on integrating geophysical data types to better understand Earth's interior.
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 have discovered a new type of phase transition in vanadium metal under extreme pressure, which contradicts the behavior of most other elements. This unusual lattice dynamics is driven by a huge change in electronic structure, providing a new explanation for the record-high superconducting temperature.
Researchers from the University of Utah and California's Raymond M. Alf Museum have unearthed a new duck-billed dinosaur species, Gryposaurus monumentensis, in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The creature is estimated to have grown up to 30 feet long as an adult and had over 300 teeth embedded in its thick skull.
University of Missouri-Columbia researchers are awarded $2.16 million to investigate the cause of intraplate earthquakes in North China and the New Madrid area. The multi-institutional study aims to improve understanding of these rare and destructive earthquakes.
Researchers discovered that brine moving up or down through floating sea ice follows universal transport properties, similar to water flow through sedimentary rocks. This finding can help improve forecasts of global warming's impact on polar icepacks and understand how polar ecosystems respond to climate change.
SMART-1 has mapped the polar regions, surveyed lunar resources, and investigated potential landing sites. The mission has provided clues on the dynamics of ejecta after impact and laboratory experiments have modeled impacts.
New research from UCLA finds that fireproofing homes dramatically reduces the spread of forest fires. By fireproofing not just their own homes but also those of their neighbors, individuals can help limit the damage and preserve entire neighborhoods.
Researchers found that fragmented structure of seafloor faults and volcanic activity dampen the effects of earthquakes. This contradicts conventional wisdom about transform faults, which should be longer and more brittle.
Researchers use echo-sounding equipment to create images of the ocean floor, providing evidence that West Antarctica was involved in the growth of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The findings suggest that more of the continent hosted an ice sheet at the start of the 'icehouse' Earth period.
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.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution compiled longest-ever record of Atlantic hurricane strikes, revealing strong connection between El Niño/Southern Oscillation and West African monsoon. Long-term trends indicate periods of more frequent intense hurricanes from 5,000 to 3,600 years ago and 1700 AD to present.
A new study uses satellite imagery to detect location of seismic unrest at Mauna Loa, bringing closer understanding of where an eruption may occur. Researchers can now more precisely forecast locations of volcanic activity, providing critical information for populated areas.
Researchers discovered the location and makeup of a pair of supermassive black holes in a galaxy collision, using adaptive optics to clear atmospheric distortion. The discovery sheds light on the coevolution of black holes and galaxies, with implications for understanding galaxy evolution and properties.
Researchers used adaptive optics to precisely locate and study the environments of two supermassive black holes at the center of a galaxy merger. The observations revealed young star clusters and rotating disks of stars surrounding each black hole.
A new mooring system has been installed on top of Kick'em Jenny, a submarine volcano, allowing for real-time data collection and transmission. This will improve researchers' ability to detect precursory activity before an eruption takes place.
The Seismological Society of America honors MIT's M. Nafi Toksoz for his 40-year investment in the field, defining seismology and its practice. He has mentored over 100 postdoctoral students, promoting a research environment at MIT.
Researchers have found that the Earth's magnetic field was nearly as strong 3.2 billion years ago as it is today, contrary to previous studies. The discovery suggests that the Earth was well protected from the solar wind, which can strip away a planet's atmosphere and bathe its surface in lethal radiation.
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks have discovered a correlation between lightning and volcanic eruptions. The study, published in Science journal, used electromagnetic lightning detectors to capture electrical activity during Mount Augustine's 2006 eruption, providing new insights into volcanic behavior.
Romanovsky will establish a network of permafrost observatories in North America and Russia to measure temperatures and monitor permafrost changes. The project aims to create a standardized system for monitoring permafrost and measuring temperatures, similar to Alaska's existing data set.
Researchers have found that tiny tremors and temblors in fault zones are generated by slow-moving earthquakes that may precede mega-quakes. The study suggests that detecting these weak signals could be useful in forecasting seismic hazards, particularly in subduction zones where the most destructive earthquakes occur.
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 from French and international institutions have discovered that global warming has also affected the ice cap on Mount Everest. By analyzing air bubbles trapped in ice cores, they found a marked decrease in gas content in 20th-century ice, indicating recent increases in summer melts.
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 at the University of Nevada used precariously balanced rocks to test seismic hazard predictions, measuring forces and angles to determine when an earthquake has not occurred for a long time. The study provides important information on seismic hazards in areas throughout the West, including data on ground-motion probability ...
A new study reveals that Yellowstone's volcanic hotspot is much more active than previously believed, exerting powerful forces on the surrounding terrain even between eruptions. The hotspot's effects are evident in the deformation of Earth's crust, with the Yellowstone caldera rising at an unprecedented rate.
Geologists use seismic waves to locate missing rock under Tibet, clarifying how continents behave when they collide. The research helps solve a long-standing mystery and provides key evidence for understanding the full dynamics of continental collision.
Researchers used GPS to record precise movements of hundreds of points on the Asian continent over 10 years, finding that most of Asia behaves like a 'c ceramic plate' while some areas, such as Tibet, deform more like Play-Doh. The findings challenge long-standing theories and provide new insights into continental deformation.
Researchers estimate that thousands of wind turbines could generate up to 330 gigawatts of average electrical power off the Mid-Atlantic coast, reducing carbon emissions by 68% and greenhouse gases by 57%. The study's findings suggest a significant potential for offshore wind energy in the region.
Scientists discover that seismic data cannot reliably map boundaries between rock units in young oceanic crust, altering views on new crust formation and life deep below the seafloor. Despite this limitation, seismic data holds keys to understanding fluid circulation and subsurface biosphere.
The analysis of Stardust particles from comet Wild 2 has revealed clues about the birth of our solar system, challenging some basic theories. The particles contain osbornite, a mineral that forms at high temperatures, indicating a volatile and dynamic environment during the solar system's infancy.
A new probability model designed by Stanford University geophysicists weaves together data from Global Positioning System (GPS) and the geological record to estimate fault movement rates. This time-dependent model reconciles the discrepancy between GPS-paleoseismology data, providing a more accurate picture of slip rates.
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.
Analyses of a classic, slow-rupturing tsunami earthquake have provided insight into seismologists and engineers. The data revealed a secondary underwater movement that amplified the original tsunami, creating a wave run-up of over 60 feet along a one-mile section of coastline.
The University of Houston has received a $1.4 million grant to provide students with hands-on training in the petroleum industry. The donation includes the KINGDOM Suite software, which will be used for research and classes.
Researchers found a connection between Antarctic ice sheet mass balance and weather systems worldwide, suggesting that storms in the Pacific Ocean may influence calving and iceberg breakup. This discovery provides new insights into past climate shifts and potential mechanisms linking global climate and weather patterns.
Scientists reconstructed a 45,000- to 60,000-year-old record of ocean temperature and salinity using chemical traces in fossil shells. They found the Atlantic got saltier during cold periods and fresher during warm intervals.
Mark Brandon's award-winning research explores the dynamics of erosion in tectonically active mountain ranges. His work has shed light on the interplay between accretion, erosion, and wedge growth in shaping the Earth's surface.
Researchers studied ancient Arctic water cycles during a period of rapid, extreme global warming 55 million years ago. The study found that increased precipitation led to lower ocean salinity and drastically lower oxygen levels in the Arctic Ocean, similar to predicted effects of greenhouse gases.
Dr. Elizabeth Cochran receives the 2006 Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award for her groundbreaking work on earthquake triggering, microcracks, and post-seismic displacements. Her research explores intriguing facets of earthquakes using InSAR technology.
Geologist Robert D. Hatcher Jr has made significant contributions to the field of geology, including applying plate tectonics to the southern Appalachians and pioneering new seismic exploration techniques. He is recognized for his work through the prestigious Penrose Medal from the Geological Society of America.
Research papers explore the effects of glacier shrinkage on alpine uplift, challenge previous theories on the mantle transition zone, and use stratospheric oxygen/nitrogen ratios to constrain carbon uptake budgets by the biosphere and ocean. Mineral dust aerosol emission is also enhanced by electric forces.
Seismologists from Stanford University pinpointed the source of non-volcanic signals emanating from a Japanese fault zone, likely caused by 'silent earthquakes' that displace ground without shaking it. These events may foreshadow powerful seismic temblors and contribute to seismic hazard forecasting.
Researchers discovered that slow-moving silent earthquakes can trigger swarms of tiny conventional tremors, potentially providing early warnings for mega-earthquakes. This discovery has raised hopes for seismic hazard forecasting in subduction zones worldwide.
A study by UCLA physicists reveals a connection between water vapor in the atmosphere and intense rainfall, using statistical properties similar to those found in magnets. This finding may lead to more accurate climate models and improved precipitation prediction under global warming.