A geologist's study suggests that melting ocean crust under volcanoes can create rich mineral deposits, such as gold and copper. The research provides new insights into the formation of these deposits, which could help identify regions with high potential for mining.
Scientists discovered well-preserved carbon dioxide and other compounds in deep-sea basalt, providing a rare glimpse into the Earth's mantle composition. This data may help determine the rate at which carbon dioxide is supplied to the atmosphere through volcanoes.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is leading a global effort to develop revolutionary materials and systems for safely and economically purifying water. Researchers will focus on improving disinfection and desalination processes, removing trace contaminants, and eliminating foulants that clog filters.
Active mountains, despite constant uplift, do not get taller because of erosion forces balancing uplift and sediment transport. Researchers found that river erosion rates closely match the rate at which rocks move up, with abrasion by suspended particles doing most of the down cutting.
The University of Minnesota and the Science Museum will collaborate on a $19.3 million NSF grant to study earth-surface dynamics and develop predictive models for landscape changes. The center will explore four themes, including landscapes and seascapes, basins, and human impact on landscapes.
Studies reveal steady rate of oceanic lithosphere creation over past 180 million years, contrasting with decreasing estimates. Researchers analyze structural investigation of San Juan thrust system and kinematic history of central Andean fold-thrust belt to build high plateaus.
New studies reveal close connections between North Atlantic and Pacific climates, with potential implications for predicting future climate changes. Glacier advances in Alaska and landslides triggered by asteroid impacts provide evidence of distant climate perturbations.
Researchers investigate active Archaean plate tectonics based on features in ultramafic blocks within oceanic crust remnants. Additionally, studies explore eukaryotic stromatolite builders' impact on Precambrian iron formations and atmospheric oxygenation.
Researchers have discovered high levels of mercury contamination in the Still River and Housatonic River in Danbury, Connecticut, threatening human health through seafood consumption. A 'jubilee' phenomenon has also been recorded in Mobile Bay, Alabama, where abundant seafood is harvested during specific conditions.
A team of scientists led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Professor Jun Abrajano refutes the Noah's Flood Hypothesis by presenting sediment evidence of sustained interaction between the Mediterranean and Black Seas. This contradicts the theory that a massive flood destroyed freshwater mollusks in the Black Sea.
Scientists have discovered well-preserved fossil remains of early land plants on Bathurst Island in the Northwest Territories, which are 800 miles from the North Pole. These findings indicate that vascular plants were more complex and developed earlier than previously thought.
Researchers found that glaciers in the tropical Andes Mountains retreated several thousand years earlier than North American glaciers during a wet period, indicating temperature change was the primary cause of glacial retreat. This challenges conventional wisdom that high northern latitudes drive global climate change.
Researchers at Columbia University have discovered a correlation between earthquakes and ocean tides, with seismic activity increasing during tidal lows. This study suggests that the seafloor crust is breathing with the ocean tides, allowing for regular tidal scheduling of seismic energy release.
Researchers analyzed iridium levels and magnetic fields to correlate with plant and animal life, suggesting a comet or asteroid impact led to the rise of dinosaurs in the Jurassic period. This impact is thought to have cleared the way for other species to adapt, ultimately paving the way for dinosaur dominance.
Researchers found that certain wetlands were successful in cleaning up acid mine drainage due to factors such as low water acidity and minimal destruction of native plants. However, clogging of limestone drains was a common issue, highlighting the need for regular maintenance and larger constructed wetlands.
The National Research Council's Committee on the Physics of the Universe recommends a national underground science laboratory at Homestake Gold Mine in South Dakota. The facility will enable US scientists to conduct experiments in physics, geology, cosmology, and ecology, among other disciplines.
Researchers at UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara have discovered a link between rapid changes in ocean carbon chemistry during the last ice age and shifts in ocean circulation. The study sheds light on how human-induced global warming may affect ocean currents, weather patterns, and climate worldwide.
A team of researchers has found that the continents have warmed significantly over the past half-century, similar to the warming of the oceans, atmosphere, and ice. The study used temperature readings from six continents to reconstruct a temperature history for the Earth's surface over the past 500 years.
A University of Toronto geochemist has found evidence of abiogenic gases in underground mines, matching hydrocarbons formed from non-life-based reactions. The discovery raises the possibility that life on Earth could be sustained by these gases, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of complex life.
Scientists have discovered a rare fossil of a brittle star with preserved fleshy tube feet, providing evidence of an ecological shift through time. The findings challenge traditional understanding of soft tissue preservation and offer new insights into the evolutionary history of starfishes.
Researcher Michele L. Aldrich found that Dickinson's poetry incorporated geological terms, indicating an influence from her education at Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke College. This study aims to encourage students interested in geology to explore the subject through literary examples like Dickinson's poems.
A new study by Union College geology student Jonathan MacDonald measures the neutron-induced fission tracks on porcelain fragments near ground zero in Hiroshima. The results provide insight into the exposure levels from the atomic bomb, with one sample showing a 2 to 2.5 times higher value than previous estimates.
A new million-year-old skull found in Ethiopia contradicts recent suggestions of a split in the homolineage between Eurasiatic and African populations. The team's detailed analysis shows genetic continuity between populations, indicating movement and mobility between them, consistent with a single species Homo erectus.
Geologists at Rice University have located the intersection of the Nubian, Somalian and Antarctic plates within a 100-kilometer-wide region known as the Andrew Bain Fracture Zone Complex. The research provides new insights into the relationship between African plates, including the tectonic processes that created the East African Rift.
Researchers used refined techniques to study minerals from meteorites, revealing a 20-million-year estimate for the Earth's formation. The new figure is based on careful separation of minerals and isolation of radioactive forms of niobium and zirconium.
Researchers found that tropical biomass burning is causing increased humidity in the stratosphere, contributing to milder winters in North America and Europe. The study suggests that higher humidity helps catalyze the destruction of the ozone layer.
Researchers found that soil geology plays a significant role in the Congo River Basin's response to drought. The basin's varied geology, including ferruginous cuirassed peneplain, sandy soils, and porous aquifers, affects discharge reduction rates during droughts.
Researchers developed a detailed hazard map for Pico de Orizaba, Mexico's highest mountain, using advanced technologies and computer simulations. The map reveals three levels of hazard based on probability, enabling local authorities to prepare for various events such as landslides, mudflows, and eruptions.
Scientists have tracked sea level changes and volumes of glacial ice using fossil corals. The study found that sea levels rose too early to be consistent with Milankovitch's orbital forcing, implying other factors can override glacial cycles.
A new theory suggests that an ancient supernova explosion may have devastated the Earth's ocean ecosystem, causing widespread extinction of plankton and marine organisms. The discovery was made by linking data from paleontology, geology, and astronomy fields.
Scientists discover rare squid with thin tentacles, stretching up to ten times its body length. The finding suggests the creature is widespread and highlights scientists' depth of ignorance about deep oceans.
Researchers studied the 1883 Krakatau eruption's tsunamis, identifying distinctive pumice deposits that provide clues to the source of volcanic material. The analysis helps scientists interpret coastal deposits in areas of active explosive volcanism and assess volcanic hazards.
A recent study by Washington University in St. Louis researchers attributes increased flood levels on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to the placement of thousands of wing dams, built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1930s and '40s. The structures impede water flow during floods, causing water levels to rise.
A geologist proposes that traditional Chinese landscape paintings, emphasizing harmony with nature, may have contributed to China's lack of early adoption of geological principles. This perspective is rooted in the Western European emphasis on geometric perspective as a tool for understanding spatial relationships.
Researchers are studying Mulinia congesta to determine change in organism shape and size due to environmental changes. The study focuses on a gradual environmental change in Southeastern Virginia over 500,000 years.
Researchers found that spines on Spondylus regis increase its surface area, providing a hospitable environment for epibionts. This indirect protection reduces overall predation on the bivalve.
The study provides new evidence on the timing and migration path of early hominids out of Africa. Researchers used Earth's magnetic field reversals to determine a more precise age for the Erk-el-Ahmar site, which dates back around 300,000 years.
The USGS is studying the Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure to understand its influence on groundwater. Scientists are examining the composition, age, and structure of crystalline basement rocks to learn more about the impact event's effects.
A new database using Geographic Information System (GIS) allows geologists to interpret large amounts of data more easily. The system enables scientists to query and analyze data over a large area in various ways, leading to new insights into the tectonic history of regions. This advancement in science helps understand the Earth's regi...
A new study simulates the Atlantic Ocean floor's movement over millions of years, predicting that it will plunge beneath the North American continent. The process is expected to take around three million years, triggered by water seeping into offshore rock and making it softer.
A North Carolina State University graduate student has discovered a nearly hatched dinosaur embryo in a well-preserved dinosaur egg unearthed over 30 years ago in Alabama. The discovery, made by James Lamb, is the first of its kind in the eastern United States and provides new insights into dinosaurs' diets and climate.
Research suggests climate shifts, such as droughts and temperature changes, may be more important than carbon dioxide levels in determining plant community composition. The study analyzed sediment cores from Mexico and Guatemala, finding that trends in C3 versus C4 plants were correlated with shifts in rainfall rather than carbon dioxide.
Researchers will explore the Hudson Submarine Canyon, a conduit to the deep ocean, to study urban impact on canyon and deep sea life. The team aims to discover unusual creatures, investigate gas hydrates for offshore energy potential, and assess pollution recovery.
Researchers analyzed lake sediment samples to find two naturally occurring warm periods in Alaska spanning 2,000 years. The initial period occurred from A.D. 0-300 and was accompanied by drier conditions; the second period corresponded to the Medieval Climatic Anomaly, a global warming event.
Scientists have discovered a natural method to track Atlantic salmon using strontium isotopes, which can reveal the fish's origin and migration patterns. This discovery could provide valuable insights into salmon habitat restoration efforts and inform more effective conservation strategies.
A four-year interdisciplinary study has identified young faults at the Oracle site and pinpointed the emissions responsible for the Pythia's trance state as light hydrocarbon gases from bituminous limestone. The study also found ethane, methane, and ethylene in spring water near the Oracle.
Scientists have observed a sudden shift in Mars' atmosphere, with temperatures increasing by about 30 degrees Centigrade, due to a massive dust storm. This phenomenon is similar to Earth's global warming, but much more extreme and potentially leading to a significant cooling of the planet.
New theory proposes that iron-rich sediments are stuck to the bottom of the mantle, creating drag that throws off the Earth's wobble. Seismic waves slow down as they approach the core-mantle boundary, suggesting a thin layer of silicates may be present.
A team of scientists analyzed sediment core samples from Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and Peru, revealing a 25,000-year precipitation record that suggests tropical South America was wet during the last Ice Age. The findings challenge traditional views that the region was dry during this time period.
Researchers have solved a long-standing volcanic mystery by finding a tear in the Pacific Plate, leading to the melting of cold slab material and altering its chemical makeup. This discovery sheds new light on the formation of adakites, a type of lava found in various parts of the globe.
Scientists study seismic waves to understand tectonic plate dynamics, aiming to resolve the long-standing 'great plate debate'. They use data from seismometers worldwide to characterize wave origins and time delays, creating a X-ray image of the planet's internal structure.
Researchers have discovered a 4.4-billion-year-old zircon crystal that suggests the early Earth had a low-temperature environment with water and conditions suitable for life. The findings contradict conventional wisdom, which predicted a magma ocean, and may indicate the Earth cooled faster than thought.
A nearly complete bird fossil found in Mongolia provides insight into the origin of living birds and the evolution of flight. The Apsaravis ukhaana specimen is from a part of the evolutionary tree close to the origin of all living birds, shedding new light on their evolution.
Researchers from UCLA and Curtin University of Technology found ancient zircons in a rock that suggest liquid water existed on Earth's surface around 4.3 billion years ago. This discovery supports the idea that the conditions for life were met early on, possibly allowing for the emergence of life as early as 4.3 billion years ago.
Researchers investigate the link between ocean changes and hydrate stability using sediment cores and chemical markers. They aim to identify past environments with gas hydrates and explore how they affected the atmosphere in the past.
Researchers can detect regional groundwater flow paths in the Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer using radiogenic isotope ratios. By analyzing variations in strontium-87 and strontium-86, they identified faster and slower flow zones aligned with sediment-filled valleys.
Researchers propose a new understanding of granite formation, suggesting it occurs in rapid, dynamic events that take between 1,000 and 100,000 years. This challenges the long-held view of slow, multi-million year processes, and has significant implications for our understanding of crust formation and economic ore deposits.
Researchers believe that parts of ancient Mars may have resembled a land of lakes, with layered geologic outcrops suggesting sedimentary rock deposited in horizontal layers. The discovery suggests an extremely dynamic environment on early Mars, with water likely playing a key role in shaping the planet's geology.
Researchers found natural biofilms that concentrate zinc sulfide, which could aid in treating acid mine drainage. The discovery sheds light on the biology of metal ore formation and offers potential solutions for contaminated mining sites.
A University of Toronto researcher found a polar lake in the Arctic has recovered significantly despite decades of sewage dumping, using diatoms as effective bio-monitors. The phosphorus levels have declined sharply since 1972, tracking the decrease in population at a former Canadian military base.