The Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) will map seismic processes across North America, enabling improved earthquake prediction and understanding. By deploying hundreds of sensors, researchers will measure subtle deformation and help geologists understand the shifting strains in the ground.
Researchers found evidence suggesting that the Navajo Sandstone in Utah may have been a large hydrocarbon reservoir, releasing bleaching gas into the atmosphere. The study suggests that this release could have influenced Earth's ancient climate and had significant implications for global carbon fluxes.
Researchers have identified a new class of ocean ridges with unique characteristics that challenge current understanding of plate tectonics and sea floor formation. These ultraslow spreading ridges may harbor significant mineral deposits, including copper and zinc, and provide insights into the Earth's mantle.
The study found a strong association between Adelie Penguin populations and the productivity of plankton in coastal polynyas. These 'oases' provide ideal conditions for phytoplankton blooms, which feed krill that are then eaten by penguins.
A massive iceberg drifted into the Ross Sea, blocking sunlight and preventing phytoplankton growth, which are a critical food source for krill and other marine animals. This event had a significant impact on the entire food chain in the Ross Sea.
Wen-Hsiung Li has made seminal contributions to the field of evolutionary molecular genetics, developing widely used methods for inferring phylogenetic relationships and discovering important insights into genetic change rates. His work has improved our understanding of evolutionary lineages and genetic diversity.
Dr. Ginis receives two-year grant to improve hurricane forecasting model and enhance storm prediction capabilities. The model, developed in collaboration with NOAA scientists, aims to better understand and predict extreme winds and heavy rain causing $5 billion in annual damages.
A new study has found that mobile magma plumes, rather than stationary hotspots, are responsible for the formation of islands and subsurface mountains in the Pacific Ocean. This discovery challenges traditional theories of tectonic movement and sheds light on climate changes recorded in ancient rocks.
Scientists discover Lost City, the tallest hydrothermal vent system ever seen, which can persist for hundreds of thousands to millions of years. This discovery increases the chances of finding early life on the seafloor, with potential implications for life beyond Earth.
Researchers found that the Hawaiian hotspot drifted southward between 47-81 million years ago, contradicting the traditional stationary plume theory. This discovery sheds light on terrestrial dynamics and raises fundamental questions about the mantle's role in controlling plate motions.
The UCLA Center for Astrobiology will focus on four themes: extrasolar planetary systems, habitability of planets and their satellites, Earth's early environment and life, and evolution of biological complexity. The center aims to detect planets beyond our solar system using new methods and study the factors that control habitability.
A massive tsunami is predicted to hit the Atlantic Coast on March 16, 2880, as a result of an asteroid impact. The simulation models a 2-mile diameter asteroid striking the ocean at 38,000 mph, generating waves up to 400 feet high and affecting coastal areas from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
Scientists from University of Ulster's Geophysics Research Group warn of substantial loss of life possible in Bingol city after Thursday's earthquake, citing increased seismic risk. The team identified two highly stressed areas on the East Anatolian Fault Zone as most likely locations for future large events.
A new early-warning system designed for southern California could give people up to 40 seconds of advanced notice of major earthquakes, allowing them to take shelter or evacuate. The system uses low-energy P-waves that travel faster than damaging S-waves and can provide precious seconds to react.
Researchers explore new power plants that capture carbon dioxide before it leaves the facility, as well as synthetic trees that pluck carbon from the air. Despite promising results, challenges remain, including proper water disposal and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers have discovered that an earthquake can cause damage to a neighboring fault line, potentially leading to more earthquakes. The study, led by UCLA's Vidale, measured seismic wave speed to detect this effect and found it in the Landers fault, which is 10 miles away from the Hector Mine fault.
Researchers developed a numerical model that explains the emergence of various patterns, including stone circles and labyrinths, through the interaction of two mechanisms: lateral sorting and squeezing. The relative strengths of these processes, along with factors like soil compressibility and stone size, determine the resulting pattern.
Kaye, a principal research physicist at PPPL, was recognized for his groundbreaking investigation of strongly heated plasmas and their characteristics. His work is crucial to predicting plasma performance in magnetic fusion energy devices.
Researchers used GIS techniques to assess New Minia City's site risk and bedrock stability, revealing soft limestone prone to dissolution. The model was found effective in identifying geo-environmental problems, allowing for informed decision-making on sustainable development.
Researchers discover that the Earth's magnetic field remained stable during a superchron period 95 million years ago, suggesting a single mechanism governs the field. The study also indicates that humanity may face a surprise in the future with possible pole reversals within centuries.
Recent geophysical data shows Mauna Loa's summit caldera swelling at a rate of 2-2.5 inches per year, indicating magma accumulation. Scientists warn that this could be a precursor to an eruption, which would be the first time imaged with precise clarity.
A new study by Stanford University geophysicists challenges the widely used time-predictable recurrence model, which estimates the time when an earthquake will occur. The researchers found that the model failed to predict a magnitude 6 quake on the San Andreas Fault in Central California.
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.
A team of researchers, led by UMass geologist Julie Brigham-Grette, is conducting a comprehensive scientific deployment to study the Bering and Chukchi Seas. The mission aims to understand how quickly the land bridge formed or was flooded with changes in global sea level, cutting off migration routes for people and plants.
Researchers used satellite imagery to study the effects of an iceberg on a marine ecosystem in Antarctica. The study found that extensive ice cover reduced phytoplankton production by 40% and affected the entire food chain from krill to fish, seals, whales, penguins, and other species.
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 detected a magnitude 5.7 quake on Kilauea's southern flank in November 2000 using GPS data, which caused the volcano's southern flank to slide nearly 3.5 inches into the sea. The event could become a model for predicting catastrophic tsunamis in the Pacific.
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.
A new mathematical theory developed by Vanderbilt University professors can produce more accurate digital representations of complex signals, overcoming limitations of current methods. This has significant applications in areas such as music, photography, medical imaging, astronomy, geophysics, and communications.
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.
A geophysicist proposes that life on Earth may have originated from microorganisms that could survive in high-temperature environments, such as deep beneath the surface. This theory is supported by evidence of ancient organisms thriving in extreme conditions and laboratory experiments showing that microbes can survive in space.
New research suggests earthquakes destroyed fortified buildings, changed river courses and made elite rulers vulnerable to attack in ancient civilizations. Scientists at Stanford University are painting a picture of an ancient world where earthquakes played a crucial role in shaping history.
Researchers have detected a massive compact halo object, or MACHO, using gravitational microlensing event data from the Hubble Space Telescope and European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope. The object is estimated to be 5-10% the mass of the sun and is thought to comprise up to 50% of the Milky Way's dark matter content.
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.
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.
Walter Munk, a leading figure in physical oceanography, is being honored with the inaugural Prince Albert I Medal for his decades-long research on ocean currents, tides, and climate change. His work has significantly improved our understanding of the oceans and their impact on global warming.
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.
The new global network of listening posts will track atmospheric signals from diverse events like secret nuclear tests, volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes. Infrasound energy is generated by meteors, chemical explosions, supersonic aircraft, tornadoes, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
By analyzing seismic waves, scientists have mapped the physical properties of the earth below, identifying regions with seismically fast mantle that produce gem-quality diamonds. This discovery could aid in locating new diamond mines by targeting areas with similar characteristics.
Scientists investigated subducting lithosphere and deep earthquakes near Fiji, finding a group of deep earthquakes off to the side that cannot be connected to the actively subducting lithosphere. The researchers suggest that similar slabs may exist elsewhere, preserving a significant primordial component of the mantle.
Researchers have found that dual electrical discharges associated with sprite creation can be separated by long intervals due to persistent cloud-to-ground currents. These currents, which can last up to 200 milliseconds, provide enough energy flow for the second burst to trigger the sprite.
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.
Astronomers have discovered over 154 rapidly moving stars towards the center of the Milky Way and its brightest neighboring galaxy. The findings are significant as these stars were previously difficult to detect due to their extreme density, allowing scientists to gain insights into the galaxy's most densely packed regions.
Researchers at Stanford University are working on a permanent worldwide volcano early-warning network, utilizing advances in technology and communication to revolutionize volcanology. Tiny movements on the surface of a volcano often indicate magma build-up below, which can be detected by radar satellites orbiting the Earth.
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 team of Stanford geophysicists used satellite radar images to detect rising volcanoes in the Galápagos Islands, a sign that they may erupt soon. The study found four out of six volcanoes on Isabela Island had risen in size over a seven-year period.
A $1.1-million study led by LSU will examine marine life on offshore platforms for pharmaceutical value, while also investigating the potential for better glues and adhesives. The research aims to identify new treatments for diseases such as cancer and AIDS.
A new study by geophysicists Shelley J. Kenner and Paul Segall suggests that devastating earthquakes could strike the New Madrid seismic zone along the Mississippi River within this century, potentially causing widespread destruction from Arkansas to Iowa.
Despite technological advancements, earthquake prediction remains elusive due to the Heat-Flow Paradox and debates on fault strength. Research efforts have shed light on variations along the San Andreas fault, with some areas experiencing locked stresses while others creep slowly.
Researchers found that the northern Hayward fault slips at a rate of 5-7 millimeters per year, similar to the surface, indicating it is not locked and releasing built-up strain. This reduces the threat of a major quake on this segment, but other hazards remain high.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have produced the first direct three-dimensional image of a volcanic system using sound waves. The team used a two-mile long array of hydrophones to record sound signals reflected from a magma chamber beneath the East Pacific Rise, revealing a large and complex magma chamber system.
Loren Acton, a former astronaut and solar physicist, has won the prestigious George Ellery Hale Prize for his outstanding contributions to solar astronomy. Acton's research focuses on understanding the Sun's behavior, shapes, colors, and motions.
The MAXIMA experiment provides evidence for a flat universe, inflation, and a cosmological constant. The study confirms predictions made before the experiment, supporting the standard cosmology.
The BOOMERANG experiment found a flat universe by analyzing cosmic microwave background radiation data. The team used the NERSC supercomputer to process the large dataset and derive fundamental cosmic parameters with high accuracy.
Researchers have found extraterrestrial noble gasses encapsulated within fullerene molecules, providing a new tool for tracing extraterrestrial events. The discovery supports the theory that atmospheric gases and organic compounds were delivered to planets via asteroid and comet strikes.
A new archaeon, Ferroplasma acidarmanus, is found in mining sites and accelerates the production of sulfuric acid, a major environmental pollutant. The microbe's ability to thrive in acidic conditions without a cell wall defies conventional understanding.
A new method suggests that trees and large plants led to an increase in atmospheric oxygen over 300 million years ago. This period saw higher concentrations of oxygen lasting for 100 million years, significantly higher than current levels of 21 percent.
The NASA space shuttle Endeavour will gather information key to the University of Hawaii's research on the aftermath of volcanic eruptions. The mission aims to provide more extensive topographic data on volcanoes, including Mount Pinatubo, using advanced radar interferometry.