Researchers employ a geology tool to analyze hydrogen atoms in cancer cells, finding a distinct ratio compared to healthy tissue. This discovery may lead to new ways to spot cancer early on and inform strategies for studying its growth and spread.
A comprehensive geophysical map of the Greenland Ice Sheet has been unveiled, providing a modernized framework for interpreting its solid earth properties. The map reveals a far more complex picture than previously known, with distinct subglacial regions and unique geophysical signatures detected.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin propose a new step in the tectonic process that raises seafloors into mountains, involving oceanic crust influencing magma chamber formation. This discovery has implications for understanding back arc basins and their role in regulating the planet's climate.
Researchers found a 100-million-year-old endoparasitic marine tapeworm fossil in Kachin amber, providing new information on the early evolution of tapeworms. The discovery shows that amber can preserve internal structures of helminths like tapeworms, shedding light on their taphonomy.
A team of geologists from the University of Colorado Boulder has made a breakthrough in understanding the emergence of the Spanish Peaks. The study reveals that the peaks first formed around 24 million years ago when magma welled up from deep within Earth's crust, but didn't break through to the surface until about 17 million years ago.
SEIS-UK, a seismic monitoring facility at University of Leicester, has received £2 million funding over 7 years to continue providing state-of-the-art equipment to UK researchers and their global collaborators. This investment supports high-quality research in earth and environmental sciences.
A new study suggests that the Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier began experiencing significant glacial retreat in the 1940s, driven by an extreme El Niño climate pattern. This finding corroborates previous research on ice sheet dynamics and highlights the importance of external factors in controlling glacier behavior.
The rover has discovered primary igneous rocks and hydrated magnesium sulfate, hinting at the presence of ancient life on Mars. The mission aims to retrieve samples that may answer the question about whether we are alone in the universe.
New research from the University of Utah reveals that pollen analysis indicates salt crusts formed between 5,400 and 3,500 years ago, contradicting the long-held assumption that they formed when Lake Bonneville dried up 13,000 years ago. The study's findings suggest a dynamic landscape with significant erosion and sediment accumulation.
Researchers found that historically low volcanic carbon dioxide emissions, combined with weathering of a large pile of volcanic rocks in Canada, led to the prolonged Sturtian glaciation. The team used plate tectonic modeling and computer simulations to investigate the cause and duration of this ice age.
Scientists have unraveled a major mystery in lunar geology by identifying a key step in the creation of unique magmas. High-temperature laboratory experiments and isotopic analyses reveal a critical reaction that controls their composition, providing new insights into the origin of volcanic lunar rocks.
This integrated study applies a new plate tectonics model to interpret major geological phenomena on Archean cratons, eliminating the illusion that continental crust did not originate from plate tectonics. The results provide insights into the evolution of early Earth and the origin of continental crust.
Researchers have discovered lipid fossils in ancient rocks, providing clues about the evolution of life. The findings suggest that a shift in animal feeding strategies occurred around 1.6 billion years ago, with some species abandoning phytosterol production as they obtained this nutrient from algae.
Researchers found that specific algae from the genus Breviolum help Caribbean octocorals withstand heat waves and bleaching events. The study provides clues for the future of coral reefs and highlights the need for further research to better understand the ecosystem.
Researchers successfully grow dolomite in laboratory using new theory developed from atomic simulations. The breakthrough resolves the 'Dolomite Problem,' which had puzzled scientists for 200 years. By removing defects in mineral structure, researchers can promote crystal growth of modern technological materials.
The study reconstructs a nearly continuous record of marine oxygen levels through the Phanerozoic using a machine learning approach. Oxygen levels in deep continental shelf seawater were negatively correlated with the production rate of the oceanic crust over timescales of 10–100 million years.
A novel method of analyzing Mars' gravitational force confirms the presence of an extensive northern ocean, providing new insights into the planet's history. The approach differs from traditional methods and can be applied to various disciplines such as geology and hydrology.
Researchers found common and diverse microbes in hot springs on three continents with water temperatures above 65°C. The study provides insights into how microorganisms adapt to unique local conditions and geological settings.
A UNIGE team has developed a method to rapidly obtain valuable information about the structure of volcanoes. By analyzing three key parameters: height, rock thickness, and chemical composition of magma, scientists can identify the active volcanoes most likely to produce large-scale eruptions.
Researchers found 27 million cubic meters of sediment moved through Houston waterways, equivalent to 40% of the Mississippi River's annual discharge. The study suggests river straightening can exacerbate sediment bypass, decreasing reservoir holding capacities by up to 1.6%
Research reveals Kama'ehu volcano in Hawaii has erupted five times in the past 150 years. The new study uses mass spectrometry to measure radium-226 in lava samples, revealing a frequency of eruptions around 30 years. This slower rate is linked to sluggish mantle upwelling on the margin of the Hawaiian plume.
A team of scientists led by University of Alaska Fairbanks geology professor Sarah Fowell are collecting samples from beneath the sea floor to learn about vegetation and climate of region 25,000 years ago. The project will be shared via digital and social media channels.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a way to interpret the meaning of dune patterns, which can be used to understand environmental changes on planetary bodies such as Mars, Venus, and Titan. The study found that high interaction density between dunes signals recent or local changes in boundary conditions.
A team of researchers at Texas A&M University has developed a new model to accurately measure ancient ocean temperatures using clumped isotopes. By understanding the reordering process, they were able to identify the role of water as an accelerator in resetting clumped isotope temperatures.
Two studies by UPV/EHU researchers analyze recent and past oceanographic information off the Basque coast based on microfauna present in sediments. The research found that planktonic foraminifera assemblages are good indicators of ocean currents and water masses reaching the Basque continental shelf today.
Scientists have confirmed that Earth's inner core is not a homogenous mass, but rather a textured solid metal sphere. The research, led by Guanning Pang and Keith Koper, used seismic data from naturally occurring earthquakes to study the inner core's structure.
A global team led by University of Minnesota professor Donna Whitney accurately determined the age and formation process of the East Anatolian fault, which runs from eastern to south-central Turkey. The study sheds light on the earthquake history and seismic activity in the region.
A groundbreaking study finds that microbial life can exist without plate tectonics, challenging a fundamental theory of geology. Zircon crystals from the Barberton Greenstone Belt reveal a stagnant lid regime on ancient Earth, leading to continent formation and potentially habitable conditions.
Analysis of the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica shows there is less sedimentary rock than expected, a finding that could affect how the ice slides into the ocean. The new map of the geology of the region provides an exciting basis for better predictions of future ice flow and sea level rise.
Researchers investigate Denali Fault's mantle-to-crust connections to understand seismic cycle and linkages between fluid flow, seismicity, and fault strength. Bubbling springs along the fault indicate intact connections to the mantle, suggesting a 'roadblock' may prevent future earthquakes.
A new study published in Geology evaluates the potential for domestic cobalt extraction from the Idaho Cobalt Belt, which hosts the second largest known domestic resource of critical mineral cobalt. The researchers conclude that the ore from Idaho should be divided and processed for copper and cobalt separately to meet growing demand.
Researchers have created a detailed map of the geology beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, showing that only about a fifth of the ground is sedimentary rock. This finding could affect how the glacier behaves as it retreats due to climate change, with potential implications for ice flow and loss from other glaciers.
A new study published in Geology concludes that an extinct volcano off the shore of Portugal could store as much as 1.2-8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to ~24-125 years of the country's industrial emissions.
NERC has invested £25 million in a host of high-risk, high-reward research projects tackling key unanswered questions about our planet. The projects cover geology, atmospheric science, biodiversity and ecology, with research spanning 3-4 years and funding up to £1.3 million.
Researchers used mercury isotope data to push back the timeline of vascular plant colonization, finding extensive land colonization by early Silurian (~444 Ma). This discovery links terrestrial organism expansion to co-evolution of earth systems, particularly atmosphere-ocean-weathering processes.
Researchers from University of Warsaw and Utrecht University observed the Brazil nut effect in a mixture of charged colloidal particles without external energy. The phenomenon involves heavier particles rising to the top due to repulsion forces, with potential applications in geology, soft matter physics, and industry.
The University of Texas at Austin is helping the Port of Corpus Christi determine if it can permanently store greenhouse gas emissions from industrial operations beneath the seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico. The project aims to store carbon dioxide emissions in geological formations deep beneath the seafloor, reducing atmospheric emissions.
Researchers investigated life and death of a West Antarctica subglacial lake and found evidence for Caribbean plate subduction in southern Costa Rica. Additionally, studies examined oxygenation in Earth's oceans and explored the control of Cambrian paleotopography by Precambrian crustal-scale features.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin are developing a new mining technology that uses CO2 to weaken rock containing critical minerals, reducing energy needed for mining. The goal is to make mining carbon negative by storing more carbon than produced.
A recent study published in Nature found that melted meteorites retain extremely low water content, making them unlikely to be the primary source of Earth's water. The research suggests that unmelted, or chondritic, meteorites are more likely to have delivered water to our planet.
Researchers found that petroleum production from Platform Holly reduced methane seepage into the waters, confirming earlier regional studies. The study suggests harnessing gas could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the South Ellwood Oil Field.
The Geological Society of America's joint meeting explores key issues in eastern US geology, including sea-level rise and climate change. The event also features field trips and short courses on topics like stormwater management and luminescence dating.
A recent study analyzed marine ecosystems before, during, and after the Permian-Triassic extinction event, revealing that biodiversity loss led to ecological destabilization. The researchers found that functional redundancy, or the presence of multiple species performing similar functions, was critical in maintaining ecosystem stability.
A new UCLA-led study explains that tidal heating in Enceladus' rocky core creates currents that transport silica particles to the surface. The research suggests that these flows can pick up materials from the seafloor and bring them to the ice shell, providing evidence for hydrothermal activity at the ocean floor.
The Zhurong rover has imaged shallow impact craters and buried impact crater walls in the top five meters of Mars' surface, revealing complex subsurface geology. Researchers found layers of sediment left by past flooding and deposition, but no evidence of water or ice in the present day.
Researchers have found that glaciers advanced three times over the past 1,500 years in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula, coinciding with evidence from other studies. The study uses radiocarbon dates from black mosses to constrain past glacier behavior and provides insights into climate history.
The new articles explore the dynamics of slow and fast plate subduction, slab damage, and backarc opening in the central Mediterranean region. Another article examines mantle serpentinization and associated hydrogen flux at North Atlantic magma-poor rifted margins.
A 550-million-year-old fossil of Dickinsonia was discovered in India, but it turned out to be a beehive. The correction puts the geologic and life history of India back into contention, with the rocks potentially being one billion years old.
The Eurasian Ice Sheet sculpted Europe's landscape through extreme erosion over the last 100,000 years, with climate and geology playing key roles. The study reveals vast networks of subglacial rivers, promoting faster ice flow and sediment transport, with significant implications for marine carbon sinks and coastal communities.
Researchers investigate Earth's oldest evidence of life in ancient stromatolites, while also studying strike-slip faulting and its connection to climate. Additionally, scientists explore the potential for finding life on Mars by analyzing rare earth elements and geological features.
Two new studies reveal a link between fault surface morphology and earthquake nucleation potential, as well as significant Neogene transpressional exhumation in central California. Additionally, researchers explain the low Au endowment of continental intraplate alkaline magmas by identifying an early Au-rich sulfide liquid saturation
Scientists have detected seismic surface waves on Mars for the first time, providing new insights into the planet's crust and structure. The study estimates the average properties of the Martian crust between 3 to 18.6 miles below the surface, revealing faster seismic velocities that suggest compositional differences or reduced porosity.
The Chang'E-5 mission returned samples that revealed a previously unknown iron-rich and high-calcium surface of basalts, challenging previous assumptions about the lunar geology community. The samples were primarily composed of pyroxene, contradicting earlier studies that indicated a high abundance of olivine.
Geoscientists at the University of Sydney have created a method to assess the health of coral reefs from space by analyzing sand aprons. The research reveals that sand aprons can be used to predict carbonate sediment productivity, with significant declines detected in recent years, indicating potential effects of climate change.
Researchers analyzed eight ice caves in Tyrol, Styria, Upper Austria, and Carinthia, finding a decline in ice mass over the past 2000 years due to human-induced climate change. The study mirrors the evolution of glaciers during the Late Holocene period, with significant consequences for these underground ice formations.
Researchers applied a new U/Th-Pb geochronology approach to constrain the provenance of eolian sediments from the Chinese Loess Plateau. Their study revealed dominant U/Th-Pb age peaks in early Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and late Cenozoic, mirroring northeast Tibetan Plateau orogenic episodes. In contrast, gold deposits in northern Perú clus...
Researchers have extracted a detailed record of 700,000 years of tropical climate change from an Andean lakebed, shedding light on the past 160,000 years. The discovery reveals that glaciers in the tropics followed a roughly 100,000-year cycle, with periods of wetness and dryness affecting global temperatures.
A global team led by researchers from Curtin University used a supercomputer-powered technology to explore the geology of Mars without leaving home. They found that the ancient Martian meteorite NWA 7034 was ejected 5-10 million years ago from the north-east of the Terra Cimmeria - Sirenum province, in the southern hemisphere of Mars.
Researchers recreated ancient ammonite movement using robotic models, exploring trade-offs between stability and maneuverability. The study found that different shell shapes offered varying advantages and consequences, with no single perfect design.
Researchers identify three stages in convergent plate margin formation, from low-angle subduction to rifting zones. They also reveal the importance of material movement and thermal state changes in shaping these dynamic systems.