Researchers detected a slight tilt in the seismometer's signal during solar eclipses, likely due to ground cooling and deformation. This effect could be used to map Phobos' orbit with increased precision, important for future missions to the Martian moon.
A new model integrates two phases of matter accumulation in active galaxies, revealing a universal mechanism for ejection of matter by black holes. The research suggests that the molecular phase is part of the outflow, blowing away more matter than previously thought.
Researchers found high concentrations of hematite at lunar high latitudes, strongly correlated with water content. The presence of hematite suggests that Earth's atmospheric oxygen may have oxidized the mineral over billions of years.
The South Atlantic Anomaly, a weak spot in Earth's magnetic field, allows charged particles to dip closer to the surface, posing a threat to satellites. Recent observations show the anomaly is expanding westward and weakening in intensity, creating additional challenges for space missions.
Researchers discovered evidence of ancient subduction in China and six other continents, revealing that plate tectonics went global 2 billion years ago. This finding provides the first global evidence for the operation of plate tectonics at this age.
Researchers find that San Francisco Bay Area coastal flooding causes region-wide commute disruptions, particularly in areas with sparse road networks. Climate change exacerbates the issue, and measuring road network density is crucial for understanding community resilience to flood-related delays.
Researchers used seismic waves to study chemical reactions deep below ground, revealing changes in porosity and saturation of rocks. The findings have implications for understanding water quality and protecting valuable groundwater resources.
Computer simulations revealed that Venus' coronae topography depends on crust thickness and magma activity, classifying over 100 large coronae into active and inactive groups. The 'Ring of Fire' in Venus' southern hemisphere is a zone expelling high levels of rising plume material.
A team of geophysicists used the ROMY ring laser to measure the Earth's rotational velocity and axis orientation, achieving the most precise ground-based measurements yet. The instrument detected minute alterations in the Earth's rotation caused by ocean currents, ice mass shifts, and seismic events.
A rock core from Petrified Forest National Park has provided a continuous timeline of Earth's history from 225 million to 209 million years ago, shedding light on the Triassic dark ages. The analysis suggests two possible scenarios for the changes in the fossil record: gradual evolution or a powerful asteroid impact.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered 37 recently active volcanic structures on Venus, suggesting the planet's interior is still churning. The study provides evidence that Venus is no longer a dormant planet and may hold clues to its geological development.
Researchers studied Telica Volcano, using photos collected from 1994-2017 and photogrammetric techniques to quantify changes in crater morphology. They found that crater wall collapse is a primary mechanism for changing volcano shape.
Researchers at Yale University have discovered a novel approach to finding biological signals in ancient fossils, providing insights into major evolutionary questions. The study has already revealed valuable information about the soft shells that encased early dinosaur eggs and identified an ancient creature known as the Tully Monster.
Researchers have discovered ancient volcanic activity and subtle, unusual movements in the Earth's surface in the Eifel region of Germany, suggesting a greater risk to northwestern Europe. The study suggests that the region is an active volcanic system with significant seismic activity.
A recent study evaluates proxy-based reconstructions and model simulations for past temperature changes, finding that uncertainties increase over time. The results show that climate modeling results are less reliable than proxy-based reconstructions, especially during Medieval times.
Researchers used 3D magnetotelluric imaging to image magma reservoirs beneath Weishan volcano, revealing vertically distributed low-resistivity anomalies and melt fractions of over 15%. The findings suggest the volcano is in an active stage with potential for future eruptions.
Scientists studied sunspots and their movement, discovering a giant cell in each hemisphere with plasma moving towards the equator at 15 km/h. The meridional flow explains why sunspots emerge closer to the equator as solar cycles progress.
A four-year-long earthquake swarm near Cahuilla, California was driven by a naturally occurring injection of underground fluids, revealing complex conditions for fluid flow within the fault zone. The study provides new insights into seismic processes and brings closer concrete explanations for how earthquake swarms start and terminate.
Researchers have developed a new non-invasive ultrasound method that compensates for distortions in soft tissue structure, providing ideal resolution and contrast optimized for each pixel. This approach has applications in biomedical diagnosis, optical microscopy, and industrial material inspection.
SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 11, 2020
Deep earthquakes can provide vital clues to understanding plate tectonics and the Earth's interior. A new model simulates subduction zones, showing that deformation is a major factor in deep earthquakes.
Researchers at Binghamton University developed a method for detecting dangerous 'butterfly' landmines using low-cost commercial drones and infrared cameras. The new research uses convolutional neural networks to automate landmine detection, providing faster and more accurate results than human-eye scanning.
A Texas A&M-led study analyzed ocean floor sediment cores to reveal the relationship between deep ocean oxygenation and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the past 50,000 years. The research found that enhanced storage of respired carbon in the deep ocean occurred during periods of low atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Scientists have combined experiments with simulations to reveal new insights into the flow behavior of elasto-visco-plastic materials. Their research highlights the importance of including elasticity in future models, which is crucial for understanding how these materials behave under different conditions.
Researchers found that free flowing mud under Martian conditions behaves differently from on Earth due to rapid freezing and icy crust formation. The experimental mud flows formed similar shapes to 'pahoehoe' lava, explaining the formation of lava-like flow morphologies on Mars.
Research suggests that global warming could disturb the Indian Ocean's surface temperatures, triggering an Indian Ocean El Niño similar to the Pacific Ocean phenomenon. This could lead to new climate extremes, including disruption of monsoons over East Africa and Asia.
A new study by Stanford researchers suggests that park-like tsunami defenses, featuring strategically arranged green hills along coastlines, can provide an effective alternative to towering seawalls. These designs prioritize coastal access, ecological function, and community well-being while offering improved risk mitigation benefits.
The Stanford study develops a calculation of the risk that shaking triggered by a given project will be felt in surrounding communities. The authors propose setting yellow-light thresholds approximately two magnitude units below the red light to reduce nuisance-level shaking.
The study presents a comprehensive view of tectonic stresses acting on North America, offering regional clues about subsurface behavior. The findings have implications for understanding and mitigating induced seismicity, particularly in areas targeted for energy exploration.
Researchers at the University of Miami found that prolonged and extreme rainfall in Hawaii's Big Island triggered the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption. The team suggests local rainfall patterns contribute to timing and frequency of eruptions, with potential implications for other volcanoes.
Researchers linked prolonged, heavy rainfall in May 2018 to the Kīlauea eruption, which was characterized by intense activity, lava flows, and ash clouds. The study suggests that water content changes in the Earth's shallow crust can trigger eruptions.
The study found that extreme rainfall days have increased significantly in metropolitan São Paulo, with a four-fold rise over the past seven decades. The researchers also observed an increase in consecutive dry days, suggesting that heavy rainfall events are becoming more concentrated in shorter periods.
Research from a global team of scientists found that diverse rock types at New Zealand's largest fault contribute to varying earthquake types. Slow slip events and tsunami-generating tremors are linked to the unique properties of each rock type.
A new study links Antarctic sea ice melt to warmer oceans, increased rainfall, and strengthened trade winds in the tropics. The research team found that a 0.5? (0.9?) warming of the surface ocean at the equator would lead to an additional 0.3 millimeters of rain per day.
New studies propose that Earth's mantle, rather than its core, was responsible for generating the planet's early magnetic field. This concept is supported by estimates of thermodynamics of magnetic field generation within the liquid portion of the early Earth's mantle.
Researchers found that destroying 25% of a one-hectare Atlantic rainforest fragment can raise the local temperature by 1°C. Clear-cutting the entire fragment would increase temperatures by up to 4°C, threatening the biome's carbon balance.
A new study found that underwater mountains pulled into subduction zones can set the stage for powerful quakes and create conditions that end up dampening them. Researchers used a computer model to simulate the effects of seamounts on surrounding rock and sediment, finding that the brittle rock ahead of the seamount creates powerful ea...
Researchers at MIT have developed a machine learning method to fill in the missing low-frequency seismic waves in human-generated seismic data, allowing for more accurate mapping of underground structures. The technique was trained on simulated earthquakes and used to infer missing frequencies from new input data.
A young student at DTU Space has demonstrated that global sea level rise has accelerated over the past four decades using data from European satellites. The new research supports previous studies and provides a more comprehensive picture of the global rise in sea levels.
A team of scientists has successfully measured the viscosity of silicate melt under pressure and temperature conditions similar to those in the lower earth mantle. The data suggests that a bridgmanite-enriched rock layer was formed during the early history of the Earth, with implications for our understanding of the planet's formation.
Melodie French has earned a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award to support her research on the physics responsible for earthquakes. The grant will enable her lab to study rocks exhumed from subduction zones, characterizing the strength of rocks deep underground where plates meet.
Dr. Larry Mayer, a renowned expert in physical oceanography and ocean acoustics, has been selected as the first recipient of the Walter Munk Medal. His groundbreaking research and technologies have transformed various fields of ocean science.
A Yale-led team of researchers argue that asteroid impacts, not volcanoes, were the primary cause of the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs. The study's findings contradict recent work on the Deccan Traps, massive eruptions in India that occurred around the time of the K-Pg extinction event.
The Royal Astronomical Society has awarded its highest honors to Professor Sandra Moore Faber and Professor Yvonne Elsworth for their groundbreaking research in galaxy structure, cosmology, and solar physics. Their achievements have significantly advanced our understanding of the universe.
Researchers at Penn State used fiber-optic cables to detect tiny seismic events caused by thunder during a storm, marking the first time scientists have recorded thunder-induced seismic events.
Researchers from the University of Bonn used strontium isotope analysis to determine the origins of victims in a 1,400-year-old Maya mass grave. The study found that most victims grew up at least 95 miles from Uxul, with some showing signs of high social status.
The last known tropical glaciers in the West Pacific Warm Pool are at risk of disappearing within a decade. The study found that the Puncak Jaya glaciers in Indonesia lost around 1.05 meters of ice per year between 2010 and 2015, with thinning rates increasing five-fold during strong El Niño events.
A new study using satellite data from the European Space Agency has provided unprecedented insights into the deep structure of Antarctica. The researchers used special gradient data to analyze the lithosphere, which consists of the crust and the earth's upper mantle below the frozen continent.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a direct link between ancient carbon, graphite particles from hydrothermal vents, and seafloor sediments. This finding sheds new light on the dynamics of the marine carbon cycle, revealing that organic carbon can be converted to graphite at vents.
Research suggests that southern Arizona was a high-elevation plateau with elevations over 10,000 feet, similar to Tibet, due to its thick Earth's crust. The study provides insight into mountain formation and distribution of natural resources like copper.
Researchers used fiber-optic cables to create a seismic network that can detect earthquakes and map fault zones. The technique, known as Distributed Acoustic Sensing, uses laser light to measure strain in the cable, providing detailed images of the ocean floor.
Researchers used computational fluid dynamics to analyze the swimming patterns of extinct ammonoid cephalopods, which lived over 300 million years ago. The study reveals insights into the stability of marine ecosystems and how they recover diversity after drastic extinctions.
Researchers from Spain and Portugal have identified the careo irrigation channels of Sierra Nevada as the oldest underground aquifer recharge system in Europe. The study, published in Journal of Hydrology, reveals that this ancient technique was used to channel water for centuries, with evidence dating back to the 11th Century.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin propose a chemical perspective to understand fracture patterns, which can influence oil and gas production. By analyzing mineral coatings and fluid reactions, scientists may be able to tease out processes that drove fracture formation.
Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum and University of Oxford studied a dripstone from India's Mawmluh Cave to reconstruct the Indian monsoon's past climate. They found the monsoon was less reliable 125,000 years ago, suggesting global warming may lead to similar changes.
A team of researchers from UC Riverside has determined a new geometric model for the Main Himalayan Thrust fault, allowing officials to better prepare for future earthquakes. The study found that the fault is still accumulating stress and may have increased the likelihood of another big earthquake nearby.
Researchers used ground-penetrating radar to resolve 96% of human tracks at White Sands National Monument, gaining insights into biomechanics and extinct fauna. The technique may unlock behavioral and biomechanical archives of Pleistocene animals.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered that the Nile river is approximately 30 million years old, contradicting previous estimates. The team linked the river's flow to mantle movement in the Earth's deep mantle, revealing a steady northward path that has shaped human civilization.
A team of scientists, including Texas A&M University researcher Marion Nachon, found that Mars' Gale Crater lake underwent drying episodes, potentially linked to the planet's global drying. The study reveals signs of liquid water and salt ponds similar to those on Earth, particularly in South America's Altiplano region.
A comprehensive analysis of the Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence reveals a web-like network of interconnected faults, challenging standard models of large seismic events. The complexity of the rupture is only clear due to the combined data from orbiting radar satellites and ground-based seismometers.
Researchers developed a numerical method that speeds up calculations for modern supercomputers, making the inverse problem tractable. The new algorithm enables prospectors to make do with fewer exploratory holes and is applicable for searching other types of ores.