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.
Researchers have discovered a new model explaining why our planet has a higher concentration of stardust from red giant stars compared to other bodies in the solar system. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that the Earth's unique mix of elements was formed during its formation around the Sun.
Researchers used clumped isotope geochemistry to analyze fossilized clam shells and reconstruct ancient cooking techniques. The study found that the majority of clams were heated to temperatures greater than 100°C, but not greater than 200°C.
A new study suggests that volcanic eruptions triggered by tectonics led to the Great Oxidation Event, a significant increase in oxygen in Earth's atmosphere about 2.5 billion years ago. The research proposes that this event was also linked to a change in the composition of carbon isotopes in carbonate rock record.
A global study reveals that bicarbonate use among aquatic plants is linked to local geology and concentration levels. Many freshwater plants have evolved to use bicarbonate for photosynthesis due to low dissolved CO2 in water.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new forensic tracer that uses lead isotopes to detect coal fly ash in dust and other solids. The tracer can distinguish between the chemical signature of lead from coal ash and lead from other sources, providing a powerful tool for tracking exposure risks near coal ash ponds and landfills.
A new study by Duke University predicts that switching to natural gas will save 12,000 billion gallons a year by 2030, while solar and wind power yield even greater savings. These reductions come despite increased water use from fracking and shale gas production.
A new method used to analyze geochemistry of planets outside our solar system implies that Earth is not unique, with rocks from asteroids and white dwarf stars showing similarities to those on Earth and Mars. The study's findings suggest that oxidation plays a significant role in shaping the chemistry of rocky planets.
A new study reveals that some exoplanets have Earth-like geochemistry, with high oxidation levels similar to those in the Solar System. This finding suggests that rocky exoplanets may have similar internal properties to Earth and Mars.
Researchers detected uniform chemical signatures in kimberlites that resemble the building blocks of Earth formed 4.55 billion years ago. The discovery provides critical insight into the planet's formation and evolution.
The Pulpí geode is an 11-meter hollow ovoid with crystal-paneled walls, formed from gypsum crystals up to 2 meters in size. The team studied the geology and geochemistry of the abandoned mine where the geode was found, revealing that the crystals formed at around 20 °C.
Researchers found high levels of bacterial DNA and opportunistic pathogens in source water from remote bores in Northern Australia. The study suggests that managing groundwater quality is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water supplies in these communities.
Researchers found exoplanet oceans with efficient upwelling rates could host globally abundant and active life. The discovery suggests that Earth might not be optimally habitable and life elsewhere may enjoy a more hospitable planet.
Researchers have developed a method to trace industrial metals in the environment using honey and salmon. By analyzing lead isotopes in honey and Pacific salmon, scientists can identify sources of pollutants like lead and cadmium. The technique has been proven effective in Metro Vancouver and is being applied to other cities.
Researchers have discovered a vast reserve of methane in the Earth's oceanic crust, formed through chemical reactions involving seawater and olivine. This finding opens up new possibilities for understanding the origins of life beyond our planet.
Scientists have reconstructed 300-million-year-old rainwater to study the history of Western France and its mountain range. The analysis suggests that the area was once mountainous, near the Equator, and subject to violent tectonic processes.
Researchers found a significant increase in oxygen levels in ancient rocks, possibly setting the stage for dinosaur expansion into tropical regions. The discovery provides insight into the evolutionary diversification of dinosaurs during a critical period.
A new study suggests that ancient Mars experienced warm periods with flowing water, followed by cold periods where water froze. This finding is significant as it increases the chances of simple life developing on Mars around the same time as it did on Earth.
Researchers have developed a method to extract hydrogen from oil sands, which can be used to power hydrogen-powered vehicles and generate electricity. The process is cheap, with costs estimated at around 10-50 cents per kilo, making it potentially more economically viable than current methods.
Scientists at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology found that hazardous chemicals from plastics ingested by seabirds accumulate in their tissues. The study detected additives such as UV stabilizers and brominated flame retardants in 4.6% and 2.1% of seabird samples, respectively.
Researchers found that a global cycle of matter underpins modern plate tectonics, with excess water in the transition zone of the mantle originating from an ancient ocean on Earth's surface. Komatiitic magma samples revealed significant quantities of water and chlorine in minerals, indicating a 'pumping' of water into the planet's inte...
An increase in elite Maya's preference for a maize-based diet made the population more vulnerable to drought, contributing to its societal collapse. The study found that a less flexible and less resilient system resulted from population expansion, agricultural intensification, and socially conditioned food preferences.
A new study finds high levels of coal ash contaminants in sediments from Sutton Lake, suggesting multiple unmonitored spills have contaminated the eastern North Carolina lake and potentially other lakes near coal ash ponds. The research highlights the risk of large-scale unmonitored spills occurring at coal ash storage sites nationwide.
Dr. Clare E. Reimmers selected as Fellow of The Oceanography Society for advancing sedimentary redox chemistry and microbiology using oxygen, pH, and pCO2 microelectrodes. Her work has significantly impacted our understanding of global carbon cycles, benthic fluxes, and seafloor energy harvesting approaches.
Researchers discovered that high pressure deep inside the young Earth may have driven vast stores of carbon into its core, while water ice undergoes complex crystalline metamorphosis under extreme conditions. The findings provide clues about how Earth-like planets are built and could be useful for studying worlds with icy surfaces.
A team of researchers from the University of Manchester has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of paleontology, revealing colorful pigments from ancient mouse remains. The study used X-ray imaging to analyze fossils over 3 million years old, unlocking secrets about key pigments and their evolution.
Researchers at HKU Earth Sciences have discovered multi-century-scale abrupt deep-water warming events that likely caused by reduction in deep-water circulation. These deglacial-Holocene dynamics are important for understanding present and future trends in the climatic system, which can impact global ecosystems and society.
A team of scientists from Carnegie Institution argues that a planet's interior dynamics are vital for creating a hospitable environment. The researchers suggest that planetary composition and interior processes should be considered when searching for signs of life on exoplanets.
Hippos play a key role in transporting silicon from land to water through their faeces, influencing over 76% of the total silicon transported along the Mara River. This process is crucial for ecosystems like Lake Victoria, where a lack of silicon can lead to food shortages and ecosystem collapse.
About 7-6 million years ago, the Hadley circulation intensified, leading to drier climate, expanding subtropical grasslands and increasing mammal species that eat grasses. The research provides a new understanding of late Miocene ecosystems and their evolution.
Daniela Rubatto's research provides a new way to connect minerals' ages to their formation conditions, reconstructing the speed and duration of rock travel within the Earth's crust. Her innovative method uses an ion microprobe to extract valuable information from minerals, contributing to better understanding geological processes.
A new MIT study suggests that primitive ponds, rather than oceans, were more suitable for brewing up Earth's first life forms. Shallow bodies of water, on the order of 10 centimeters deep, could have held high concentrations of nitrogen, a key ingredient for jump-starting life.
A University of Rhode Island scientist has determined the temperature at the boundary of the Moon's core and mantle, finding it to be between 1,130 and 1,470 degrees Celsius. This discovery will help create a temperature profile through the Moon, allowing researchers to better understand its internal structure, composition, and evolution.
A University of Kansas geologist's work in the remote High Arctic has exposed the global spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes, including multidrug-resistant 'superbugs'. Researchers found 131 antibiotic-resistant genes in Svalbard soil samples, with some tracing back to human sewage or bird guano.
Researchers at PNNL use APT to trace oxidation-reduction reactions and create the first 3D atomic maps of iron oxide crystals. These 'atomic maps' reveal a dynamic iron cycle, showing iron atoms filling in potholes on crystal surfaces and driving growth.
Researchers found evidence of a massive volcanic eruption on Scotland's Isle of Skye that contributed to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a 5-8°C temperature increase around 56 million years ago. The study uses isotope geochemistry and pitchstone analysis to confirm the Red Hills as the likely vent area for the eruption.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that fish ear bones can serve as a fingerprint for identifying and tracking coal ash contamination in aquatic ecosystems. The study used strontium isotope ratios in otoliths to connect high levels of toxic elements back to the contamination source.
A new dating technique has pushed the formation of Earth's cobalt deposits back by 100-150 million years, according to a University of Alberta study. This revised timeline offers a fresh perspective on the global distribution of cobalt and its potential for sustainable exploration and mining.
A new high-pressure mineral, Maohokite, has been discovered and found to contain Fe3+, replacing the previously believed Fe2+, in the Earth's lower mantle. This discovery was made by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science.
Scientists have discovered a new strategy to enhance the conductivity of lithium titanium oxide (LTO) anode materials for Li-ion batteries. By applying high pressure, LTO can transform into an amorphous phase that displays better conductivity. The findings provide insight into the relationship between structure and conducting properties.
A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters proposes that plate tectonics could have started as early as the planet's formation. Researchers analyzed noble gas isotopes Helium-3 and Neon-22 to establish a timeline of Earth's tectonic plate cycling, providing insight into the planet's earliest conditions.
A cross-disciplinary team led by Rice University will investigate the formation of life-essential elements in rocky planets during their early evolution. The CLEVER Planets project aims to understand how these elements survive turbulent periods and ultimately lead to habitability, with a focus on rocky worlds beyond our solar system.
Japanese researchers from Osaka University analyzed Hayabusa particles to determine the age of asteroid Itokawa, finding it formed 4.6 billion years ago and was destroyed 1.5 billion years later. The study used precise isotope analyses to clarify the chronology of the asteroid's evolution.
Researchers found quartz in a primitive meteorite, providing evidence of silica condensation within the solar protoplanetary disk. The discovery helps understand solar formation and evolution.
Researchers found significant quantities of TiO2 in beach waters off France, with concentrations ranging from 15-45 μg/L. The tiny nanoparticles can lose their protective coating under UV light or seawater composition, exposing toxic titanium dioxide to aquatic organisms.
The 3.4 billion year old Strelley Pool microfossils had chemical characteristics similar to modern bacteria, supporting a biological origin and ranking them amongst the world's oldest microfossils. The analysis also shows that these ancient fossils have survived extreme conditions over the last 3.4 billion years.
A Duke University study found that fracking's water use increased by up to 770% and wastewater volumes by up to 1440% between 2011 and 2016. If trends continue, the water footprint could grow 50-fold by 2030, raising concerns about its sustainability.
A team of international scientists has estimated the amount of highly radioactive cesium-rich microparticles released by the Fukushima power plant disaster. The research found that around 78% of radioactive cesium was released as glassy particles, which concentrated radiation in affected areas.
Researchers at Syracuse University use nitrogen isotopic composition of sediments to understand changes in marine conditions during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a brief period of rapid global warming approximately 56 million years ago. The study provides a benchmark for present and future climate and ocean models.
A new study by Washington University in St. Louis reveals that the Earth shifted its volatile transport regime around 2.5 billion years ago, with a significant increase in regassing potentially enabled by subduction. This change had a profound impact on the internal churning of the mantle and plate motions at the surface.
Researchers discovered a vast store of subducted carbon beneath eastern China, contributing to the formation and thinning of the North China craton. The study suggests that recycled carbonates played a crucial role in the lithospheric thinning process, leading to the creation of a 'big mantle wedge' structure.
The discovery of a Cambrian-age banded iron formation in western China pushes back the timeline for iron-rich seawater conditions by millions of years. This finding supports the presence of oxygen-enriched environments, which were previously believed to limit complex life evolution.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have found that cold, iron-rich seawater from the North American continental slope is captured by meanders of the Gulf Stream and carried out to the North Atlantic Gyre, enriching it with iron. The study suggests that this source may deliver up to 15% of the iron delivered by Saharan dust.
A new study by Duke University has found widespread uranium contamination in India's groundwater, with levels exceeding the World Health Organization's safe drinking water standard. The contamination is linked to human activities such as over-pumping of aquifers and nitrate pollution.
Researchers used a novel geochemical proxy to study the evolution of marine life and oxygen levels in the ocean. The findings suggest that upper-ocean oxygen levels did not stabilize until 200 million years ago, when larger eukaryotic plankton dominated the world's oceans.
A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters estimates Mercury's crust to be 16 miles thick and denser than aluminum. This finding supports the theory that Mercury's crust formed largely through volcanic activity, shedding light on the planet's formation.
Researchers used laser ablation and plasma mass spectrometry to analyze ancient gold items from the Carambolo treasure, discovering a local gold deposit within 2 km of the site. This breakthrough provides new insights into the origin of the metal and its possible connections to ancient trade routes.
Researchers have found associations between esophageal cancer and lead-rich soils, lung cancer and copper-rich terrains, brain tumors and arsenic-rich areas. The study's findings suggest that the geochemical composition of soil could influence cancer distribution patterns in Spain.
Researchers found that plasmoid reconnection in Mercury's magnetotail could accelerate energetic electrons, solving a puzzle left by previous space missions. The study also revealed that turbulence enhances reconnection, leading to improved predictions for future missions like Bepi-Colombo.
Researchers discovered diamond formation from ankerite through spontaneous iron reduction, suggesting a possible mechanism for abundant diamond creation in Earth's lower mantle. The process occurs without melting at high pressures and temperatures, similar to those found in meteoritic impact zones.