Researchers at UTA and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology discovered the generation of H2, O2, H2O, and CO2 in the Earth's mantle, shedding new light on planetary evolution. The study also found that deep mantle upwelling can oxidize fluids to produce water and carbon dioxide.
Agnostus pisiformis, a small but well-preserved trilobite-like arthropod, has been used to create detailed sculptures revealing its complete anatomy. The fossil provides valuable insights into ancient life and ecosystems, shedding light on the ecology and mode of life of this extinct species.
Researchers have discovered a new species of extinct dolphin, Inermorostrum xenops, off the coast of South Carolina. The toothless dolphin lived around 28-30 million years ago and provides evidence of suction feeding in echolocating sea mammals.
Researchers from Lomonosov Moscow State University studied the stages of rock deformation and revealed a criterion that can predict the critical stage of fracture when rocks destroy. The study used acoustic emission signals to identify different energy distributions, which can indicate the transition to a critical state.
The University of Nevada, Reno is starting a drilling campaign to test its geothermal exploration strategies in the Great Basin region. The project aims to identify new, economically viable geothermal systems and reduce risks for commercial electricity production.
A new study by scientists at Portland State University and the National Snow and Ice Data Center found that the effects of climate change on glaciers in the western Ross Sea coast of Antarctica have not yet been observed. The research team examined glacier activity along over 700 kilometers of coastline using historic maps and satellit...
A $90 billion global problem in the oil industry may be solved by reducing environmental harm through a new process called biosouring. Researchers are developing a technology called GeoBioCell to track interactions between water, rock, microbes, and oil in controlled environments.
A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that the Tibetan Plateau's unique shape may be explained by the strength of the tectonic plates involved in its formation. The research found that a strong Asian plate results in a narrow plateau, while a weak Asian plate produces a broad one.
A new study reveals that neighboring deep-sea vents host drastically different animal communities, contradicting the common assumption that similar habitats share animal species. The research highlights the significance of local geology and vent fluid chemistry in shaping these communities.
Portland State University will study Deep Direct-Use geothermal technology, a new method of harnessing geothermal energy for passive heating and cooling. The study aims to analyze Portland's underlying geology and potential storage capacity for this renewable energy source.
A team of scientists has documented early, permanent human settlement in the Andes dating back to around 8,000 years ago. The findings suggest that hunter-gatherers adapted to high-elevation life and survived year-round despite harsh conditions.
Researchers have found high levels of manganese and arsenic in Indian groundwater, highlighting the need for further study into their relationship and potential health risks. The study suggests that processes between manganese and dissolved organic matter may contribute to the distribution of arsenic in groundwater.
Researchers have identified a new genus and species of ancient marine reptile called Luskhan itilensis, discovered in the Volga River region. The discovery sheds light on the ecomorphological diversity of pliosaurs, suggesting that their evolutionary history was more complex than previously thought.
Researchers Victoria Hudspith and Claire Belcher found that different types of plants burned at varying temperatures and that certain flower shapes made them more likely to be destroyed by fire. This discovery affects the interpretation of charred flowers as a source of information about ancient flowering plants.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered basin-wide erosion rates incompatible with known tectonic and climatic regimes of the period. The findings indicate that human impact on the environment began significantly affecting the Earth's geology around 11,500 years ago.
A new study reveals that groundwater springs in Africa played a crucial role in the survival and migration of our ancient ancestors. By mapping persistent springs, researchers found that these water sources acted as service stations, allowing people to access vital water supplies during times of drought.
Researchers have discovered that sedimentary cycles are linked to sea level changes, rather than mountain erosion. The study uses carbon isotopes to predict sedimentary rock distribution and better understand the Earth's sedimentary history.
Researchers at University of Leicester discovered that the Earth's mantle is divided into two large domains that convect independently, with limited mixing between them. Upper mantle material flows to lower parts of the mantle when it reaches a subduction zone, maintaining separate domains.
International scientists have discovered a short-lived community of organisms that may hold clues to forces shaping our planet today. The community, which included microbial mats, trace fossils, bivalves, and echinoids, was found in a moderately deep-water setting near Shangsi in China's Sichuan Province.
A field campaign on Ellef Ringnes Island revealed over 130 methane seep mounds in Cretaceous age sediments, indicating a significant release of methane during climate warming. The discovery supports concerns of potential destabilization of modern methane hydrates and has important implications for the Arctic Ocean's warming.
Scientists drilled three 2-km-deep holes to explore the geology of a scientific borehole in the Snake River Plain. They found evidence of heat and older hydrothermal interactions, but no geothermal energy production due to a cool water aquifer.
A team of experts presents exceptional photographs documenting the loss of ice across Earth's surface. The images showcase the devastating effects of climate change on glaciers, a consequence of anthropogenic carbon emissions. GSA Today article highlights the urgent need for action to address this issue.
A new study led by University of Wyoming researchers reveals that dust is a crucial factor in mountainous forest ecosystems, dominating nutrient budgets despite continuous erosion. The study found that dust contains plant-essential nutrients like phosphorus, which is more abundant than nutrients from bedrock.
The Anthropocene Working Group addresses geological critics' concerns about a new epoch, emphasizing the presence of distinctive strata. The group's research highlights human-driven transformations with physical evidence, such as artificial radionuclides and plastics.
A team of European paleontologists challenged the fundamentals of echinoderm evolution by discovering that some ancient groups survived the end-Paleozoic extinction. The findings revealed that these surviving echinoderms coexisted with modern sea urchins and brittle stars, stretching across various paleo-environments by the late Triassic.
Researchers have discovered the first occurrence of in situ preserved trilobite eggs from the Lorraine Group in upstate New York. The eggs are spherical to elliptical in shape and nearly 200 micrometers in size, providing valuable insights into the reproductive biology of ancient arthropods.
Research reveals large-scale thaw-induced slope disturbances and mobilization of primary glacial sediments, leading to cascading effects on fluvial, lacustrine, and coastal systems. The study's findings have major implications for predicting northern landscape change and downstream impacts.
Scientists conclude that the organics are most likely native to Ceres, originating from its interior. The discovery has broad implications for astrobiology and suggests that Ceres contains key ingredients for life.
A new fossil site in Canada has yielded exceptionally preserved Jurassic marine fossils, including soft-bodied species that rarely fossilize. The site, known as a Konservat-Lagerstätte, offers a unique snapshot of life in the Early Jurassic Panthalassa Ocean.
Research by Virginia Institute of Marine Science reveals rapid landward migration of barrier-island sands leading to significant loss of adjacent saltmarshes. The study estimates that at least 60 acres of back-barrier saltmarsh are consumed annually, with nearly 10% of Virginia's historical acreage lost since 1870.
Researchers have recovered over 100 billion micrometeorites from urban areas, including Norway, and found that the majority are cosmic spherules, representing the youngest large MMs yet recovered. This study challenges the long-held belief that these particles can only be found in pristine environments.
The Lucy spacecraft will launch in 2021 and fly by six Trojan asteroids between 2025 and 2033, studying their geology, surface composition, and bulk properties. The mission aims to decipher the history of the solar system and provide critical knowledge about planetary origins.
A new study suggests the Galapagos Islands' incredible biodiversity emerged approximately 1.6 million years ago when the Equatorial Undercurrent collided with the archipelago, bringing nutrient-rich waters to the surface. This event allowed for the growth of unique plants and animals that thrive in the islands' ecosystem.
Researchers presented insights from the Curiosity rover's study of Mount Sharp on Mars, which helps reconstruct the geological history of the area. Additionally, they developed a method to distinguish between natural and manmade earthquakes using seismic wave characteristics. Furthermore, scientists observed gamma-ray bursts triggered ...
Scientists have discovered fossils of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in ancient rocks from South Africa and Western Australia, dating back to the Neoarchean Eon, 2.8 to 2.5 billion years ago. These findings suggest that life existed on Earth before the Great Oxidation Event, which led to a significant increase in oxygen levels.
A team of geophysicists has reconstructed the terminal phase of the collision between North America and Gondwana, revealing a 300km-long shear zone that stretches from Alabama to Florida. This discovery provides new insights into the formation of the southern Appalachians and has implications for understanding mountain-building processes.
Florida State University geology researcher Mainak Mookherjee explores feldspar elasticity to explain seismic discontinuity. At extreme pressures, feldspar decomposes into denser mineral phases, which could partially explain this phenomenon.
A new study published in Geology reveals extensive fossilized river systems on Mars' Arabia Terra plain, indicating a warm and wet climate around 4 billion years ago. This discovery supports the idea that Mars was once more favorable for life than its current cold and dry environment.
Researchers have found fossilized whale skeletons in the Ica Desert of Peru, providing insights into the Miocene whale feeding habits. The discovery also reveals exceptional microstructure preservation, allowing for the study of fossilized baleen bristles at a submillimetric scale.
New fossil discoveries from the Ediacaran Doushantuo formation in South China reveal embryonic features similar to those of living animals. The fossils display unique structures preserved through discoidal cleavage, supporting the conclusion that animal lineages evolved by the mid-Ediacaran period.
Researchers used electron backscatter diffraction to unravel the transformations involved in creating granular zircon. The results show that making granular zircon first involves forming twins and transforming into reidite under extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
Researchers discovered microscopic crystals telling of unimaginable pressures and temperatures when a 12-kilometer asteroid formed Meteor Crater. The zircons endured temperatures of 2,000 degrees Celsius, revealing an unusual realm for geology where extreme pressure and temperature occur briefly.
Researchers collected unique data set after 2014 South Napa earthquake, showing afterslip concentrated in loosely packed sediment. This helps address question: Can geology be used as proxy for fault behavior? The findings have significant implications for earthquake hazard models and planning response.
Researchers measured oxygen content in ancient atmosphere trapped in halite (rock salt) and found it to be a key component in determining the origin and evolution of higher life forms. The discovery has applications beyond origins of life, including tracking atmospheric changes and finding economic metal deposits.
The July 2016 issue of Geology features studies on pre-Mississippian tectonic affinity across the Canada Basin-Arctic margins, as well as hydrothermal alteration of seafloor peridotites. Researchers also investigate recent volcanic resurfacing of Venusian craters and cyanobacterial fossilization in Ediacaran siliciclastic environments.
A new study using fossil records of planktonic foraminifera found that environmental changes control the number of species that can co-exist on Earth. The researchers analyzed the fossil history of 210 evolutionary species and discovered that the limit to species richness is environmentally dependent, varying with climate and geology.
New Horizons team members used computer models to determine the depth and rate of Pluto's convective cells, which are 10-30 miles across and less than a million years old. These cells help support Pluto's atmosphere by refreshing its surface.
Researchers used ancient granite to understand modern magma chambers, finding uniformity in biotite granite and subtle isotopic variations. The discovery could shed light on the volcanic-plutonic connection at supervolcanoes.
A new study predicts that Totten Glacier in Antarctica may cross a critical threshold within the next century, triggering an irreversible period of rapid retreat and contributing up to 2.9m to global sea-level rise. The glacier's instability is linked to its geology, which will become unstable if it retreats another 100-150km.
Researchers from University of Cincinnati identified sources of methane in three US states using isotopic composition analysis. Methane levels came from organic matter decay and biological processes in coal formations, with fracking contributing to high emissions in some areas.
Researchers from Trinity College and Swedish Museum of Natural History found zircon crystals formed in younger impact craters are indistinguishable from ancient ones, suggesting many ancient crystals formed in violent impact settings. This challenges the long-held theory that these crystals formed during tectonic plate collisions.
The taste of wine is influenced by soil properties, particularly pH, which modify the wine's chemistry. Researchers found a correlation between specific soil characteristics and Pinot Noir vintages in the Willamette Valley.
Researchers study coastal uplift and erosion in Northern California, discovering rivers cut down hillslopes, triggering landslides that balance uplift. Landslides also deliver resistant rocks to rivers, delaying erosion, with implications for landscape evolution and hazards like landslides.
Drumlin hills, shaped like upturned boats, are formed when sediment is streamlined 'islands' that are often bisected to form megaridges. The research suggests that drumlins and megaridges are part of a single family of landforms formed by erosion, with the data indicating they occur on hard rock.
The Data Miners team from INRS took second place in the Integra Gold Rush Challenge, a competition that analyzed six terabytes of vintage data to locate the next prospective gold deposit on the Integra property. The team was composed entirely of students and demonstrated the excellence of the training in economic geology offered at INRS.
The cloud-based virtual globe portal offers unprecedented speed and ease of use for visualizing Earth's geological evolution. It features interactive reconstructions of supercontinents and 3D visualizations of seafloor geology, allowing users to explore how the planet has changed over time.
A newly discovered Microwhip scorpion fossil from the Mesozoic period has been found in Burmese amber. The fossil, named Electrokoenenia yaksha, is a tiny, yellowish creature that lived alongside dinosaurs 100 million years ago.
Researchers have found that the flux of organic matter to the seafloor was reduced for a shorter time than previously thought, with evidence suggesting that some food must have reached the seabed despite mass extinctions. The study used foraminiferal isotopes from a deep-sea core in the South Atlantic to investigate this paradox.
The American Association of Science advocates data sharing to improve transparency and reproducibility in field sciences like geology, ecology, and archaeology. Discipline-specific repositories can provide better services for researchers to access and use shared data.
Researchers investigate the formation of a tiny volcanic island near Nishinoshima volcano, Ogasawara Islands, Japan. The island's unique lava flows and internal pathways provide valuable insights into the geological processes that shape our planet.