A new study published in Nature Geoscience proposes that the rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was linked to the formation of continents and life. The researchers suggest that a reduction in the efficiency of the oxygen sink, coupled with an increase in volcanic activity and carbon inputs into the atmosphere, led to two rises in atm...
A trio of new age-dating methods developed at Duke University can determine the age of oil and gas wastewater spills and identify their origins based on radium isotope variations. The methods verify that radium's decay products, including thorium and lead isotopes, can be used to detect the age and source of spills.
A new study from Queen Mary University of London found that historic UK landfills in England and Wales contain high levels of contaminants that could harm marine life if eroded or flooded. The analysis of two landfill sites in Essex revealed pollutants at concentrations exceeding marine sediment quality guidelines, posing a significant...
A Duke University study found high levels of contaminants in brine-laden wastewater from fracking spills, exceeding federal drinking water guidelines. Soil samples contained higher levels of radioactivity downstream from spill sites, suggesting radium builds up in the environment.
Researchers used computer models and laboratory experiments to study bubble behavior in magma reservoirs. They found that bubbles accumulate faster in crystal-rich zones, leading to overpressurization and potential sulfur emissions. This discovery sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of super-volcanic eruptions.
Researchers from Duke University demonstrate that oxygen levels in coal ash disposal sites greatly impact the leaching of toxic selenium and arsenic. The study suggests that ignoring oxygen conditions when closing ash ponds may not be a solution to the problem, and highlights the importance of considering this factor for safe disposal.
Researchers have discovered a complex 4-step process for gypsum formation, opening the way to more energy-efficient production of Plaster of Paris. This breakthrough could also aid in understanding past water availability on Mars and other planets.
Scientists used clam shells to calculate that methane had persisted for approximately a thousand years at a specific site in the Arctic Ocean. This finding provides insight into the duration of ancient methane seeps and their impact on the environment.
Researchers use oxygen isotope analysis to confirm Earth and moon had similar chemical composition after collision, suggesting a head-on impact. The study also suggests the early Earth may have lost water due to subsequent asteroid collisions.
Researchers found that Pangea's assembly and unique climate conditions led to the creation of coal deposits. The study challenged a popular hypothesis suggesting an evolutionary lag between plant life and microbial decomposition.
A new analysis helps consumers choose energy-efficient appliances to save money and water. Meanwhile, a Himalayan glacial lake threatens to flood a Buddhist holy city due to melting ice and rock barriers. Ocean sounds are also being used to measure stratospheric winds with precise data analysis.
Researchers present a novel method to analyze apatite inclusions in magmatic zircon and titanite, allowing estimation of whole-rock Sr and SiO2 concentrations. This technique provides insight into petrogenesis and provenance, enabling better understanding of the continental crust's evolution.
Research reveals peridotite serpentinization produces more hydrogen gas and methane than olivine alteration. Pyroxene and spinel promote the formation of these nutrients, which are crucial for life's emergence. The study suggests that kinetics and reaction progress influence hydrocarbon production.
A Dartmouth study reveals that hydraulic fracturing can generate highly saline and toxic metal-rich wastewater due to chemical reactions between injected freshwater and the fractured shale. The research suggests that water-rock interactions play a major role in producing hazardous waste, posing a risk to drinking water supplies.
Scientists estimate nearly 23 million cubic kilometres of total groundwater, with most modern groundwater found in tropical and mountain regions. The study highlights the need to manage this precious resource sustainably due to increasing demand and climate change.
Researchers found that cold, steep slopes produce coarser sediment than gentle slopes, suggesting variations in climate, topography, and weathering rates shape mountain landscapes. This discovery quantifies the relationship between sediment size and erosion rates, providing new insights into the interplay of climate and tectonics.
Researchers detected beeswax in ancient pottery vessels from over 150 European archaeological sites, indicating a widespread association between early farmers and honeybees. This discovery pushes back the chronology of human-honeybee association to substantially earlier dates.
Dr. Rodney Ewing has made significant contributions to the field of geoscience, bridging disciplines to develop new applications and advancing science through publications. He serves on various advisory committees and policy boards, providing timely leadership in the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.
A UCLA-led research team discovered life likely existed on Earth at least 4.1 billion years ago, 300 million years earlier than previously thought. The study suggests that life may have begun shortly after the planet formed and could be abundant in the universe.
A team of researchers from Caltech analyzed eggshells from sauropod dinosaurs, bird-like oviraptorid dinosaurs, and Titanosaurs to determine their body temperatures. The results showed that smaller dinosaurs had lower basal metabolisms, while larger ones maintained warm temperatures similar to modern mammals.
Researchers at the University of Washington found bubble plumes off the coast of Washington and Oregon, suggesting that warmer ocean temperatures are releasing frozen methane. This process could contribute to climate change by amplifying environmental changes already impacting local biology and fisheries.
Researchers from UCLA report that some dinosaurs had the ability to warm themselves by drawing heat from the sun, contradicting previous theories. The study found that these dinosaurs had higher body temperatures than modern alligators and crocodiles, suggesting they were more active.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown process of warm Gulf Stream water and continental shelf exchange. Researchers also explored the effects of Saturn's magnetospheric dynamics on Titan's ionosphere.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory create a new surface microscope that allows them to control the chemical environment and image minerals as they react under extreme conditions. The technique, called X-ray reflection interface microscopy (XRIM), enables scientists to study reaction front instabilities in real-time.
Scientists have discovered a 'bucket brigade' that brings liquid to Titan's north pole, creating lakes and seas. Meanwhile, NASA's Kepler telescope has opened up possibilities for exoplanet studies. Research also explores abrupt shifts in phenology and vegetation productivity under climate extremes.
A new model of Earth's core formation suggests the magma ocean started out oxidized and became reduced over time through oxygen incorporation into the core. Higher oxygen concentrations were found in the core, contradicting previous estimates.
A new Duke University study finds that energy companies used nearly 250 billion gallons of water for US fracking between 2005 and 2014, while generating about 210 billion gallons of wastewater. The study's findings highlight the need for better treatment and disposal methods for chemical-laden flowback water and brine-laden wastewater.
New insights into Mercury's movements and interactions with the solar system reveal its unique composition. Researchers reevaluate New Zealand's Alpine Fault after seismic data showed it becomes flatter at depth, providing new information for geological studies.
A new study reveals high levels of radioactivity in coal ash from all three major US coal-producing basins, up to five times higher than normal soil. The presence of radioactive elements like radium isotopes and lead-210 poses significant environmental and health risks if not properly regulated.
Researchers have discovered a way to manage high water tables to boost crop yields, while 3D maps reveal the formation of the Hangai Dome in Mongolia. New satellite radar technology provides precise wind speed maps for coastal communities to prepare for wind-related hazards.
A new MIT study finds that large seasonal changes in desert dust can dramatically affect surface phytoplankton, which rely on iron as a main nutrient for growth. The team determined that iron has a very short residence time in ocean waters, lasting only six months before sinking into the deep ocean.
Research reveals almost 100,000 tiny microbeads can be released with every application of certain facial scrubs, contaminating oceans. The study estimates up to 80 tonnes of unnecessary microplastic waste could enter the sea each year from UK cosmetic use.
Researchers found a strong association between helium and groundwater, suggesting that large volumes of helium are being transported into natural gas fields. This discovery indicates that the existing helium reserves may be greater than initially thought.
Researchers found that comet impacts can synthesize peptides, the first building blocks of life, under cold conditions. This suggests that comet impacts played a crucial role in delivering life's seeds to early Earth.
A new test for liver cancer is being developed based on analyzing the stable isotope compositions of rocks and minerals. The researchers found that patients with HCC have enriched quantities of certain isotopes, such as copper-63 and sulphur-32, in their blood compared to normal controls.
A new test measures changes in calcium isotope ratios to monitor bone diseases like osteoporosis and multiple myeloma. The test, validated on NASA space shuttle astronauts' blood samples, shows promise for near-time monitoring of bone health.
Coral reef scientists warn that even with a successful Paris climate conference, ocean warming and acidification will continue beyond the end of this century, potentially leading to the extinction of coral reefs. Experts call for more aggressive emissions reduction plans to stabilize CO2 at 350ppm or lower to give reefs a chance.
Researchers have found that crystals can form in complex shapes using multiple pathways, challenging traditional theories. This new understanding has implications for materials science, health research, and basic science studies, including the formation of shells, teeth, and bones in animals.
The six-month-long eruption produced around 1.6 km3 of lava and 12m tonnes of SO2 emissions, affecting Iceland and parts of Europe. Monitoring stations recorded high SO2 spikes in Ireland, Austria, and other countries, with levels exceeding European health limits.
Researchers estimate that subduction returns almost no carbon to the mantle, with 'exchange between reservoirs in balance.' New analysis sheds light on Earth's climate over geologic time scales and implications for life.
Scientists have long suspected sulphur in the Earth's core but now have conclusive geochemical evidence confirming its presence and estimating its vast quantity. The discovery lends weight to the theory that the Moon was formed by a planet-sized body colliding with the Earth.
New research reveals that mining pollution has led to a significant reduction in the genetic diversity of brown trout populations in southwest England. The study found that these fish have adapted to live in water with high levels of metal contaminants, but this adaptation comes at the cost of reduced genetic variation.
The study reveals that similar isotopic signatures exist for many biological processes, including those difficult to observe with current tools. This finding could enable the assessment of ocean productivity using stable oxygen isotopes.
Researchers found samples of seamounts that did not erupt from hot spots but formed from cracks in the oceanic crust. This discovery confirms their origins and helps explain the unique bend in the Hawaiian-Emperor chain.
Six CCNY graduates have been named National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellows for their exceptional proposals in biology, environmental engineering, bioengineering, chemical engineering, and geochemistry. The fellowships provide annual stipends and cost-of-education allowances to support graduate study.
Researchers discovered that bacteria can use magnetite to create a 'natural battery' by loading and discharging electrons. This mechanism has implications for cleaning up toxic metals and could be adapted for other types of bacteria, expanding its potential uses.
A new instrument can rapidly analyze samples to determine how methane was formed, differentiating between microbial and thermogenic origins. The technique uses isotope ratios to identify clumpiness in methane molecules, revealing slower rates of production for cow-gut methane.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in detecting methane using TILDAS, which provides details on the environment in which methane-producing microbes thrive and helps identify the temperature at which methane forms.
Researchers found La Niña-like conditions associated with a 2,500-year hiatus in coral reef growth. The study suggests that similar climate changes could lead to coral reef collapse. Climate change is the leading cause of coral-reef degradation.
Researchers discovered how coral-dwelling microalgae harness nutrients from seawater and transport them to corals through a complex process. The findings provide new insights into the impact of coral bleaching on reef ecosystems, highlighting the importance of this symbiotic relationship.
Researchers have found remarkably preserved 15-million-year-old thin protein sheets in fossil shells from southern Maryland. The proteins share characteristics with modern mollusk shell proteins, offering insights into the evolution of mollusks and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay during the mid-Miocene era.
A new study by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reveals that the deep ocean is a major source of dissolved iron in the central Pacific Ocean. The research found that hydrothermal vents and sediments thousands of meters below the sea surface are the primary sources of iron, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers developed a miniaturized instrument for dating rocks and measuring geochemistry, revealing the age of a Mars meteorite. The technique provides high-sensitivity detection of organics and requires minimal sample preparation.
Duke University scientists have discovered high levels of ammonium and iodide in oil and gas wastewater, exceeding EPA water-quality thresholds. These contaminants can harm aquatic life and promote toxic byproducts in drinking water when mixed with chlorine.
Duke University scientists developed new forensic tracers to identify coal ash contamination in water and distinguish it from other sources. The tracers provide additional fingerprints that give regulators a more accurate tool to trace coal ash effluents to their source.
A team led by UW-Madison is investigating the Laguna del Maule volcanic field in Chile's Andes, where a mega-eruption could be as large as Mount St. Helens. The team aims to document the volcano's behavior before an eruption using geology, geochemistry, and seismology techniques.
A new study has found that the climate of a large swath of the western United States during the Jurassic period was more complex than previously thought. Geochemical analysis of ancient soils revealed an abrupt change from dry to wet environments, contradicting the long-held assumption of a gradual transition.
A Washington State University undergraduate has developed a new method for detecting water on Mars using an index called groundmass crystallinity. This method could potentially be useful for not only studying rocks on Earth but also on other planets.
A study by researchers from five universities found that contamination in drinking water wells in Pennsylvania and Texas stems from well-integrity problems such as poor casing and cementing. The analysis used noble gas and hydrocarbon tracers to identify the source of fugitive methane and determine if it is natural or not.
Wally Broeker advocates for carbon capture technology to reduce global warming by capturing atmospheric CO2 and storing it underground. He argues that this approach is crucial to mitigating the effects of human activity on the environment.