The University of Hong Kong has 502 and 406 scholars named in the single-year impact and career-long impact categories, respectively, securing the highest number among local universities. HKU scholars are recognized globally in various fields, including astronomy, geochemistry, and nanoscience.
A new study by LMU reveals that microorganisms could survive in Enceladus' hidden ocean, overcoming carbon scarcity through unique metabolism. The findings strengthen the scientific case for future missions to retrieve samples from the moon's ocean-derived plumes.
A study of the Lancang River basin found that silicate weathering rates decrease with increasing erosion, while carbonate and sulfide oxidation rates increase. The study suggests that lithology, suspended sediment weathering, and groundwater input control chemical weathering and its carbon effect in large river basins.
ETH Zurich researchers analyzed asteroid Bennu's samples, revealing a Jupiter-led scenario and insights into the Solar System's early formation. The findings suggest that Bennu and other asteroids formed in a specific zone where material from the inner and outer regions mixed, with Jupiter playing a key role in this process.
NEW Community facilitated international outreach and scholarly exchange during Goldschmidt 2026, focusing on artificial intelligence, environmental science, and sustainability. The platform presented its potential role in interdisciplinary collaboration and open scholarly communication.
Researchers discovered natural sulfur and carbon emissions from metamorphic rocks contribute to cooling spikes, while carbon remains in the atmosphere for centuries, influencing ancient ecosystem reorganizations. These findings shed new light on mass-extinction events, such as the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, and Triassic Periods.
A review paper synthesizes nearly 20 years of research on the Great Barrier Reef's responses to sea-level shifts, finding five distinct reef phases that formed, drowned, and reformed over 30,000 years. The study highlights the reefs' dynamic nature and reveals they were shaped by multiple environmental pressures.
The Seismological Society of America's new journal, The Seismic Record, has achieved an exceptional impact factor of 5.3, ranking 6th globally. Its gold open-access model has expanded its international audience, with over 485,000 downloads to date.
A 113-million-year-old pterosaur fossil has been found with exceptionally well-preserved chemical traces hinting at its diet. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the preservation process of fossils, challenging long-held ideas about how ancient organisms were preserved.
Researchers found evidence that the Aleutian Islands' subduction beneath the North American Plate occurred at least 56 million years ago, significantly earlier than previously thought. This discovery has implications for understanding tectonic and climatic processes that shaped the Earth's history.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University propose a compact X-ray telescope for mapping the entire Moon surface, overcoming technical challenges that have hindered previous missions. The team's simulations demonstrate feasibility and show that it could be done in two years with five key elements.
Stephanie Plaza-Torres, a geoscientist with a background in paleontology and geochemistry, has been named the 2026-2027 GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow. She will support legislative work on issues where science informs public decisions.
A new study reveals that even the most remote corners of the ocean are contaminated with zinc from human sources, surpassing natural zinc levels. Zinc from fossil fuel combustion and industrial emissions dominates the upper layer of the South Pacific, posing a potential threat to marine life and nutrient balances.
Researchers found that a dense piece of lithospheric mantle beneath the Hangay Mountains broke off and sank into the deeper mantle about 125-114 million years ago. This 'foundering' event triggered melting of the mantle, generated magma, and caused the overlying crust to dome upward.
Quaise Energy is building the world's first power plant using superhot geothermal energy, with the goal of producing at least 50 megawatts of clean electricity. The project aims to harness temperatures greater than 300 degrees C and validate its long-held hypothesis that higher subsurface temperatures can improve power production.
A new study identifies phengite as a key carrier of halogens into the deep mantle, resolving a long-standing contradiction between shallow and deep halogen enrichment. Phengite transports fluorine and chlorine to depths of about 330 km, shedding light on diamond formation and Earth's chemical evolution.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of tetrataenite, a hard magnetic mineral, in lunar soil returned from the South Pole-Aitken Basin. The discovery provides fresh insights into the formation and evolution of magnetic anomalies on the Moon's surface.
Researchers at Curtin University discovered how ancient ichthyosaur fossils formed in oxygen-free ocean floor settings. Anaerobic microbes triggered chemical reactions that caused minerals to form inside the bones, preserving them three-dimensionally.
Researchers developed REMINLASER, an airborne instrument that rapidly identifies critical raw materials in mining waste, key to European energy and digital transition. The system is a breakthrough in laser spectroscopy, enabling real-time geochemical analysis of large surfaces.
A recent study has precisely dated the end of a geomagnetic field reversal, revealing asynchronous land–ocean responses to ancient ocean anoxia. The findings provide new insights into Early Cretaceous geodynamics and the evolution of marine and terrestrial carbon cycles.
Researchers at the University of Bristol analyzed the air surrounding small mummy specimens to uncover new insights into ancient Egyptian history. The study identified 81 distinctive Volatile Organic Compounds, revealing changes in embalming substances and preservation strategies over time.
A comprehensive review evaluates the global race to track urban carbon emissions, highlighting the importance of high-precision atmospheric observations. The study reveals a stark geographical divide between monitored and unmonitored cities, emphasizing the need for a transparent framework for carbon neutrality.
A team of scientists discovered the King's Trough Complex, a colossal submarine canyon off Portugal's coast, formed by tectonic processes and hot mantle material. The structure extends over 500 kilometers, with Peake Deep as one of the deepest points in the Atlantic Ocean.
A study investigates uranium exposure in children living near gold mining dumps and finds higher levels of uranium in their hair compared to children from reference sites. The study collected over 400 hair samples and analyzed them alongside information on the children's age, gender, and living conditions.
Scientists found that water and key minerals enter a superionic state at extreme depths, preserving water for geological timescales. This discovery provides new insights into deep water cycling and the long-term storage of ancient water and hydrogen.
Dr. Corday Selden has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of how marine microbial interactions structure the chemistry of the ocean. Her pioneering research has reshaped the understanding of nitrogen cycling, microbial metabolism, and biosphere–geosphere interactions.
Researchers detected up to 500 microscopic plastic particles per square meter per day in a rural woodland area, almost twice as much as in an urban location. The study reveals that trees and vegetation capture airborne microplastic particles from the atmosphere.
A study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that the end of the last ice age coincided with the emergence of salty water trapped in the deep ocean. This 'salty blob' played a crucial role in locking away carbon dioxide, which contributed to lower average temperatures.
A theoretical study reveals how functionalized crown ethers selectively capture light gadolinium isotopes, offering a cleaner, more efficient path for nuclear and planetary science applications. The researchers found that four functionalized crown ether resins preferentially enrich lighter Gd isotopes.
The study found that consuming bananas grown in soil impacted by iron mining waste poses a possible health risk to children aged six years or younger. The team correlated the risk to human health with the transfer of toxic elements from the soil to the plant, revealing high concentrations of cadmium, chromium, and other metals.
Researchers discovered that bridgmanite acts like a microscopic 'water container', allowing early Earth to retain substantial amounts of water in the mantle as it solidified. This retained water played a crucial role in transforming the planet from an inferno into a habitable world.
A new study has uncovered hidden stories of pollution, gender, and life in industrializing Britain by analyzing bone chemistry and isotopic analysis of skeletal remains from two English towns. The findings reveal that exposure to toxic elements varied significantly across communities, sexes, and social identities.
A study suggests that prolonged droughts lasting over 85 years contributed to the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization. The civilization, which existed around 5,000-3,500 years ago, was characterized by advanced cities and sophisticated water management systems.
New research reveals that Antarctic mountain peaks can significantly increase the supply of vital nutrients to the Southern Ocean, enhancing its ability to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. Sediments from exposed rock surfaces contain higher concentrations of bioavailable iron, which fuels phytoplankton growth and absorbs CO2 through ...
Researchers have identified crystalline hematite and maghemite formed by major impact events in lunar soil samples. This finding provides direct sample-based evidence of highly oxidized materials on the lunar surface.
Scientists have discovered that Earth's inner core exists in a superionic state, where light elements flow through a solid iron lattice, dramatically softening it. This discovery redefines our understanding of the planet's deepest interior and offers new perspectives on seismic anisotropy and Earth's magnetic field.
A team of researchers at UNM used a peculiar prehistoric plant to reconstruct ancient climates. The study found that water traveling through horsetails undergoes intense natural distillation, resulting in oxygen isotope ratios similar to those found in meteorites or extraterrestrial materials.
A new model shows that buoyant plastics degrade slowly at the surface, fragmenting into smaller particles over decades. These tiny fragments can then sink to the ocean floor, but it may take more than 100 years for surface plastic waste to disappear.
Scientists have discovered olivine-bearing clasts from a lunar regolith sample, shedding light on the migration of Carbonaceous Ivuna-type chondrites to the Earth-Moon System. The findings provide new insights into the origin of water on the lunar surface.
A groundbreaking study reveals that human ancestors were exposed to lead for over two million years, shaping their brain evolution. The research found that lead exposure may have influenced the development of language in modern humans.
Madison Myers, an associate professor at Montana State University, has been recognized by the Geological Society of America for her contributions to volcanic field-based work. Her research focuses on monitoring Yellowstone's volcano, with a particular emphasis on effective communication of science to the public.
The M-Cube associated research laboratory combines micron-level visualization tools with precise mineralogical and geochemical analyses to identify new avenues for optimizing the mining cycle. The collaboration aims to reduce the environmental impact of uranium mining sites and better understand the mobility of radioactive descendants.
Researchers reconstructed environmental changes during the Middle Pleistocene and found that hominins occupied the Jijiazhuang site during a temperate, wooded grassland phase. The prolonged interglacial conditions provided opportunities for human innovation and resilience in challenging northern environments.
A team of microbiologists has mapped the multitude of microbes present in mine water, influencing its chemistry and impact on geothermal energy capture. Understanding microbial activity is crucial for designing efficient and resilient geothermal systems.
Researchers found that recovering 90% of these byproducts could meet nearly all US critical mineral needs, while one percent recovery would significantly reduce import reliance. This prospect is especially attractive due to increased demand and geopolitical conflicts in major mining regions.
Dr. Ilya Bobrovskiy's research aims to improve understanding of ancient habitats' carbon cycles, tracking coevolution of life and environments. He will analyze rocks using organic geochemistry, isotope geochemistry, and paleontology.
Researchers analyzed ocean sediments from Baffin Bay and found geochemical clues consistent with a comet impact triggering the Younger Dryas cooling event. The study detected metallic debris and nanoparticles with high levels of platinum, suggesting extraterrestrial origin.
Researchers have discovered a new way microbes derive energy from chemical reactions driven by crustal faulting in deep subsurface areas. This process produces hydrogen and oxidants, sustaining microbial metabolism in the deep biosphere.
Research suggests that nine commonly used pesticides in viticulture have significantly underestimated environmental impact, with half-lives exceeding two days and potential for long-range transport.
Researchers uncover significant tectonic transition from subduction-related magmatism to extensional back-arc basin magmatism in Wutai Complex. The study suggests plate tectonics began operating by the latest Neoarchean, challenging traditional views of stagnant-lid tectonics.
Researchers estimate 27 million tons of nanoplastics in North Atlantic Ocean, shedding light on the 'paradox of missing plastic'. The discovery highlights the significant amount of plastic debris that has been underestimated and raises concerns about its impact on marine ecosystems.
New research claims adding lime to agricultural soils can remove CO2 from the atmosphere, rather than cause emissions. The study, based on over 100 years of data, shows that the addition of acidity is the main driver for CO2 emissions from soils.
New research reveals that lakes relying on groundwater connections maintain stable water levels and buffer climate change impacts. Shallow lakes are vulnerable to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall due to high evaporation rates.
A 2.35-billion-year-old meteorite offers fresh insights into the Moon's volcanic history and suggests ongoing internal heat generation processes. The rock's distinct composition provides new constraints on when and how volcanic activity occurred on the Moon.
Researchers found that thick ice cover suppressed volcanic eruptions, but as glacial ice melts, pressure builds and magma is released, leading to more frequent and explosive eruptions. This phenomenon could occur worldwide, including Antarctica, and may have global climate impacts, including long-term warming.
Researchers developed an AI-powered microscope system to measure soil fungi presence and quantity, providing insights into soil health and fertility. The low-cost optical microscopy with machine learning technology can be used by farmers and land managers worldwide.
Research presents fig tree species storing calcium carbonate in trunks, converting CO2 from atmosphere. The oxalate-carbonate pathway increases soil pH and nutrient availability, making it a potential means to mitigate CO2 emissions.
Researchers analyzed Junggar Basin sediments, revealing a previously unrecognized 1.6-million-year cycle in the carbon isotope record, distinct from the current grand eccentricity cycle. This variation provides concrete geological evidence of Solar System chaos and its impact on Earth's climate and carbon cycle.
Researchers are studying the effects of Hurricane Helene flooding on agricultural land in Tennessee, with a focus on managing contaminants in croplands. The team aims to provide actionable knowledge to farmers and communities affected by the disaster.
Melisa Diaz, an associate professor in earth sciences at Ohio State University, has been selected as a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar for her groundbreaking research on polar geochemistry. This prestigious honor supports her interdisciplinary research that bridges the physical, biological and social sciences to tackle global challenges.