Articles tagged with Geochemistry
Researchers found that different species of dinosaurs had distinct preferences for plant parts, including leaves, buds, and woody tissues. This discovery helps explain how so many large herbivores coexisted in the same ecosystem without competing for resources.
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.
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.
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.
A team of researchers at Harvard University has demonstrated the growth of green algae inside shelters made from bioplastics in Mars-like conditions. The experiments show a closed-loop system that can sustain itself and grow over time, offering a potential solution for sustainable habitats in space.
A study by Montana State University geologist Zachary Burton examines the movement and accumulation of rare earth elements in salt ponds in an arid, partially permafrost region of Antarctica. The research may help understand how these materials behave and accumulate in cold regions elsewhere, including Greenland and Ukraine.
A groundbreaking study reveals that small zooplankton like copepods and krill enhance carbon sequestration through seasonal migrations. These tiny creatures store around 65 million tonnes of carbon annually in the deep ocean.
Researchers have discovered Hadean-age rocks in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, Canada, dating back ~4.16 billion years. The preservation of these ancient materials offers a unique window into early Earth geology and potentially sets the stage for life's emergence.
The Global Declaration of Commitment for Scientific Ocean Drilling aims to promote global cooperation and collaboration in ocean science. The declaration sets out core principles for transparent access to data and samples, inclusive participation, environmental responsibility, and alignment with the UN SDGs.
A nearly complete fossil of Westlothiana lizziae, a four-legged creature, has been dated to 346 million years ago, shedding new light on the evolution of amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals. This age places the specimens in Romer's Gap, a pivotal time period where water-dwelling fish transitioned to land animals.
New data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests that Europa's icy surface is constantly changing due to interactions with charged particles. Laboratory experiments also found evidence of crystalline ice beneath the amorphous ice layer, indicating a possible liquid ocean beneath the surface.
A team of scientists from the University of Warsaw discovered that karstic solution pipes preserve a record of Earth's climatic history. The pipes evolve into an invariant shape as they deepen, encoding ancient rainfall patterns.
Scientists on IODP³-NSF Expedition 501 aim to validate hypotheses about water origin and better understand offshore aquifer systems. The expedition will collect sediment samples and water from beneath the ocean floor, shedding light on the dynamics of these groundwater systems.
A new study has uncovered previously hidden patterns of plankton adaptation in response to environmental changes. The analysis showed that plankton lipid profiles are closely linked to their environment, with adaptations including shortening fatty acid chains in cold polar oceans.
Scientists from the University of Göttingen have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding ruthenium in volcanic rocks on the islands of Hawaii. The finding suggests that material from the Earth's core is leaking into the mantle above, challenging previous assumptions about the planet's internal dynamics.
A new study reveals that the negative effects of the ozone hole on the Southern Ocean's carbon uptake are reversible, but only if greenhouse gas emissions rapidly decrease. The study found that as the ozone hole heals, its influence on the ocean's carbon sink diminishes, while the influence of greenhouse gas emissions rises.
Researchers discovered that soil carbon turnover accelerates rapidly in response to temperature increases, releasing more CO2 than previously thought. This finding has significant implications for the future of atmospheric CO2 concentrations and highlights the need to revise soil sensitivity in climate models.
The MARUM-QUEST 5000 successfully tested its system and took samples during a dive at the Menez Gwen hydrothermal field at 830 meters. The new ROV replaces the MARUM-QUEST 4000 and offers improved payload capacity, control technology, and gripper arms for deep-sea observations.
LMU researchers recreated the first metabolic process of life on Earth, using iron and sulfur reactions to produce energy. The single-celled organism Methanocaldococcus jannaschii grew exponentially, utilizing hydrogen gas as an energy source.
Scientists found that anaerobic microbes in wetlands can remove up to 70% of methane in oxygen-deprived soils, but their ability to do so is threatened by rising temperatures. When scientists simulated a hotter future, methane emissions spiked under hotter temperatures alone.
A recent study estimates that up to 17% of global cropland is contaminated with toxic heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium, posing significant risks to ecosystems and human health. The study reveals a high-risk zone in low-latitude Eurasia, where concentrations of these pollutants exceed safety thresholds.
The Curiosity rover has identified high concentrations of carbonate minerals, indicating a carbon cycle operated on ancient Mars. The findings suggest that large amounts of carbon dioxide were locked into the planet's crust, providing insights into the planet's past climate.
This study revisits the India-Asia collision by integrating geological, geophysical, and geochemical data. It challenges the ongoing collision assumption and instead suggests that the plateau uplift was governed by post-collisional mantle dynamics in the Late Cenozoic.
A new study on natural oil seeps in the deep sea has found that hydrothermal processes mobilize dissolved organic matter, influencing local ecosystems and the global marine carbon cycle. The composition of released water-soluble organic molecules is strongly influenced by temperature and petroleum composition.
Researchers explored cyclic CO2 injection in unconventional reservoirs, finding a 3.4% increase in oil recovery and 48.3% of injected CO2 stored underground after ten cycles. However, this process reduced cumulative oil production by 2.2%.
Zheming Wang, a PNNL scientist, has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science as an AAAS Fellow. His research focuses on the chemistry underlying radioactive and advanced energy materials, with notable contributions to studying f block elements.
A new study by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo hints that calcium ions played a crucial role in shaping life's earliest molecular structures. The team discovered that calcium dramatically alters how tartaric acid molecules link together, favoring homochiral polymers and potentially influencing the emergence of life.
A 30-meter sediment core from the Great Blue Hole in Belize provides the longest recorded storm frequency data for the Atlantic, with 574 storm events over 5,700 years. The research reveals a steady increase in tropical storms and hurricanes in the southwestern Caribbean due to climate change.
Scientists precisely dated the formation of the Moon's largest impact crater, the South Pole-Aitken Basin, to 4.25 billion years ago using Chang'e-6 samples. The discovery provides critical insights into the early history of the Moon and the Solar System.
A new study finds that the majority of carbon dioxide absorbed by ecosystems is stored in dead plant material, soils, and sediments. This discovery suggests that terrestrial carbon stocks are more resilient and stable than previously thought, with most carbon sequestered over the last three decades stored in nonliving organic matter.
Research team finds that heavy Mg isotopic signatures in volcanic rocks can be explained by partial melting of serpentinite-dominated mélanges. The study proposes a novel model involving diapiric rise and melting of these mélanges, which aligns with geochemical characteristics of arc magmas.
A global program called TIMES aims to synchronize age models for geological climate records, enabling the study of past warm climate stages and their impact on future climate pathways. The project is crucial for understanding the Earth's climate dynamics and obtaining reliable information about past climate events.
A recent study found that polyester microdroplets can form in salt-rich environments, at low alpha-hydroxy acid concentrations, and in small reaction volumes. This expands on previous research and suggests that polyester protocells were likely more common on early Earth than previously thought.
Scientists have retrieved handpicked samples from Mars, including rock cores and fragmented rocks, for the first time in history. The samples will help learn more about Mars' past life, climate, and geology, as well as provide insights into Earth's surface.
The EU-funded ForMovFluid project aims to understand the origin of critical raw materials, essential for renewable technologies and energy transition. By combining laboratory techniques and field work in four countries, researchers will increase knowledge on fluid movement in the Earth's crust.
Researchers analyzed fossil specimens and tooth enamel to determine Australopithecus diet; found herbivorous hominins with low animal protein intake, challenging previous theories on human evolution
Researchers from Göttingen University and Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research discovered the Moon formed from material ejected from the Earth's mantle. The findings support the idea that water reached Earth early in its development, contrary to the prevailing assumption of late impacts.
Kevin Rosso, a senior scientist at PNNL, has been recognized as a Battelle Fellow for his exceptional contributions to Earth and space science. He leads research on the role of minerals in energy storage and release, with applications in geothermal energy systems.
A global study on microbiomes in subsurface environments reveals astonishingly high microbial diversity, rivaling that at the surface. The study, led by Emil Ruff, also compares marine and terrestrial microbiomes, finding great differences in composition but similar levels of diversity.
A Curtin University-led study has found geochemical 'fingerprints' of water-rich fluids in a 4.45 billion-year-old zircon grain from the Martian meteorite NWA7034. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding ancient Martian hydrothermal systems and the planet's past habitability.
A new study estimates a 1-meter sea level rise by 2100 will affect over 14 million people and $1 trillion worth of property along the Southeast Atlantic coast. The study emphasizes the need for holistic coastal resilience strategies to address multiple climate-related hazards.
An international team of researchers has confirmed the location of the oldest ochre mine in the world, dating back around 48,000 years. Ochre was found to have spread from the mine to nearby areas, revealing ancient extraction and transport networks.
A groundbreaking study led by Virginia Tech provides the first direct geochemical evidence of a massive, rapid melting period on Earth after the last global ice age. The researchers analyzed lithium isotopes in carbonate rocks formed during this time and found strong evidence for freshwater meltwater interacting with the ocean.
Researchers developed a new mantle-flow model explaining the puzzling deformation of the North China Craton, citing subduction and flat-slab subduction as key factors. The study sheds light on cratons' life cycle and geological processes, potentially leading to a more sustainable future.
Scientists use modern technology to analyze ancient ochre samples, revealing the material's origin and history. This helps them understand how human cognition and social networks developed alongside early technological innovations.
A new predictive model estimates that up to 95 million Americans may rely on contaminated groundwater for drinking water before treatment. This highlights the need for increased monitoring and awareness of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to adverse environmental and health effects.
A new study reveals that a giant meteorite impact, equivalent to four Mount Everests, triggered a tsunami that mixed ocean debris and heated the atmosphere. This led to a rapid recovery of bacterial life, with iron-metabolizing bacteria flourishing in its wake.
Researchers found that rising temperatures accelerate weathering of rocks in the Canadian Arctic, leading to increased CO2 release and a positive feedback loop. This process could contribute significantly to climate change, with predicted emissions doubling by 2100 under moderate emission scenarios.
Researchers from Göttingen University identified the low crystallisation temperatures and groundwater origin of amethyst geodes in northern Uruguay. The study proposes a new model explaining their formation, which could improve exploration techniques and lead to sustainable mining strategies.
New analysis of a lunar sample reveals volcanic eruptions on the Moon occurred as recently as 120 million years ago. Researchers found three tiny glass beads with high abundances of KREEP elements, suggesting localized heating and small-scale magma eruption.
Scientists have identified the Chicxulub impactor as a rare carbonaceous asteroid, shedding light on the mass extinction event that occurred 66 million years ago. The findings suggest that the asteroid's unique composition and extraterrestrial origin are consistent with an outer Solar System origin.
A study by ETH Zurich scientists found that global warming's effects on plant recovery can last for thousands to millions of years. The research team discovered that the severity of climate shifts and the speed at which carbon is sequestered affect the duration of climate warming.
A nearly continuous 1268-meter-long drill core of serpentinized abyssal mantle peridotite has provided new insights into Earth's deep geology and the potential biogeochemical conditions involved in the origins of life. The findings reveal significant mineralogical variations, including low pyroxene content and oblique melt migration.
A new study from the University of Illinois Chicago proposes an alternative theory for the formation of Earth's continents, challenging the long-held leading theory. The researchers used computer models to investigate the origin of Archaean zircons, which date back to 2.5-4 billion years ago.
Researchers explored ancient interactions between life and the environment during the Phanerozoic Eon, a period of significant habitability improvements. They found that ocean algae played a crucial role in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and increasing oxygen levels, allowing for the evolution of more complex life forms.
A new study found that urban moss in older Portland neighborhoods has up to 600 times higher lead levels than rural areas, with concentrations linked to old telecommunications cables. The findings raise concerns about lead exposure and recommend avoiding soil disturbance in affected areas.