New research from the University of Copenhagen reveals that the Tibetan plateau has increased in height over the past 15-18 million years due to a slow collision between the India and Eurasia tectonic plates. This finding sheds new light on Earth's evolution and provides a more accurate understanding of Tibet's geological history.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalGeophysical Journal International·DateMay 26, 2021
Researchers used directed evolution and mathematical modeling to test the Oxygen Control Hypothesis, finding that oxygen levels strongly constrain the evolution of macroscopic multicellularity. This contradicts previous theories suggesting oxygen should promote larger organisms.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 18, 2021
Researchers used ancient zircons to reconstruct Earth's evolution and determine that modern plate tectonics emerged roughly 3.6 billion years ago. This finding suggests that the dynamic crust, which supports life on Earth, began to take shape during this time.
SourceSmithsonian·JournalGeochemical Perspectives Letters·DateMay 14, 2021
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Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
Researchers suggest that the 1700 Cascadia earthquake could be part of a longer-lived sequence of earthquakes, potentially spanning many decades. This hypothesis has significant implications for how earthquake hazard maps are created for the region, and may help explain why there is little geologic evidence of the event in some areas.
Past Global Changes Horizons is a scientific review that uses comics, pictures, and drawings to support short papers on past sciences and their relevance to the future. The magazine aims to inspire environmental awareness among teenagers and young adults, providing them with a platform to discuss and learn about pressing issues.
The Deep-time Digital Earth program is a 'big science' initiative that aims to transform research in deep-time Earth Science through data-driven abductive discovery. The program will create an open platform for linking existing deep-time Earth data and integrating geological data, enabling users to explore Earth's evolution by specifyi...
SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 5, 2021
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SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
The study proposes a coupling model of the five spheres of the earth system with the oxygen cycle as the core. Key findings include the link role of the oxygen cycle in shaping our current habitable Earth and its effects on modern and geological time scales.
SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateApr 1, 2021
A new study analyzes thousands of geological features to quantify the response of ancient eolian systems to global climatic shifts. The results demonstrate that preserved sedimentary architectures developed under icehouse and greenhouse conditions are fundamentally different due to contrasting environmental conditions. This research ca...
SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeological Society of America Bulletin·DateMar 30, 2021
A study published in Science Advances has found rare evidence of the Earth's early magma ocean preserved in ancient rocks from southwestern Greenland. The discovery provides a window into the planet's solidification and internal chemistry, suggesting that other rocks may also preserve signs of ancient magma oceans.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 12, 2021
A new study suggests that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere will likely persist for around one billion years, with a high degree of uncertainty. The researchers used a numerical model to simulate climate and biogeochemical processes, finding that the atmosphere will probably decline in oxygen levels due to CO2 scarcity.
SourceToho University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 2, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers use dust in deep sea sediments to track ancient wind patterns, finding evidence that atmospheric circulation will change with climate warming. The study suggests the westerlies may continue to migrate poleward as temperatures rise.
SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalNature·DateJan 6, 2021
A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that a devastating earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale is expected to hit Israel in the coming years. The research analyzed 220,000 years of geological record from the Dead Sea and found that earthquakes with this magnitude occur every 130-150 years on average.
SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 6, 2021
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder discovered a link between ancient cyanobacteria and the Great Oxygenation Event. The study suggests that these single-celled organisms played a crucial role in transforming the planet's chemistry, producing oxygen gas that paved the way for life on Earth.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 6, 2021
Researchers discovered that mantle convection on early Earth was surprisingly slow and spatially restricted until around 3 billion years ago. This finding suggests that the onset of modern plate tectonics triggered the emergence of large continental masses and an oxygen-rich atmosphere, setting the stage for complex life.
SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 22, 2020
Scientists propose a new way to categorize minerals by incorporating historical data, highlighting the importance of understanding a sample's formation process. The IMA system is criticized for being time-independent, while the proposed approach uses 'historical natural kinds' to reflect changes in Earth's diversity.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2020
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Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
During the 2018 eruption of K?lauea Volcano, Hawaiian researchers leveraged pre-assembled stations with virtual machines to continue monitoring data despite instrument destruction and network failures. This enabled quick deployment and rerouting of data to scientists and decision-makers.
SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalSeismological Research Letters·DateDec 9, 2020
The UCR-led team is studying Earth's diverse chapters of history to find templates for examining exoplanets. By analyzing ancient rock samples and modern sediments, the team will design telescopes and refine models to detect biosignature gases in distant exoplanet atmospheres.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateDec 8, 2020
The study reveals that the release of internal primordial heat caused large melting in the shallow mantle, extruding magma onto the Earth's surface. This led to the formation of keels of the first continents and made them weak and prone to destruction. The process resulted in the emergence of life on Earth.
Research suggests that some parts of the Alpine Fault, particularly around Hokitika and Greymouth, may experience strong ground shaking more often than previously thought. The study found evidence of a 19th-century earthquake along the fault's northeastern end, indicating that smaller earthquakes could occur between large rupture events.
SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateDec 1, 2020
Researchers found diverse organic compounds can easily form polymers under primitive conditions and even spontaneously create cell-like structures. This discovery sheds light on the origin of life, suggesting alternative polymers may have played a key role in early biological evolution.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 28, 2020
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Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
Scientists at Imperial College London have developed a method to estimate the likelihood of future earthquakes in high-risk areas, improving precision by up to 49%. By analyzing rare atoms in precarious balance rocks (PBRs), they created a new technique to validate earthquake hazard estimates.
SourceImperial College London·JournalAGU Advances·DateOct 1, 2020
New study from University of Tokyo researchers calls into doubt a long-held theory about the early solar system. They found evidence that asteroid Vesta was hit by multiple impacting bodies around 4.4 billion to 4.15 billion years ago, earlier than previously thought.
SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateSep 15, 2020
A new global climate reference curve reveals the natural variability and extreme climate events that occurred during warm climate states over the last 66 million years. The study provides context for ongoing anthropogenic change and its potential to exceed natural variability.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateSep 10, 2020
Researchers investigate strata spanning critical intervals in Siberia to link eukaryotic evolution and Cambrian Explosion with deep-Earth processes. The study aims to provide insights into the coupled evolution of life and environment in Earth history.
The Hengduan Mountains have the most extensive alpine flora history, dating back to the early Oligocene. This was shaped by past geological and climatic events, including mountain building and climate change.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience·DateJul 30, 2020
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.
Researchers reconstructed natural runoff history for the middle reach of the Yellow River from 1492 to 2013 CE, finding reduced runoff and sediment load due to human activities. The study provides an important model for distinguishing anthropogenic influence from natural variability in global change studies.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020
Researchers from Curtin University have found evidence that the Earth's first continents were not formed by subduction in a modern-like plate tectonics environment. The team measured iron and zinc isotopes in rocks sourced from central Siberia and South Africa, suggesting an alternative formation process.
Researchers suggest that radioactive elements uniquely distributed after the Moon-forming collision led to the near and far sides' differences. The unique composition of KREEP rocks, linked to radioactively unstable elements, provides a key explanation for the Moon's asymmetry.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 22, 2020
Scientists analyzed mineral data from glaciers to determine Earth's climate before the Neoproterozoic glaciation. They found that the planet may have experienced a gradual cool-off into a Snowball Earth state, rather than an abrupt transition.
SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 15, 2020
GoPro HERO13 Black
GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
Researchers found isotopic evidence of early Earth differentiation in samarium and neodymium isotope ratios. The study suggests that plate tectonics have regulated the planet's chemical evolution since its history began.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 15, 2020
Researchers have found evidence of a major 'stirring up' in the mantle layer around 3.2 billion years ago, indicating the start of global plate tectonic activity. This discovery has implications for our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth and the formation of mineral and energy resources.
SourceCurtin University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 11, 2020
Researchers from GFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam found that the rotation of the Victoria microplate is controlled by the configuration of weaker and stronger lithospheric regions. They used 3D numerical models to compute the dynamics of the last 10 million years, showing a best fit with GPS-derived data.
SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 8, 2020
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
A new study published in Geology has discovered two newly identified super-eruptions associated with the Yellowstone hotspot, indicating a possible decline in its intensity. The Grey's Landing super-eruption is now the largest recorded event of the entire Snake-River-Yellowstone volcanic province.
SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateJun 3, 2020
Researchers have discovered that current CO2 levels surpass a 23-million-year-old record, suggesting unique greenhouse disruption. The findings imply that ecosystems and temperature might be more sensitive to smaller changes in CO2 than previously thought.
SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateJun 1, 2020
A new study using Bayesian statistics estimates the odds of life and intelligence emerging on planets similar to Earth, suggesting that complex extraterrestrial life is possible. The analysis indicates that life should have little problem spontaneously emerging on other planets, but intelligent life is less likely.
SourceColumbia University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 18, 2020
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
A Bayesian statistical analysis of life's emergence and development on Earth predicts that if history were repeated, life would likely emerge similarly early. However, the emergence of intelligence might not guarantee a repeat occurrence due to its rarity.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 18, 2020
Researchers from UBC have discovered a new timeline for the ancient magnetic field on Mars, with evidence of dynamo activity at 4.5 billion and 3.7 billion years ago. The findings suggest that the Martian dynamo was active earlier than previously thought, providing insights into the planet's thermal history and evolution.
SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 1, 2020
Harvard researchers have detected some of the earliest evidence for modern-like plate motion in ancient rocks from Australia and South Africa, dating back to 3.2 billion years ago. The study suggests that tectonic movement occurred on the early Earth, providing valuable insights into the evolution of life and climate.
SourceHarvard University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 22, 2020
Cornell University astronomers created five models representing key points in Earth's evolution to aid the search for exo-Earths. These templates enable the identification of potential biospheres on distant planets with characteristics similar to our own, using powerful telescopes like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
SourceCornell University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 26, 2020
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
Researchers found strikingly high molybdenum, uranium, and rhenium concentrations in drill cores from shungite rocks, suggesting elevated oxygen levels at the time of their deposition. The discovery contradicts prevailing models of Earth's carbon and oxygen cycles and has implications for understanding the evolution of complex life.
SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 24, 2020
New studies propose that Earth's mantle, rather than its core, was responsible for generating the planet's early magnetic field. This concept is supported by estimates of thermodynamics of magnetic field generation within the liquid portion of the early Earth's mantle.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateMar 15, 2020
Scientists from the University of Cologne found that water, carbon, and nitrogen were delivered to Earth very late in its history, contradicting previous assumptions. The researchers used rare platinum metal isotope abundances to constrain the delivery time, suggesting a late veneer phase around 3.8 billion years ago.
A new study of fossil mollusk shells from the late Cretaceous period found that a day lasted 23.5 hours, with ocean temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius in summer and exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in winter. The ancient shell revealed unprecedented detail about the animal's growth rate and water conditions.
SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalPaleoceanography and Paleoclimatology·DateMar 9, 2020
Researchers find tiny iron crystals on asteroid Itokawa's surface, formed by space weathering and the release of iron from troilite minerals. The discovery provides insights into weathering processes on other celestial bodies and helps date asteroids.
SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 28, 2020
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
Researchers found multiple faults with evidence of over 10 meters of slip during past large earthquakes in the Japan Trench fault zone, revealing a complex history of seismic activity. The technique used to analyze organic molecules in sedimentary rocks provides new insights into the likelihood of future tsunamis and earthquake hazards.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 27, 2020
Scientists have discovered evidence that the magnetic field forming around Earth was even stronger 4 billion years ago, generating a protective shield from harmful solar wind and cosmic rays. This finding has implications for understanding the future sustainability of Earth's magnetic shield and its potential for supporting life.
SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020
Researchers suggest a ring-like structure in the early solar system may have created a compositional dichotomy between terrestrial and jovian planets. This division may have led to the presence of organic molecules on Earth, supporting life.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJan 13, 2020
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
Researchers found a 550-million-year-old fossilized digestive tract that challenges our understanding of early animal evolution. The discovery resolves the debate over the evolutionary positioning of cloudinid fossils from the Ediacaran Period.
SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 10, 2020
A new study has recalculated the magnitude of the Great Lisbon Earthquake from 8.5 to 9.0 to 7.7 using macroseismic data from Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. The analysis suggests that the earthquake's epicenter was offshore the southwestern Iberian Peninsula and may have involved faulting onshore.
SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateJan 7, 2020
Researchers found that a shallow frozen ground layer present in winter months can lead to greater ground failure and damage after earthquakes. The study on two historical earthquakes in Kazakhstan shows that the presence of this layer can generate more severe ground fracturing during earthquakes in the winter.
SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalSeismological Research Letters·DateNov 12, 2019
Researchers found that a shallow frozen ground layer likely caused more ground failure in the 1911 Kemin earthquake due to its ability to inhibit drainage of pore-pressure excess. The study suggests seismologists should consider seasonality in soil characteristics when making probabilistic liquefaction or ground failure assessments.
SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalSeismological Research Letters·DateNov 6, 2019
A comprehensive analysis of the Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence reveals a web-like network of interconnected faults, challenging standard models of large seismic events. The complexity of the rupture is only clear due to the combined data from orbiting radar satellites and ground-based seismometers.
SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateOct 17, 2019
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.
Researchers at the University of Münster have discovered a new composition of the Earth's mantle, suggesting that large parts of it contain fewer incompatible elements. The study found that more material from the mantle has melted to form the Earth's crust than previously thought.
SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 16, 2019
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered the largest known impact crater in the US, which was formed 35 million years ago and lies buried beneath the Chesapeake Bay. The crater's age was determined using a new dating technique, providing valuable insights into the Earth's history.
SourceArizona State University·JournalMeteoritics and Planetary Science·DateAug 13, 2019
Researchers analyzed barium sulfate minerals to determine biosphere productivity post-Great Oxidation Event. The study found a significant decrease in biosphere size following the event, potentially driven by decreased nutrient availability.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 12, 2019
A new study of ancient rocks provides fresh insight into Earth's plate tectonics, which has evolved over the last 2.5 billion years. The findings challenge previous models suggesting plate tectonics operated throughout Earth's history.
SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNature·DateAug 7, 2019
A team of scientists used a microscopic drop of ancient seawater to show that plate tectonics on Earth began 3.3 billion years ago, 600 million years before the previous estimate. This discovery provides insight into the first stages of plate tectonics and the start of stable continental crust.
SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalNature·DateAug 1, 2019
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
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...
SourceAKSON Russian Science Communication Association·JournalNature·DateJul 18, 2019
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that historical earthquake stresses can predict future seismic activity. Researchers analyzed centuries-old written records of damage to reveal 97% of earthquakes occurred on positively stressed faults.
SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 21, 2019
Researchers at Syracuse University and international team discover evidence of abundant ammonium in pre-GOE oceans, providing a nutrient-rich environment for early life. This finding sheds light on the critical importance of nitrogen and phosphorus in Earth's history.
SourceSyracuse University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 21, 2019