Earth Science
How Large Gold Nuggets Form in Quartz Crystals During Earthquakes
Quartz, which can generate electricity, attracts large chunks of gold when stressed and squeezed by seismic shaking, according to a new study
When a Glacial Dam Burst, an Alaskan Town Was Hit With a Sudden Flood
From Alaska to Peru and the Himalayas, glacial lakes are suddenly breaking free and causing deaths and millions of dollars in damages
Inside the Effort to Save Earth's Biocrusts
Think twice before stepping on that crunchy top layer of soil. It may be a vital ecosystem that you can help protect
'Matching' Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Africa and South America
The fossils show how dinosaurs may have crossed between landmasses around 120 million years ago, when the continents were still connected
This World War I Prisoner of War Solved the Mystery of the Ice Ages
Serbian scientist Milutin Milanković changed our understanding of Earth’s climate—and did a key part of his work while detained by Austro-Hungarian forces
Stonehenge's Massive Central Stone May Have Been Shipped From Hundreds of Miles Away
Researchers think they've solved the mystery of the monument's Altar Stone, which could have traveled all the way from Scotland
Slow-Motion Ripples in Earth's Mantle Built Mysterious and Stunning Highland Landscapes, Study Finds
Following the break-up of an ancient supercontinent, waves propagated through the hot, rocky layer beneath the planet's brittle crust and reshaped its surface over millions of years
Scientists Drill Deeper Into Earth's Mantle Than Ever Before, Probing for the Origin of Life on Earth
The record-setting rock samples will provide insight into the chemical processes that may have kick-started life on our planet
Hidden Underground Magma Pools Fueled Iceland's Volcanic Eruptions, Study Suggests
A subterranean plumbing system of magma beneath the island’s Reykjanes Peninsula may have helped set off the recent series of eruptions that could last for centuries
Geologists Uncover Remnants of Earth’s Mantle That Have Lasted Over 2.5 Billion Years
New research suggests that a discrepancy in rocks shows they endured extreme heat, and reveals more about an ancient part of our planet’s history
What Will Happen If This Iconic Research Vessel Stops Drilling in the Deep Sea?
After a career marked by major discoveries, the JOIDES Resolution is likely on its last official mission to retrieve rock cores from the ocean floor
Earth's Inner Core May Be Slowing Its Spin, Another Study Suggests
New research adds evidence to the controversial idea that the hot, solid ball at the center of our planet has been reducing its speed for years as part of an oscillating cycle
A Giant Interstellar Cloud May Have Once Enveloped Earth, Potentially Causing Ice Ages
Astronomers suggest this cold, dense cloud compressed our sun's protective field between two and three million years ago, leaving the Earth exposed to cosmic material
How a Trove of Whaling Logbooks Will Help Scientists Understand Our Changing Climate
Researchers are examining more than 4,200 New England documents to turn descriptions of the wind into data
Another Volcanic Eruption Hits Iceland, Launching Lava More Than 160 Feet Into the Air
It's the fifth eruption near the town of Grindavik since December, signaling a new era of volcanic activity for the region
Earth's Magnetic Field Nearly Collapsed 600 Million Years Ago. Then, Weird and Complex Life Evolved
A new study suggests more solar radiation reached Earth while the magnetic field weakened, leading to a rise in oxygen that drove an explosion of multicellular organisms during the Ediacaran Period
How the Great Alaska Earthquake Shook Up Science
Sixty years ago, the largest earthquake in U.S. history shocked geologists. It’s still driving scientific discoveries today
Is Geothermal Power Heating Up as an Energy Source?
Long confined to regions with volcanic activity, the method of harnessing energy from the Earth promises to become much more versatile thanks to new technologies
What Myths About the Anthropocene Get Wrong
These ten misconceptions underplay how much we have altered the global environment and undermine the new perspective we need to deal with a drastically changed world
What Happens When Animals Cross the Road
Our byways are an unnatural incursion into the natural world, especially when they’re allowed to fall into disuse. Meet a roadkill scientist and a journalist tracking how roads mess with nature—and what we can do about it
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