April 6, 2017
Shale boom could fuel batteries
By Yael R. Glazer, Jamie J. Lee, F. Todd Davidson and Michael E. Webber Petroleum-based fuels like gasoline and diesel have dominated the …
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Geology
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1236 articles · Page 21 of 52
April 6, 2017
Geologic Column: Evolution of an ape-man
By the time I was 12, I had identified the greatest writer in the world. His name was Edgar Rice Burroughs and he wrote adventure stories about …
March 29, 2017
To find a mate, go big or go small, just don't go medium
The showy features of male animals are often advantageous for attracting mates. Yet these same traits can also prove harmful: A peacock’s long, …
March 29, 2017
Soil acidity changes quickly from place to place
The acidity of soils, which affects soil fertility, depends largely on a region’s climate. What has been less clear is just how abrupt — or …
March 29, 2017
Maui reef degradation linked to contamination in coastal groundwater
Submarine groundwater discharge — the flow of fresh and brackish groundwater from land to sea — can transport contaminants to coastal ecosystems. …
March 29, 2017
Seafloor volcanism linked to glacial cycles
Eruptions from seafloor volcanoes and cycles of global glaciations may seem unrelated, but new research suggests otherwise, indicating that …
March 24, 2017
Getting there and getting around Easter Island
“Easter Island has just one gateway, tiny Mataveri International Airport (IPC), to which only one airline, the Chilean carrier LATAM, offers …
March 23, 2017
Travels in Geology: Easter Island's enduring enigmas
Few destinations are as steeped in mystique as Easter Island. Located in the southeastern Pacific nearly 3,700 kilometers west of Chile, and more …
March 20, 2017
El Niño gets animated
In the winter of 1997 and 1998, a powerful El Niño pattern in the Pacific Ocean caused billions of dollars in damage from flooding and extreme …
March 20, 2017
White Cliffs of Dover on the retreat
England’s iconic White Cliffs of Dover tower 100 meters over the English Channel and, historically, were often the first and last view of England …
March 20, 2017
Tectonics trigger underwater volcanism
In 2006, a large eruption occurred on the seafloor about 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Mexico. Geochemical dating of the erupted lava …
March 15, 2017
Geomedia: Radio: "The Infinite Monkey Cage" takes listeners to the edge of the universe and beyond
“Science is not about finding the right answer, it’s finding the least wrong answers,” quips physician and science writer Ben Goldacre, a guest …
March 14, 2017
Early spring thaw triggers Arctic greenhouse gas release
During the few short months of Arctic summer, plants and animals race to grow and reproduce, fueling the most active time in the Arctic carbon …
March 14, 2017
Pyroclastic flows, not caldera collapse, caused Santorini tsunamis
The 1650 B.C. eruption of the Greek island volcano Santorini, located in the Aegean Sea, triggered tsunamis that heavily damaged coastal towns …
March 14, 2017
Earth's magnetic field illuminates ocean temperatures
As Earth warms, the atmosphere isn’t the only place where temperatures are rising — the oceans are absorbing most of the excess heat, but …
February 16, 2017
How soil management could help reduce greenhouse gas concentrations
As scientists continue studying the web of natural and anthropogenic processes that affect Earth’s climate, discussions about how to limit global …
February 16, 2017
Getting there and getting around Mount Katahdin
Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park is about 120 kilometers northwest of Bangor, Maine, and its international airport. Once in Maine, you will …
February 16, 2017
Travels in Geology: Exploring Maine's magnificent Mount Katahdin
After weeks of anticipation and constant checks of weather forecasts to find a day when the skies were likely to be clear, I decided the early …
February 16, 2017
Ice (Re)Cap: March 2017
From Antarctica to the Arctic; from polar caps, permafrost and glaciers to ocean-rafted sea ice; and from burly bears to cold-loving microbes, …
February 16, 2017
Life on land 300 million years earlier than thought
Life emerged on land about 300 million years earlier than previously thought, according to a new study in Geology by scientists who discovered …
February 16, 2017
Beneath one volcano, enough water to fill Lake Superior
Beneath a Bolivian volcano called Cerro Uturuncu sits one of Earth’s largest-known magma reservoirs, the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body (APMB), which …
February 15, 2017
Geologic Column: Rebirth on the vernal equinox
March is a particularly tempestuous month. The Anglo Saxons called it “Hrethmonath,” which translates as “rough month.” The name referred to …
February 9, 2017
Down to Earth With: Cave scientist and paleoclimatologist Kathleen Johnson
Paleoclimatologist Kathleen Johnson has some advice for anyone interested in tropical cave science: befriend experienced cave guides and beware …
February 9, 2017
Geomedia: Film: Exploring Florida's aquifers with filmmaker Tom Fitz
Filmmaker Tom Fitz describes the first time he found himself sitting, alone, more than 20 meters below Earth’s surface and about 300 meters into …