February 21, 2019
Where on Earth? - March 2019
Clues for March 2019: This Crimson-monikered tidewater glacier, which features prominent medial moraines, was first described by the 126-person …
The EARTH archive
March 2019
Explore the archive by subject.
27 articles · Page 1 of 2
February 13, 2019
Red Planet Roundup: March 2019
With two rovers and a lander on the surface of Mars, six spacecraft orbiting above it, and scientists here on Earth studying the Red Planet from …
February 13, 2019
Grounding Asian jumping worms
To tell the difference between a regular earthworm and an Asian jumping worm, pick it up. An earthworm will likely just lay there, perhaps …
February 13, 2019
Frogs fill in post-Gondwana picture
The positions of landmasses after the breakup of Gondwana during the late Mesozoic and early Paleogene are highly debated, especially the …
February 13, 2019
Abiotic amino acid found in subseafloor rocks
In 2000, scientists discovered a new type of deep-sea hydrothermal vent site in the North Atlantic about 20 kilometers west of the Mid-Atlantic …
February 13, 2019
Neanderthals and humans suffered similar levels of head injuries
Paleolithic Neanderthals have traditionally been depicted as more aggressive than Homo sapiens, and reliant on inferior hunting techniques with …
February 13, 2019
Hard-knock hominid skeletons tell harsh tales
The Pleistocene was a hard time for hominids. Homo fossils from this period, when humans evolved and expanded from Africa and across Eurasia, are …
February 13, 2019
Kerogen's nanostructure determines oil and gas reservoir capacity
The petroleum and natural gas that power engines and heat homes are extracted from the complex networks of nooks and crannies that permeate …
February 13, 2019
Dinosaur soft tissues preserved as polymers
Since 2005, several samples of ostensibly soft tissue, such as blood vessels and bits of organic bone material, have been gleaned from dinosaur …
February 13, 2019
Jump-starting earthquake insurance uptake in California
Many parts of California are at risk for large, damaging earthquakes. Yet only about one in 10 homes in the state is covered by earthquake …
February 13, 2019
Stronger monsoon drove ancient Indus civilization into the hills
Roughly 4,000 years ago, the Indus River Valley was home to the advanced and thriving Harappa culture. But by 1800 B.C., the civilization’s …
February 13, 2019
Some of Earth's water originated in the solar system's birth
When Earth first formed, the oceans of water we know today were nowhere in sight. The long-standing consensus about where our planet’s water came …
February 13, 2019
Benchmarks: March 31, 1933: The Civilian Conservation Corps is established
On Jan. 25, 1938, a heavy winter snowstorm struck Wisconsin, blocking the road connecting Blackwell to the nearest hospital 10 kilometers away in …
February 13, 2019
Down to Earth With: Paleoanthropologist and underground astronaut Lindsay Hunter
In 2013, Lindsay Hunter found herself at a personal and professional crossroads. She had gone through a divorce, left the paleoanthropology …
February 13, 2019
Geomedia: Books: "How the Rock Connects Us" shares copper country geoheritage
There is extensive literature on Michigan’s “Copper Country,” but most existing publications on the subject are either technical reports or …
February 13, 2019
Geomedia: Books: A witty look at "The Ends of the World"
Our planet has been through some harrowing episodes, particularly in the form of mass extinctions since the advent of multicellular life. How …
February 13, 2019
Geologic Column: Newspeak for kids
“Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed — fading …
February 13, 2019
Comment: After a disaster, should you gamble on returning? Paradise edition
Rumor has it that Paradise, Calif., might have originally been named “Par-O-Dice,” after a saloon that was supposedly there during the gold rush …
February 13, 2019
Travels in Geology: Finding Florida's hidden freshwater gems
As a child, my family and I often traveled to Florida to escape the chilly Virginia winters and enjoy the Sunshine State’s warm sunny beaches. …
February 13, 2019
Getting there and getting around Florida
For travelers flying in from out of state, Florida has several major airports, including in Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA), as well …
February 13, 2019
How to become a cave diver
While snorkeling the spring pools is cool (no pun intended), a more in-depth way to experience Florida’s freshwater springs is to scuba dive in …
February 13, 2019
Juno unveils Jupiter's secrets
The Roman god Jupiter was known for his dalliances with women other than his wife, the goddess Juno. Juno was not fooled, however. Although her …
February 13, 2019
Citizen science (and art)
Juno carries a visible light camera, JunoCam, which is intended primarily to take photos that, it’s hoped, will provoke public interest in …
February 13, 2019
Deep Space Network
Messages from Juno and other spacecraft in the far reaches of the solar system are relayed to scientists via NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), …