November 14, 2014
2014 Commentaries
For our 2014 year-end issue, we decided to continue a new tradition begun last year, once again asking the EARTH editorial team and several of …
The EARTH archive
November 2014
Explore the archive by subject.
41 articles · Page 1 of 2
November 3, 2014
Polar dino tracks show full ecosystem
Researchers recently uncovered a new dinosaur tracksite in Alaska’s Denali National Park. The well-preserved Late Cretaceous footprints were left …
November 3, 2014
Inland earthquake triggers distant tsunami
On Sept. 24, 2013, a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck southern Pakistan, killing more than 800 people. The quake made global headlines in part due …
November 3, 2014
Geologic Column: Get busy living!
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.” So says a long-imprisoned, recently released convict grappling with the task of facing life in the world …
November 3, 2014
Energy Notes: June 2013-2014
U.S. Oil & Petroleum Imports (million of barrels per day) Oil and petroleum imports data are preliminary numbers taken from the American …
November 3, 2014
Mineral Resource of the Month: Mica
Jason Christopher Willett, a mineral commodity specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey, compiled the following information on mica. The mica …
November 3, 2014
Down to Earth With: CEO and Geo-Data miner Nicole Barlow
Miners are the classic geo-entrepreneurs. Nicole Barlow is a new kind of geo-entrepreneur: She also mines — but instead of rocks, she digs into …
November 3, 2014
Getting there and getting around Scotland
To visit Scotland, fly into Edinburgh or take a train from London. Arthur’s Seat is within walking distance of the Royal Mile and downtown …
November 3, 2014
Living mountains and wild places
Mountains often boast a strong literary tradition, and the legendary Cairngorms are no exception. Two of the Highlands’ most geo-minded authors …
November 3, 2014
Bag your first Munro
One of the founding members of the Scottish Mountaineering Club, Hugh Munro, compiled a list of all the mountains in Scotland taller than 3,000 …
November 3, 2014
Travels in Geology: The inspiring, globe-trotting rocks of Scotland
As the birthplace of both modern geology and the sport of mountaineering, Scotland is home to some incredible, inspiring rocks. For a relatively …
October 30, 2014
Comment: How much hazard mitigation is enough?
After Hurricane Sandy caused about $65 billion of damage to the U.S. East Coast in 2012, the question of how to reduce damage from future storms …
October 6, 2014
Rome's lead water pipes likely not a health risk
Ancient Rome was renowned for its vast and advanced plumbing system that brought freshwater to the city through viaducts and distributed it to …
October 6, 2014
Massive icebergs scoured Arctic seafloor
In August 1990, the R/V Polarstern departed Tromsø, Norway, to investigate the ocean bottom bathymetry of the Fram Strait between Greenland and …
October 6, 2014
Seismic friction causes fault iridescence
Although iridescent spots on rocks in Utah’s Wasatch Fault Zone were first recognized two decades ago, scientists haven’t understood their …
October 6, 2014
Red Planet Roundup: November 2014
As Curiosity and Opportunity rove around Mars, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), Mars Express and Mars Odyssey orbit above, and scientists …
October 6, 2014
Ohio millers imported French stone
What’s the difference between France and Ohio? A few fossils. Common Ohio chert looks like a rock called French buhr found around Paris, except …
October 6, 2014
Seasonal ice-cover reduction throughout Arctic waters mapped
Nowhere is climatic warming more evident than in the Arctic. Arctic air has warmed almost twice as much compared to the global average in recent …
October 6, 2014
Russian earthquake ruptures superfast and deep
A “superfast” magnitude-6.7 earthquake was detected off the coast of Kamchatka, Russia, in May. The earthquake, called a “supershear” quake, is …
October 5, 2014
New lunar research answers old questions, poses others
From its close perch in the sky, the moon has long mystified artists, lovers and scientists. Now a quartet of recent papers — all of which touch …
October 5, 2014
Past penguin populations not dependent on ice extent
Penguins’ lives revolve around ice, so it seems they might be particularly vulnerable to changing ice conditions and ice loss. But a new study …
October 5, 2014
Harpooning space debris
Harpooning was first used to spear fish, and later whales, but has yet to be used in space. Now, the European Space Agency (ESA) is considering …
October 5, 2014
Mercury formed by hit and run?
The solar system was once as busy as a store parking lot on Black Friday. Collisions were common in the early days, and new evidence of a …
October 5, 2014
Clues to limestone weathering written in Western Wall
Builders and masons take note: When it comes to the durability of limestone, grain size matters. New research combining field and lab data shows …