November 21, 2017
Opportunist organisms rafted across the Pacific on plastic
Since World War II, fiberglass and plastic — which are stronger, lighter and require less maintenance than wood — have become the materials of …
The EARTH archive
November 2017
Explore the archive by subject.
38 articles · Page 1 of 2
November 17, 2017
Extinct lunar magnetic field lasted longer than previously thought
Magnetized lunar rocks collected by the Apollo missions indicate the moon had its own magnetic field, generated by motion of liquid metal in its …
November 15, 2017
Dino deaths cleared the way for frogs
Frogs make up almost 90 percent of amphibians, and with 6,775 described species, frogs are considered one of the most diverse groups of …
November 15, 2017
Caldera clays may hold key to lithium independence
Most of the world’s lithium is mined in South America and Australia. New research suggests that the United States may have its own untapped …
November 15, 2017
Can fossil footprints reveal the weight of a dinosaur?
Body mass is a fundamental factor in determining how much food an animal requires, how it moves and grows, and what role it plays in its …
November 15, 2017
Seismic patterns help forecast eruptions from quiet stratovolcanoes
Earth is home to more than 1,500 potentially eruptive volcanoes on land, each with a unique character and history. Predicting when and how a …
November 15, 2017
Antimony may have poisoned Pompeii's drinking water
The ancient Romans may have had advanced water distribution systems, but the water pipes they used were highly toxic. Many Roman-era water pipes …
November 15, 2017
Volcanic activity contributed to first of the "Big Five" mass extinctions
During the Ordovician, between about 488 million and 444 million years ago, plant life first emerged on land, while primitive fish and a variety …
November 9, 2017
Imaging Iceland's volcanic roots
Home to more than 30 active volcanoes, Iceland is one of the most vigorous volcanic settings on Earth. A new look at the core-mantle boundary …
November 9, 2017
Alaskan subduction zone mirrors Tohoku zone that unleashed tsunami
In 2011, a large swath of coastal Japan was devastated and more than 15,000 people were killed when the magnitude-9.1 Tohoku earthquake unleashed …
November 9, 2017
Marine megafaunal extinction discovered
Extinctions of large land animals during the Pleistocene are well documented. In a new study, scientists report that marine megafauna also …
November 8, 2017
Desktop seismology: How a maker-inspired device is changing seismic monitoring
Earth groans and shimmies constantly, producing everything from occasional building-collapsing earthquakes to subtle shaking humans don’t even …
November 1, 2017
Where on Earth? - November 2017
Clues for November 2017: This small canyon — only about 10 meters wide at the bottom and less than a kilometer long — was carved by a river that …
October 27, 2017
Benchmarks: November 18, 1929: Turbidity currents snap trans-Atlantic cables
On the evening of Monday, Nov. 18, 1929, a magnitude-7.2 earthquake ruptured off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Those living on the Burin …
October 27, 2017
Geologic Column: Giving Konrad Zuse his due
German engineer Konrad Zuse is considered the first inventor of the programmable electronic computer in his home country, but sadly, few students …
October 26, 2017
Getting there and getting around Scotland's Southwestern Islands
Ferry service to Arran and Islay is the primary way to access the islands from the Scottish mainland. Caledonian MacBrayne (“CalMac”) offers a …
October 26, 2017
Travels in Geology: The diverse geology, landscapes and whiskys of Scotland's Southwestern Islands
Arran and Islay are two large islands of southwestern Scotland that showcase a suite of interesting rocks and landscapes, and Scotland’s …
October 18, 2017
Comment: The Congressional ecosystem: A paleontologist's perspective
At the height of the 2016 presidential election, the nation’s eyes were on Washington, D.C., and prominent voices were critical of the Capital. …
October 18, 2017
Down to Earth With: Deep-sea biologist Stace Beaulieu
People often find their way to the geosciences after a college class sparks their interest. But not Stace Beaulieu, a senior research specialist …
October 18, 2017
Ice (Re)Cap: November 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, …
October 18, 2017
Microbes influence ooid formation
The formation of carbonate spheroids called ooids is a bit of a mystery. They are thought to form in warm waters saturated with carbonate, which …
October 18, 2017
Second stars can distort planet size estimates
When light from a star is blocked by another celestial body — as when the moon obstructed light from the much-larger sun during the recent solar …
October 18, 2017
Humans arrived Down Under earlier than thought
Analysis of sediments surrounding a trove of artifacts discovered in northern Australia suggests the first humans arrived on the continent about …
October 18, 2017
When agriculture went to our heads
The dawn of agriculture left an indelible mark on early human societies, and a new study finds that eating softer, cultivated foods subtly …