Geoscience News - SciTechDaily

Unveiling the Mystery: How “Contaminated” Aluminum Oxide Turns Into Precious Sapphires

Heidelberg University — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 06:07:23 +0000

Researchers at Heidelberg University are investigating how this distinctively blue-colored crystal forms in volcanic melts. Sapphires, highly valued as precious gems, are essentially aluminum oxide, or corundum, with chemical impurities. These typically blue crystals are predominantly found in silicon-poor volcanic rocks worldwide. It is widely believed that sapphires form in deep crustal rocks and are [...]

Reimagining Earth’s History: New Study Challenges Long-Held Theories of Continent Formation

University of Illinois Chicago — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 01:25:32 +0000

A recent study challenges traditional views on how Earth’s continents were formed, suggesting that subduction may not have been necessary. His findings propose that the melting of Earth’s crust could explain the formation of continents, casting doubt on when plate tectonics began and highlighting its impact on life’s origin. The formation of Earth’s continents billions [...]

Life’s Origins on Mars? NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds “Smoking Gun” in Organic Material

University of Copenhagen — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 10:16:22 +0000

Two samples from Mars together deliver the “smoking gun” in a new study showing the origin of Martian organic material. The study presents solid evidence for a prediction made over a decade ago that could be key to understanding how organic molecules, the foundation of life, were first formed here on Earth. Curiosity rover’s findings [...]

Shocking “Dark Oxygen” Discovery on Deep-Ocean Floor 13,000 Feet Below the Surface

Northwestern University — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:00:44 +0000

Scientists discover metallic minerals split water to generate ‘dark oxygen’. An international study reveals that deep-sea minerals produce oxygen in total darkness, suggesting an alternative oxygen source that could predate photosynthetic life. This discovery has major implications for deep-sea mining, highlighting the need for sustainable practices to protect these newly discovered oxygen sources. Discovering Oxygen [...]

Geoscientists Unlock the Mystery: Why We Haven’t Met Aliens Yet

Amanda Siegfried, University of Texas at Dallas — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 02:03:31 +0000

Researchers suggest that the scarcity of oceans, continents, and long-term plate tectonics on exoplanets likely explains the rarity of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations, challenging the estimates provided by the Drake equation and addressing the Fermi paradox. New research by University of Texas at Dallas geoscientist Dr. Robert Stern and a colleague suggests a geological explanation for [...]

Undetected Melting Threat: Scientists Discover New Antarctic Tipping Point

British Antarctic Survey — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 13:03:51 +0000

Warm water flowing beneath can cause ice to melt in ways not currently accounted for in models. Scientists have identified a concerning new mechanism for the melting of large ice sheets. The study highlights how relatively warm seawater can erode the underside of ice that is grounded, potentially speeding up the process by which ice [...]

Surprising Discovery of Frost on Martian Volcanoes Near Equator – “Thought Impossible”

European Space Agency (ESA) — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:16:54 +0000

ESA missions discovered frost near Mars’s equator, a surprising find given the area’s typically higher temperatures. This frost, appearing temporarily on the Tharsis volcanoes, suggests a unique microclimate and air circulation at high altitudes. The finding, facilitated by ESA’s orbiters ExoMars TGO and Mars Express, marks a significant step in understanding Martian atmospheric dynamics and [...]

Rethinking Earth’s Timeline: New Research Reveals That Fresh Water Emerged 500 Million Years Sooner Than Previously Thought

Curtin University — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 07:18:01 +0000

Recent research led by Curtin University has discovered that freshwater appeared on Earth four billion years ago, suggesting that conditions for life developed significantly earlier than previously thought. New research led by Curtin University has uncovered evidence suggesting that fresh water, crucial for life, emerged on Earth around four billion years ago—500 million years earlier [...]

Inescapable Conclusion: USC Researchers Prove Earth’s Core Is Losing Speed

Will Kwong, USC — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 03:06:18 +0000

A new study provides clear evidence that the Earth’s inner core began to decrease its speed around 2010. USC scientists have discovered that the Earth’s inner core is slowing down relative to the planet’s surface, a phenomenon that started around 2010 after decades of the opposite trend. This significant shift was detected through detailed seismic [...]

Chilling Revelation: Frost on the Solar System’s Tallest Volcanoes

Brown University — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:00:22 +0000

Frost detected on Mars’ equatorial volcanoes suggests unexpected climate dynamics and ancient weather patterns, offering insights into the planet’s water cycle and atmospheric conditions essential for future Mars missions. An international team of planetary scientists has detected patches of water frost sitting atop the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars, which are not only the tallest volcanic [...]

Unraveling Secrets of Ancient Egypt – Groundbreaking Study Rewrites the Nile’s History

University of Southampton — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:07:50 +0000

Recent research reveals that a major shift in the River Nile’s course about 4,000 years ago expanded the floodplain near Luxor, potentially boosting ancient Egypt’s agricultural success and influencing the placement of historic sites. Researchers have studied the development of the River Nile over the past 11,500 years and examined how shifts in its geography [...]

Scientists Uncover Unexpected Impact of Ocean Floor Geometry on Climate

University of California - Los Angeles — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 04:13:46 +0000

Recent research reveals that up to 50% of the variations in carbon sequestration depths can be attributed to seafloor topography. The carbon cycle, which involves the transfer of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, and continents, plays a crucial role in controlling Earth’s climate. Various factors contribute to this cycle: volcanic eruptions and human activities release [...]

Rising Waters Transform the Tibetan Plateau Into an Unpredictable Future

Bangor University — Mon, 27 May 2024 17:17:59 +0000

Increased rainfall and glacier meltwater are set to dramatically reverse the shrinking trend and expand land-locked lakes on the Tibetan Plateau by 50%. This expansion will result in significant land loss, affecting agriculture, habitats, and infrastructure, and necessitating urgent adaptive strategies to mitigate economic, environmental, and ecological impacts. Recent reports have stated that more than [...]

Earth Scientists Uncover an Explosive New Type of Volcanic Eruption at Kīlauea

University of Oregon — Mon, 27 May 2024 15:00:23 +0000

The Kīlauea volcano erupted like a stomp-rocket in 2018, new research shows. While no two volcanic eruptions are exactly alike, scientists think a series of explosive eruptions at Kīlauea volcano fit into a whole new category. By analyzing the dynamics of 12 back-to-back explosions that happened in 2018, researchers describe a new type of volcanic [...]

Isotopic Analysis Reveals Origins of Organic Matter in Martian Sediments

Tokyo Institute of Technology — Thu, 16 May 2024 23:09:40 +0000

Mars’ ancient geological features suggest the presence of water in the past, and recent studies of sediments from Gale Crater reveal organic matter with unique isotopic compositions, pointing to atmospheric processes, not biological activity, as the source of this organic material. Mars’ Geological Past Although Mars presents a barren, dusty landscape with no signs of [...]

Tracing the Pathfinders of Sahul: A New Look at the First Peoples’ Migration

University of Sydney — Sat, 11 May 2024 07:09:14 +0000

Introduction to New Research on First Peoples’ Migration New research conducted by the University of Sydney sheds light on the migration patterns of the First Peoples of Australia and New Guinea, as well as their habitats over the 40,000 years following humanity’s arrival on the then-unified continent of Sahul. This continent included present-day Australia, Tasmania, [...]

Snow’s Secret Light Show: Scientists Reveal What Really Makes It Sparkle

Norwegian University of Science and Technology — Wed, 01 May 2024 23:17:05 +0000

Understanding the optical properties of snow may unlock advancements ranging from enhanced snow removal techniques to heightened avalanche safety. One might think that snow, of all things, is easy to describe: it is cold, white and covers the landscape like a blanket. What else is there to say about it? A lot, according to Mathieu [...]

Challenging Previous Theory: Mantle Heat Rejuvenated Earth’s Crust 3 Billion Years Ago

Rebecca Owen, American Geophysical Union — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 23:20:44 +0000

Information from igneous zircon molecules gives researchers new insight into the workings of the inner Earth. Little is known about the nature and evolution of Earth’s continental crust before a few billion years ago because cratons, or stable swaths of the lithosphere more than 2–3 billion years old, are relatively rare. Zircon’s Role in Geological [...]

Unlocking Cosmic Mysteries: The Hunt for Water on Other Worlds

European Geosciences Union — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:17:28 +0000

The initial step in the search for extraterrestrial life involves identifying the presence of liquid water. The moons of Saturn and Jupiter like Enceladus, Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto are suspected of holding oceans of liquid water beneath icy crusts. Similarly, some exoplanets beyond our solar system likely host liquid water, crucial for habitability. But detecting [...]

3.7 Billion Years Old: Oldest Undisputed Evidence of Earth’s Magnetic Field Uncovered in Greenland

University of Oxford — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:27 +0000

A collaborative study by the University of Oxford and MIT has uncovered a 3.7-billion-year-old magnetic field record from Greenland, demonstrating that Earth’s ancient magnetic field was as strong as it is today, crucial for protecting life by shielding against cosmic and solar radiation. A new study has recovered a 3.7-billion-year-old record of Earth’s magnetic field, [...]

Popular Myth Busted – New Findings Challenge Old Earthquake Models

GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 11:38:21 +0000

The first high-precision image of a seismic fault zone transforms our knowledge of earthquakes. The idea that earthquakes release stress by a single strong quake along a single fault plane may need to be corrected. Recent research conducted by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), in collaboration with the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences [...]

The Aerosol Enigma: New Findings Could Change Air Quality Forever

Argonne National Laboratory — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 01:06:24 +0000

An international group of researchers has successfully documented the first clear evidence of long-hypothesized catalysts involved in aerosol formation. Eighty-five percent of Earth’s atmosphere is contained within the troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer. Despite this, significant gaps in our knowledge persist regarding the chemical processes that alter the composition of the troposphere. One especially important [...]

When Earth’s Magnetic Shield Faltered: Cosmic Ray Invasion 41,000 Years Ago

European Geosciences Union — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:05:21 +0000

Research indicates a significant increase in cosmogenic radionuclides during the Laschamps excursion, pointing to reduced geomagnetic protection and potential biosphere upheavals. Earth’s magnetic field cocoons our planet from the onslaught of cosmic radiation streaming through space while also shielding us from charged particles hurled outward by the sun. But the geomagnetic field is not stationary. [...]

More Than Just Fool’s Gold: Scientists Uncover Hidden Treasure in Pyrite

European Geosciences Union — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:29:15 +0000

There’s a reason airlines won’t let you put your laptop in your checked luggage; the lithium-ion battery poses a serious fire hazard. But why? Lithium is incredibly reactive. For instance, pure lithium violently interacts with seemingly innocuous water, releasing heat and forming highly flammable hydrogen. This reactivity, however, is exactly why lithium makes a great [...]