Tiny crystals capture millions of years of mountain range history – a geologist excavates the Himalayas with a microscope

Measuring the concentration of radioactive elements in a single, sand-size crystal reveals the growth of the Himalayan mountain range over time.

Matthew J. Kohn, Professor of Geosciences, Boise State University • conversation
April 9, 2024 ~5 min

War in Ukraine at 2 years: Destruction seen from space – via radar

Satellite photography of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut shows block after block of destroyed buildings. Satellite radar provides a different view – a systematic look at the destruction of the whole city.

Sylvain Barbot, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences • conversation
Feb. 23, 2024 ~7 min


New England stone walls lie at the intersection of history, archaeology, ecology and geoscience, and deserve a science of their own

New England has thousands of miles of stone walls. A geoscientist explains why analyzing them scientifically is a solid step toward preserving them

Robert M. Thorson, Professor of Earth Science, University of Connecticut • conversation
Dec. 4, 2023 ~10 min

How do crystals form?

There are a lot of myths about crystals − for example, that they are magical rocks with healing powers. An earth scientist explains some of their amazing true science.

Natalie Bursztyn, Lecturer in Geosciences, University of Montana • conversation
Nov. 20, 2023 ~7 min

Is some of the body that collided with Earth to form the Moon still recognisable inside our planet?

The Moon was formed when it collided with Earth billions of years ago.

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University • conversation
Nov. 10, 2023 ~6 min

When Greenland was green: Ancient soil from beneath a mile of ice offers warnings for the future

Knowing Greenland’s ice-free history offers a warning for the future as global temperatures rise.

Tammy Rittenour, Professor of Geosciences and Director of Luminescence Lab, Utah State University • conversation
July 20, 2023 ~10 min

How climate change may threaten soil’s ability to capture carbon

New study looks at the dynamics of how warming may affect carbon capture in soil near trees and plants.

Clea Simon • harvard
May 11, 2023 ~5 min

What are mud volcanoes?

When mud, fluids and gases erupt at the Earth’s surface, they hint at what’s happening underground, allowing scientists to build a more comprehensive 3D view of what’s going on inside our planet.

Michael R. Hudec, Senior Research Scientist at Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin • conversation
Dec. 19, 2022 ~9 min


How the Tour de France helped me think about geology in a new way

The world’s biggest cycling race is a great way to teach people about geology – and test our own ideas.

Douwe van Hinsbergen, Chair in Global Tectonics and Paleogeography, Utrecht University • conversation
July 14, 2022 ~6 min

Asteroid, comet strikes stunted evolution of atmosphere

Collisions more common than thought and hampered growth of oxygen on planet, Harvard professor’s team finds.

Juan Siliezar • harvard
Oct. 22, 2021 ~5 min

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