Scientists discovered magmatic remnants of a volcanic arc by dating granitic rocks of the middle crust excavated by, and hidden within, the Chicxulub impact crater.

Alka Tripathy-Lang
Alka Tripathy-Lang is a freelance science writer covering stories about Earth and environmental science. Alka holds a Ph.D. in geology from Arizona State University and conducted postdoctoral research at the Berkeley Geochronology Center.
Chasing Magma Around Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has been tracking unrest near erupting Fagradalsfjall since December 2019, while researchers elsewhere explore new methods to see Iceland’s seismic swarms.
La dificultad de definir el Antropoceno
Los humanos pueden estar en una nueva época geológica, el Antropoceno, pero diferentes grupos definen su comienzo en diferentes momentos. ¿Cuándo debería haber comenzado el Antropoceno?
Eyeing Explosive Ash Clouds from Above and Below
Satellites in the sky combined with computers on the ground detect and track volcanic ash clouds, like those produced by Soufrière St. Vincent in April, in near-real time.
The Difficulty of Defining the Anthropocene
Humans may be in a new geologic epoch—the Anthropocene—but different groups define its start at varied times. When should the Anthropocene have begun?
How Geodynamo Models Churn the Outer Core
New simulations of Earth’s outer core have reproduced magnetic fields that—for the first time—match paleomagnetic data collected from rocks.
Finding “Glocal” Solutions to Flooding Problems
Scientists call for joint efforts to combine real-time global rainfall data with high-resolution local hydrology to better forecast floods.
New Volcano, Old Caldera
Researchers suggest a magma chamber sits within an old submarine caldera structure that extends into the mantle. Nearby, a new underwater volcano emerged with a flurry of seismicity.
A Robust Proxy for Geomagnetic Reversal Rates in Deep Time
The strength of Earth’s magnetic field in the distant past can tell scientists whether the planet’s magnetic poles were steady or prone to frequent reversals.
Wildfires Threaten West Coast’s Seismic Network
A dense seismic network keeps vigil over the western United States, sensing quakes soon after they begin so people nearby can brace themselves. How do wildfires affect these guardians of the West Coast?