New research suggests that the surface of Venus is busy, but it may take new missions to our “sibling” planet to confirm this.
geology
Limiting Factor Was a Science Opportunity for a Deep-Sea Geologist
For Mariana Trench expert Patricia Fryer, an extreme explorer’s record-setting dive was a chance to retrieve some of the deepest samples ever collected.
Cascading Down the Mountain
Earthquakes in mountain ranges produce a cascade of geological disturbances and hazards, from enormous landslides to climate change.
Paleomagnetism Indicators May Be Flawed
A new study finds that magnetism in volcanic ash tuff forms through varied processes, calling into question previously reliable signatures used to study variations in Earth’s magnetic field.
The Mineralogical Society of America Turns 100
The society that led scientists through some of the most groundbreaking discoveries of the past century looks ahead to the next challenges with a Centennial symposium in late June.
Hiroshima Bomb Created Asteroid Impact–Like Glass
The glass rained from the sky as the bomb annihilated the Japanese city.
Crystals Connect Bubbles in Explosive Magmas
Hydrous silica-rich magmas can degas through connected bubble pathways when as little as 20% crystals are present, influencing transitions from explosive, Vulcanian-style eruptions to lava effusion.
When Water Met Rock
Geologists discover rocks bearing the earliest known evidence of water interacting with rock on Earth’s surface.
X-Ray Computed Tomography Detects Resolution Scale Gold Grains
A method combining partial-volume and blurring effects can be used to measure small features in computed tomography data volumes.
For Some Copper Deposits, Microbes Make Minable Minerals
Copper ores were long thought to form through purely chemical processes, but a recent study provides the strongest evidence yet that microbial metabolism drives mineral production.