New research says it’s plausible the Great Sphinx started life as a geomorphological oddity known as a yardang.
limestone
Posted inNews
Searching for the Sculptor of France’s Caves
Spelunking scientists searched for the original source of the French Pyrenees’ magnificent caves.
Posted inNews
A Mysterious Dome Reveals Clues to Australia’s Miocene History
The Nullarbor Plain has been relatively untouched by geological forces, leaving traces of the continent’s deep past.
Posted inNews
Roman-Era Millstone and Mixer Makers Knew Their Rocks
The geochemistry of basalt millstones and mixers from the city of Volubilis suggests a local origin—and that rocks were picked for specific purposes, from crushing olives to mixing dough.
Posted inNews
Detailed Geologic Mapping Helps Identify Health Hazards
A team of geologists and nursing researchers created an interactive radon hazard map for Kentucky residents—and it was possible only because of the high-resolution bedrock mapping in the state.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
The First Angstrom-Scale View of Weathering
Researchers observe how water vapor and liquid alter sedimentary rocks through physical and chemical processes.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Certain Rock Formations Can Lead to In-Home Radon Risks
Researchers in Kentucky have merged results from home test kits with the state’s geologic map to produce a map of indoor radon potential based on the geology underlying homes in the state.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
World’s Deepest Freshwater Cave May Be a Kilometer Deep
The Czech Republic’s Hranice Abyss is more than twice as deep as researchers thought.
Posted inGeoFIZZ
Self-Guided Tour of the Geology in D. C. Buildings
The architecture of the nation’s capital reveals a secret geologic history—take a walking tour to spot the interesting fossils and minerals in the stones used to build the halls of power.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Acoustic Monitoring of Inelastic Compaction in Porous Limestone
During triaxial compression experiments, acoustic monitoring reveals compaction localization in a high porosity limestone, accompanied by a significant decrease in P-wave velocity.