Scientists are studying how the Earth–Moon distance has changed over time, and what effect that change might have had on our planet. Future changes will extinguish total solar eclipses entirely.
plate tectonics
Posted inEditors' Highlights
What’s Hot in Iceland? A Close Up View of Hotspot-Ridge Interaction
New seafloor magnetic data help scientists retrace the evolution of the Reykjanes Ridge, lending insights into the effects of a mantle plume on mid-ocean ridge organization and evolution.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
A Strong Pacific Plate Bends Under the Hawaiian Volcanic Chain
Two seismic studies reveal the volcanic loads and resulting flexure of the Pacific plate at the Hawaiian Ridge and, surprisingly, show no magmatic underplating.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
The Nature of Mantle Flow May Depend on the Type of Slab Subducting
Researchers tease apart the links between slabs and mantle flow near subduction zones, upending some traditional views of subduction-induced mantle flow.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Plate Boundaries May Experience Higher Temperature and Stress Than We Thought
Surface heat flux data shed light on conditions deep below Earth’s surface, at a tectonic plate interface where major earthquakes initiate.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Scientists Model What’s Moving Beneath Earth’s Surface
A 3D printed model of a fault served as the setting for a hydrofracturing experiment exploring the mechanisms behind slow earthquakes.
Posted inFeatures
The Importance of Archiving the Seafloor
Marine geological sample repositories are vital for ocean science, climate change studies, and more. The value of their collections is growing amid efforts to meet rising demand for their services.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Seafloor Shapes on the Flanks of Mid-Ocean Ridges Linked to Magma Supply
New research suggests the source of morphologic variation on mid-ocean ridges might be deeper than scientists thought.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Subducted Seamounts May Lead to Larger Earthquakes
New findings show that underwater mountains may increase friction along subduction zones, building up stress and making larger ruptures more likely.