geology

Latest in geology

The communities of soil microbes known as biocrusts are common in arid ecosystems.

Science

The dirt on biocrusts: Why scientists are working to save Earth’s living skin The dirt on biocrusts: Why scientists are working to save Earth’s living skin

By Jude Coleman / Knowable Magazine

a long grey sediment core taken from the earth's mantle

Environment

Longest rocks ever recovered from Earth’s mantle Longest rocks ever recovered from Earth’s mantle

By Laura Baisas

Closeup of carbon nitride material

Technology

This new synthetic material is nearly as durable as diamonds This new synthetic material is nearly as durable as diamonds

White Sands NPS staff excavating fossilized human footprints from lakebed

Science

Do the ancient human footprints at White Sands date back to the last ice age? Do the ancient human footprints at White Sands date back to the last ice age?

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

The Seattle skyline.

Science

Two fault lines near Seattle could rupture in one giant earthquake Two fault lines near Seattle could rupture in one giant earthquake

Lithium samples from the proposed Thacker Pass mining site in the McDermitt Caldera lithium deposit

Environment

What’s the most sustainable way to mine the largest known lithium deposit in the world? What’s the most sustainable way to mine the largest known lithium deposit in the world?

The base camp at Annapurna in the foreground, with the peak behind it.

Science

The rocky history of a missing 26,000-foot Himalayan peak The rocky history of a missing 26,000-foot Himalayan peak

A view of the planet as seen from the International Space Station

Science

Seismologists might have identified the deepest layer of Earth’s core Seismologists might have identified the deepest layer of Earth’s core

Earth’s natural air-scrubbing system works better when it’s wetter

Science

Earth’s natural air-scrubbing system works better when it’s wetter Earth’s natural air-scrubbing system works better when it’s wetter

The Earth’s inner core could be slowing its spin—but don’t panic

Science

The Earth’s inner core could be slowing its spin—but don’t panic The Earth’s inner core could be slowing its spin—but don’t panic

By Laura Baisas

How old is Earth? The age depends on the formation of the moon.

Science

How old is Earth? It’s a surprisingly tough question to answer. How old is Earth? It’s a surprisingly tough question to answer.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Winchcombe meteorite fragment in a purple-gloved hand for chemical analysis

Science

Two meteorite mysteries are helping astronomers investigate the origins of life Two meteorite mysteries are helping astronomers investigate the origins of life

An old man panning for gold in a river.

DIY

Enter your prospector era by learning how to pan for gold Enter your prospector era by learning how to pan for gold

By Alisha McDarris

Earth's magnetic field in a black, red, and white illustration

Science

Here’s what the Earth’s magnetic field would sound like if we could hear it Here’s what the Earth’s magnetic field would sound like if we could hear it

By Laura Baisas

an illustration of a burning planet next to a sun

Science

Engineers made synthetic alien lava to understand uninhabitable worlds Engineers made synthetic alien lava to understand uninhabitable worlds

By Tatyana Woodall

Ionsdaleite diamond crystal structure under a microscope

Science

Space diamonds sparkle from the wreckage of a crushed dwarf planet Space diamonds sparkle from the wreckage of a crushed dwarf planet

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

a schematic of a satellite beaming down to a dish to study the ocean floor

Environment

The centuries-long quest to map the seafloor’s hidden secrets The centuries-long quest to map the seafloor’s hidden secrets

By Bill Gourgey

Stacks of white calcite on a black background in a mineral catalog

Science

Earth has more than 10,000 kinds of minerals. This massive new catalog describes them all. Earth has more than 10,000 kinds of minerals. This massive new catalog describes them all.

Sierra Negra volcano erupting in the Galapagos Islands in 2018

Science

Volcanic eruptions are unpredictable, but these geologists cracked the code Volcanic eruptions are unpredictable, but these geologists cracked the code

a huge mushroom cloud from a volcanic explosion seen from space

Science

Tonga’s historic volcanic eruption could help predict when tsunamis strike land Tonga’s historic volcanic eruption could help predict when tsunamis strike land

By Kate Baggaley