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Seafloor Spreading Slowdown May Have Caused 26–32m Sea Level Drop Over Millions of Years
Between 15 million and 6 million years ago, ocean crust production declined by 35 percent, leading to deeper ocean basins. This geological shift is believed to have caused a sea level drop of 26–32 meters. Research suggests that heat transfer from the mantle to the ocean decreased by 8 percent, potentially altering ocean chemistry. Some studies i...
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Massive Continent-Sized Blobs Deep in Earth’s Mantle May Be Over a Billion Years Old
Massive mantle formations, called LLSVPs, have been found to be over a billion years old. These structures, sitting 3,000 km beneath the surface, slow seismic waves, indicating unique physical and compositional properties. Their stability suggests they influence Earth's geological processes, including volcanic activity and tectonic movements. Scien...
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Increased Seismic Activity at Mount Spurr Raises Eruption Concerns
Seismic activity at Mount Spurr, Alaska, has intensified over the past ten months, with recent earthquakes shifting towards Crater Peak, a vent that erupted in 1992 and 1953. Scientists estimate a 50 percent chance of an eruption at Crater Peak, though the main crater remains stable. If an eruption occurs, ashfall and air travel disruptions could b...
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Moon's Geological Activity: New Evidence Suggests Surface Changes Persist
New research suggests the Moon may still be geologically active, as 266 newly discovered wrinkle ridges indicate recent surface changes. The study estimates these ridges formed within the last 160 million years, challenging the belief that lunar activity ended billions of years ago. Scientists believe continued contraction could cause moonquakes, p...
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Earthquake Swarm Near Santorini Triggers Emergency Response from Greek Authorities
Greek authorities have closed schools and deployed emergency teams in response to an increasing earthquake swarm near Santorini. The tremors, which began last week, have been intensifying in frequency and magnitude, with the strongest recorded at magnitude 5. Experts have determined that the seismic activity is caused by fault movement, rather than...
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NASA's Juno Detects Io's Most Powerful Volcanic Eruption Yet
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has recorded the most powerful volcanic eruption on Io, Jupiter’s most volcanic moon. The eruption site, detected on 27 December 2024, is fueled by a massive magma chamber spanning 105,000 square kilometers. The heat energy released is estimated at 80 trillion watts, exceeding Earth’s total power output. The volcanic ac...
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Swarm of 130 Earthquakes Rattles One of Iceland's Largest Volcanoes, Signal Possible Eruption Risk
Over 130 earthquakes struck Iceland’s Bárðarbunga volcano within hours on January 14, including a significant 5.1 magnitude quake. The Bárðarbunga system, Iceland's largest volcanic zone, has a history of major eruptions, with the 2014–2015 event producing a lava field larger than Manhattan. Experts at the Icelandic Meteorological Office ar...
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Antarctic Ice Sheet Melting May Intensify Volcanic Eruptions, Study Finds
The melting of Antarctic ice sheets is linked to more intense and frequent volcanic eruptions, as found by recent research. Reduced ice mass alleviates pressure on magma chambers beneath the surface, causing them to expand and release volatile gases, which can lead to eruptions. A study has drawn connections between this process and increased volca...
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Scientists Finally Know Why Sun Mysteriously Turned Blue Almost 200 Years Ago
A massive volcanic eruption in 1831 has been attributed as the reason for the Sun turning blue.
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Antarctica’s Melting Ice Could Awaken Hidden Volcanoes, Impact Climate Change
As Antarctica’s ice sheet continues to melt, scientists warn it could awaken over 100 hidden volcanoes beneath the surface. The loss of ice reduces pressure on magma chambers, allowing the magma to expand and potentially trigger eruptions. This could lead to increased volcanic activity, releasing gases and heat that may accelerate ice melt, weake...
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Scientists Uncover Remains of Larger Mesosaurs in Uruguay’s Ancient Seas
Paleontologists in Uruguay have uncovered fossils of mesosaurs that exceed previous size records, revealing that these ancient reptiles may have grown to lengths of up to 2.5 metres. The specimens, found in the Mangrullo Formation, include fragmentary skulls and other bones, offering a glimpse into the gigantism that occurred in mature mesosaurs. R...
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Tristan da Cunha: The Remote Island Shaped by Volcanic Forces and Rich Ecosystems
Tristan da Cunha, a volcanic island group in the South Atlantic, is home to 250 people in a settlement called Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. Surrounded by rugged terrain and unique wildlife like northern rockhopper penguins, it offers a glimpse into Earth's geological and ecological history. Its isolation is so profound that reaching it involves a si...
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Volcanic Activity in Yellowstone Is Shifting in the Northeast Direction, Study Finds
Recent findings reveal that volcanic activity within Yellowstone Caldera is shifting northeast. Using magnetotelluric surveys, geologists from the US Geological Survey, Oregon State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison identified several magma reservoirs at depths of 4 to 47 kilometers. The study found that the northeast region holds...
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Scientists Predict Under Sea Volcano Eruption Near Oregon Coast in 2025
Axial Seamount, an undersea volcano located off the coast of Oregon, is showing signs of an impending eruption, with scientists predicting it could occur as early as 2025. The volcano’s surface has been swelling, and seismic activity is increasing, both of which mirror patterns seen before previous eruptions. Researchers have been closely monitor...
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Gold-Sulfur Complex Found to Play Crucial Role in Gold Deposit Formation
An international team of scientists, led by Adam Simon, has uncovered the role of a gold-trisulfur complex in gold deposit formation. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how this complex forms in the Earth's mantle under specific pressure and temperature conditions, especially in subduction zones ...
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Seafloor Spreading Slowdown May Have Caused 26–32m Sea Level Drop Over Millions of Years
Between 15 million and 6 million years ago, ocean crust production declined by 35 percent, leading to deeper ocean basins. This geological shift is believed to have caused a sea level drop of 26–32 meters. Research suggests that heat transfer from the mantle to the ocean decreased by 8 percent, potentially altering ocean chemistry. Some studies i...
-
Massive Continent-Sized Blobs Deep in Earth’s Mantle May Be Over a Billion Years Old
Massive mantle formations, called LLSVPs, have been found to be over a billion years old. These structures, sitting 3,000 km beneath the surface, slow seismic waves, indicating unique physical and compositional properties. Their stability suggests they influence Earth's geological processes, including volcanic activity and tectonic movements. Scien...
-
Increased Seismic Activity at Mount Spurr Raises Eruption Concerns
Seismic activity at Mount Spurr, Alaska, has intensified over the past ten months, with recent earthquakes shifting towards Crater Peak, a vent that erupted in 1992 and 1953. Scientists estimate a 50 percent chance of an eruption at Crater Peak, though the main crater remains stable. If an eruption occurs, ashfall and air travel disruptions could b...
-
Moon's Geological Activity: New Evidence Suggests Surface Changes Persist
New research suggests the Moon may still be geologically active, as 266 newly discovered wrinkle ridges indicate recent surface changes. The study estimates these ridges formed within the last 160 million years, challenging the belief that lunar activity ended billions of years ago. Scientists believe continued contraction could cause moonquakes, p...
-
Earthquake Swarm Near Santorini Triggers Emergency Response from Greek Authorities
Greek authorities have closed schools and deployed emergency teams in response to an increasing earthquake swarm near Santorini. The tremors, which began last week, have been intensifying in frequency and magnitude, with the strongest recorded at magnitude 5. Experts have determined that the seismic activity is caused by fault movement, rather than...
-
NASA's Juno Detects Io's Most Powerful Volcanic Eruption Yet
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has recorded the most powerful volcanic eruption on Io, Jupiter’s most volcanic moon. The eruption site, detected on 27 December 2024, is fueled by a massive magma chamber spanning 105,000 square kilometers. The heat energy released is estimated at 80 trillion watts, exceeding Earth’s total power output. The volcanic ac...
-
Swarm of 130 Earthquakes Rattles One of Iceland's Largest Volcanoes, Signal Possible Eruption Risk
Over 130 earthquakes struck Iceland’s Bárðarbunga volcano within hours on January 14, including a significant 5.1 magnitude quake. The Bárðarbunga system, Iceland's largest volcanic zone, has a history of major eruptions, with the 2014–2015 event producing a lava field larger than Manhattan. Experts at the Icelandic Meteorological Office ar...
-
Antarctic Ice Sheet Melting May Intensify Volcanic Eruptions, Study Finds
The melting of Antarctic ice sheets is linked to more intense and frequent volcanic eruptions, as found by recent research. Reduced ice mass alleviates pressure on magma chambers beneath the surface, causing them to expand and release volatile gases, which can lead to eruptions. A study has drawn connections between this process and increased volca...
-
Scientists Finally Know Why Sun Mysteriously Turned Blue Almost 200 Years Ago
A massive volcanic eruption in 1831 has been attributed as the reason for the Sun turning blue.
-
Antarctica’s Melting Ice Could Awaken Hidden Volcanoes, Impact Climate Change
As Antarctica’s ice sheet continues to melt, scientists warn it could awaken over 100 hidden volcanoes beneath the surface. The loss of ice reduces pressure on magma chambers, allowing the magma to expand and potentially trigger eruptions. This could lead to increased volcanic activity, releasing gases and heat that may accelerate ice melt, weake...
-
Scientists Uncover Remains of Larger Mesosaurs in Uruguay’s Ancient Seas
Paleontologists in Uruguay have uncovered fossils of mesosaurs that exceed previous size records, revealing that these ancient reptiles may have grown to lengths of up to 2.5 metres. The specimens, found in the Mangrullo Formation, include fragmentary skulls and other bones, offering a glimpse into the gigantism that occurred in mature mesosaurs. R...
-
Tristan da Cunha: The Remote Island Shaped by Volcanic Forces and Rich Ecosystems
Tristan da Cunha, a volcanic island group in the South Atlantic, is home to 250 people in a settlement called Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. Surrounded by rugged terrain and unique wildlife like northern rockhopper penguins, it offers a glimpse into Earth's geological and ecological history. Its isolation is so profound that reaching it involves a si...
-
Volcanic Activity in Yellowstone Is Shifting in the Northeast Direction, Study Finds
Recent findings reveal that volcanic activity within Yellowstone Caldera is shifting northeast. Using magnetotelluric surveys, geologists from the US Geological Survey, Oregon State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison identified several magma reservoirs at depths of 4 to 47 kilometers. The study found that the northeast region holds...
-
Scientists Predict Under Sea Volcano Eruption Near Oregon Coast in 2025
Axial Seamount, an undersea volcano located off the coast of Oregon, is showing signs of an impending eruption, with scientists predicting it could occur as early as 2025. The volcano’s surface has been swelling, and seismic activity is increasing, both of which mirror patterns seen before previous eruptions. Researchers have been closely monitor...
-
Gold-Sulfur Complex Found to Play Crucial Role in Gold Deposit Formation
An international team of scientists, led by Adam Simon, has uncovered the role of a gold-trisulfur complex in gold deposit formation. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how this complex forms in the Earth's mantle under specific pressure and temperature conditions, especially in subduction zones ...
