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Known as Cueva de los Cristales (Cave of Crystals), this hidden chamber in Mexico holds some of the largest natural crystals ever discovered. The translucent pillars, some as long as telephone poles and as wide as tree trunks, make for an eerie underground landscape, seemingly crafted by giants. But there’s no magic involved, just some […]
Krotite is a cosmic relic, one of the oldest minerals in the Solar System, formed under fiery conditions in the early protoplanetary disk.
A zircon crystal from a Martian meteorite unlocks secrets of a water-rich, dynamic Mars 4.45 billion years ago.
A single gemstone from Myanmar holds the title of Earth's rarest mineral, kyawthuite.
Scientists uncover the mechanics behind Siberia's explosive craters as warming drives methane release.
Amphibian fossils, particularly those capturing larval stages, are exceptionally rare due to tadpoles’ soft, delicate bodies, which are highly prone to decay.
There's a lof of chemistry wisdom in this "fool's gold."
This tongue-twister of a mineral has extraordinary uses, including nuclear disaster cleanups.
The geology of the ocean floor is truly spectacular — perhaps even more than land geology. Unfortunately, it's really hard to study.
In the year 2,000, a Chinese dealer purchased an unusual-looking rock weighing around a ton. He cleaned it off, removing 20 kilograms (44 lb) from it, and then took the rock (a gleaming mass of crystals and iron) to a Gem and Mineral Show in Tucson, Arizona. At the show, Dr. Dante Lauretta, a professor […]
Scientists found a previously hidden massive asteroid crater in the Atlantic Ocean. Did two asteroids wipe out the dinosaurs?
Geologists found an ancient seafloor trapped deep beneath Earth's mantle, which could solve many previous puzzling observations.
Mount Everest is growing, which is no surprise. But it's growing faster than it should.
The astonishing diversity of carnivorans in the Late Miocene helps us understand their ecological roles.
This ichtyosaur species would have been absolutely terrifying.
New interpretations and mapping of all New Zealand’s offshore sedimentary basins offer clues about the evolution of Earth’s eighth continent.
Mars' surface may hide evidence of volcanoes that are still active.
An old tombstone from Jamestown made a full transatlantic journey — according to its fossils.
The ring might have acted like a giant sunshade, causing a cooling effect that might have unleashed an ice age.
Ireland’s iconic table mountain has a fascinating geological history.
They're not actual spiders, of course, but rather strange geological features.
Earthquake scientists detected an unusual signal on monitoring stations used to detect seismic activity during September 2023. We saw it on sensors everywhere, from the Arctic to Antarctica. We were baffled – the signal was unlike any previously recorded. Instead of the frequency-rich rumble typical of earthquakes, this was a monotonous hum, containing only a […]
New findings show lunar volcanic activity occurred as recently as 120 million years ago.
A detailed map sheds light on Ganymede's complex geological history.
What would happen if humans dried out the Mediterranean sea, turning it into a giant salt lake? Would its wildlife survive, and if so, how long would it take to recover? These may seem like wildly theoretical questions, but not for Herman Sörgel, a Bavarian architect who dedicated much of his life to this exact […]
In 2005, I was navigating winding roads through the Drakensberg Mountains, in Lesotho, Southern Africa. Towering cliff-like features known as escarpments interrupt the landscape, rising up by a kilometre or more. Taken aback by the dramatic scenery, I was struck by a question: how on Earth did it form? The outer shell of our planet […]
New geoarchaeological research shows that metalworking in ancient Egypt led to significant contamination in a nearby port.
Ancient footprints across the Atlantic Ocean offer clues to the dinosaur's last intercontinental journey.
This ancient avalanche grew so big that its size was only limited by the physical dimensions of the canyon itself.
This unbelievably large diamond barely fits in your palm.
For years, scientists have speculated about the nature of water on exoplanets, especially on super-Earths and sub-Neptunes — planets larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. The prevailing view has been that these distant worlds could be covered by vast oceans, potentially making them prime candidates for hosting life. However, a groundbreaking study published in […]
Mars may have oceans' worth of water — but it's more than 10 km under the surface.
New insights into Earth's mantle challenge our understanding of geology and life.
During the lead-up to recent volcanic eruptions near the city of Grindavík, scientists documented graben formation in real time.
Scientists don’t know why — or when — the next big one will strike.
Curiosity delivers once again.
The more we look at them, the more intriguing they are.
Australian crystals hint at fresh water, as well as land rising above Earth’s Hadean ocean.
Subsurface lava tunnels are important for our exploration of the moon. Scientists just found a very promising one.
Geological folds, exemplified by the striking features of Mount Head, offer a window into the dynamic processes that shape our planet.
Thankfully, no one was around and there were no injuries.
A team of researchers used CT scans and computer models to image trilobites in unprecedented detail.
It's one of the most Earth-like places in our solar system... except it's nothing like the Earth.
A new study shows Earth's Great Oxidation Event was a prolonged, chaotic process lasting 200 million years with fluctuating oxygen levels
China has a stranglehold on the global rare earths supply. Norway may loosen it.
Who knew a Martian meteorite could be so pretty?
Cement and clay bricks could be replaced with olivine-based alternatives.
Although the San Andreas fault hasn't been behaving as usual, it's best not to get complacent.
When discovered, TJBH was believed to be only 30 meters deep. However, in reality, it is deeper than the deepest blue holes on Earth.
Salmon are pretty curious creatures now. In the past, they were even funkier.
