Small-scale tectonic structures have been identified on the Moon’s farside maria and within the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) Basin, revealing recent and potentially ongoing contractional tectonism. The discovery challenges previous assumptions that tectonic activity on the Moon ceased billions of years ago.
An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has discovered that the Neotethys oceanic plate is breaking off horizontally. This geological phenomenon is occurring deep beneath the Earth’s surface, with a tear extending from southeast Turkey to northwest Iran. The study focused on the impact of the Zagros Mountains’ forces in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, revealing significant bending of the Earth’s surface over the past 20 million years.
New research has found magma reservoirs beneath dormant volcanoes in the Cascade Range remain intact for thousands of years, challenging the long-standing belief that magma bodies dissipate over time after eruptions and reshaping understanding of volcanic activity. Previously, large magma bodies were thought to indicate an increased likelihood of eruption, but the study suggests they are a persistent feature of volcanic systems rather than a sign of imminent activity.
Volcanologists reporting in Oxford’s Academic Journal of Petrology have confirmed that the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes share a deep magma source within the Hawaiian plume.
A long-term statistical study has confirmed a direct correlation between rainfall variability in India and solar activity features such as sunspots, solar flares, and solar prominences. Researchers analyzed 5 consecutive solar cycles (1964 – 2019) and found that rainfall levels shift predictably with solar fluctuations, impacting seasonal and annual precipitation patterns across India.
Scientists from the University of Oregon have discovered a vast underground aquifer beneath Oregon’s Cascade Range, storing at least 81 km3 (19.4 mi3) of water — almost three times the maximum capacity of Lake Mead. The research detailing the findings was published on January 13, 2025, reshaping the understanding of the region’s water resources and volcanic hazards.
A rare lunar-origin asteroid, 2024 PT5, has been identified by astronomers, suggesting that high-energy impacts on the Moon may have ejected material into near-Earth space thousands of years ago.
Research conducted using advanced satellite magnetometry has revealed how Earth’s tides create faint magnetic signals, offering new insights into the ocean floor and the deeper Earth’s mantle.
A study analyzing 56 450 Sun-like stars has found that superflares which are immense bursts of electromagnetic radiation, occur roughly once every 100 years.
Astronomers have detected the fastest atmospheric jet stream ever recorded, with winds reaching 33 000 km/h (20 505 mph), on the gas giant exoplanet WASP-127b, located over 500 light-years from Earth.
