The study of Earth’s systems, including its physical structure, natural processes, and interactions between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Earth sciences investigate phenomena such as weather, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions to understand our planet’s past, present, and future.
A study published recently in Geology identifies marine large igneous provinces (LIPs) as the cause of at least four mass extinctions during the Triassic period, addressing a long-standing question about what triggered the era’s repeated die-offs.
Using earthquakes to ‘see’ into the interior of our planet, scientists were able to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of the Antarctic gravity hole and reveal its development over millions of years, establishing a link with major climate changes in Antarctica.
A new geophysical model integrating GNSS velocity data and earthquake focal mechanisms reveals that the Iberian Peninsula is rotating slowly clockwise relative to both Eurasia and Africa. The analysis, published in Gondwana Research in January 2026, maps present-day stress and strain-rate fields across Iberia and north-western Africa, refining the geometry of the diffuse Eurasia–Africa plate boundary.
An analysis of paleomagnetic and geochemical proxy records shows that Earth’s geomagnetic field strength and atmospheric oxygen levels followed closely correlated trends over the past 540 million years. The findings show that both variables increased through the Phanerozoic and peaked together during the late Paleozoic.
Scientists from the University of Liverpool and the University of Leeds discovered that two massive hot rock structures located about 2 900 km (1 800 miles) beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean have been influencing Earth’s magnetic field for millions of years. Published in Nature Geoscience on February 5 2026, the study combines palaeomagnetic records and numerical geodynamo models to reveal that uneven heat flow at the core–mantle boundary controls long-term magnetic stability.
A team of scientists from Kyoto University has developed a capacitive-coupling model linking the ionosphere and Earth’s crust, showing that enhanced electron density during strong solar-flare activity could induce measurable electrostatic pressure inside fractured rock. The findings, published February 3, 2026, suggest space-weather disturbances may act as an additional stress factor when faults are critically loaded.
Researchers at the University of Kansas report that the National Severe Storms Laboratory’s Warn-on-Forecast System can extend tornado warning lead times beyond the current average of about 15 minutes, according to a study published in Weather and Forecasting.
Scientists at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory have identified at least 28 eruptions within the Yellowstone Caldera since it formed 631 000 years ago, a minimum estimate based on preserved geologic evidence. Ongoing work is focused on refining this count by identifying older eruptions whose deposits were buried or obscured by younger lava flows.
Forecast models are indicating a rare possibility of gulf-effect snow developing over parts of the Florida Gulf Coast during the weekend of January 31 – February 1, 2026. The setup could briefly produce isolated snow flurries near Tampa and along the coast as Arctic air flows across the warm Gulf of Mexico. The probability remains very low and is dependent on the precise alignment of wind, temperature, and moisture conditions.
A new atmospheric study combines advanced chemical and hydrodynamic simulations to probe the deep atmosphere of Jupiter, providing new constraints on its oxygen content and revealing that vertical circulation inside the planet is far slower than long assumed.
