Mass of warm rock is rising beneath New England

Mass of warm rock is rising beneath New England

Slowly but steadily, an enormous mass of warm rock is rising beneath part of New England, although a major volcanic eruption isn't likely for millions of years, a Rutgers University-led study suggests. The research is groundbreaking in its scope and challenges…

North Texas earthquakes occurring on faults not active for 300 million years

North Texas earthquakes occurring on faults not active for 300 million years

Study by Beatrice Magnani, USGS and other SMU scientists shows recent seismicity in Fort Worth Basin occurred on faults not active for 300 million years. The study indicates reactivation of long-dormant faults as a consequence of waste fluid injection. Recent…

Parkfield segment of San Andreas fault can host large earthquakes

Parkfield segment of San Andreas fault can host large earthquakes

Although magnitude 6 earthquakes occur about every 25 years along the Parkfield Segment of the San Andreas Fault, geophysical data suggest that the seismic slip induced by those magnitude 6 earthquakes alone does not match the long-term slip rates on this part of…

High-latitude volcanic eruptions also have global impact

High-latitude volcanic eruptions also have global impact

Volcanic eruptions always seize the attention of climate scientists, because the sulfate aerosols formed in the volcanic plumes may stay months to years in the stratosphere – the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere – resulting in the increase of radiation…

Unexpected atmospheric vortex behavior on Saturn’s moon Titan

Unexpected atmospheric vortex behavior on Saturn’s moon Titan

A new study, led by a University of Bristol earth scientist, has shown that recently reported unexpected behavior on Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is due to its unique atmospheric chemistry. Titan’s polar atmosphere recently experienced unexpected and…

Breakthrough in tornado short-term forecasting

Breakthrough in tornado short-term forecasting

When mere seconds of storm warning could mean the difference between harm or safety, two researchers with Western University ties have developed a tornado-prediction method they say could buy as much as 20 minutes more warning time. These radar-based calculations…

IceCube experiment measures Earth’s ability to absorb neutrinos

IceCube experiment measures Earth’s ability to absorb neutrinos

For the first time, a science experiment has measured Earth's ability to absorb neutrinos – the smaller-than-an-atom particles that zoom throughout space and through us by the trillions every second at nearly the speed of light. The experiment was achieved with…

Mysterious deep-Earth seismic signature explained

Mysterious deep-Earth seismic signature explained

New research on oxygen and iron chemistry under the extreme conditions found deep inside the Earth could explain a longstanding seismic mystery called ultralow velocity zones. The findings could have far-reaching implications on our understanding of Earth's…

Thunderstorms create radioactivity

Thunderstorms create radioactivity

A new study, published this week in Nature, shows that thunderstorms can also produce radioactivity by triggering nuclear reactions in the atmosphere. This may sound like the plot of a blockbuster science fiction disaster. But in reality, it’s nothing to worry…