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Earth Science
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Earth Science

Elucidating the source process of the 2021 south sandwich islands tsunami earthquake

Tsukuba, Japan—Tsunami earthquakes are characterized by the generation of disproportionately large tsunamis relative to the observed ground shaking, complicating timely evacuation efforts. Understanding their generation mechanisms and associated risks is therefore critical. One proposed cause is slow, uniform fault slip facilitated by soft sedimentary layers in the source region; however, this mechanism remains poorly understood. Additionally, the seismic signals from tsunami earthquakes are often too complex to be explained by conventional models, and their source processes have not been fully clarified. In this study, the research team analyzed seismic waveform data from ...

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Earth Science

Revealing Myanmar earthquake as a unique event comprising multiple sub-events, including boomerang-like reverse rupture propagation and supershear rupture

Tsukuba, Japan—On March 28, 2025, a major earthquake with a moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.7 struck Mandalay, central Myanmar (referred to as the 2025 Myanmar earthquake). This event caused severe shaking and substantial damage in Myanmar and neighboring countries. Aftershock distribution extended southward from the epicenter, indicating predominant southward rupture propagation. In such cases, a Doppler-like directivity effect usually results in sharp, high-amplitude pulse waveforms recorded in the rupture propagation direction (south of the epicenter in ...

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Earth Science

Scientists capture slow-motion earthquake in action

Scientists for the first time have detected a slow slip earthquake in motion during the act of releasing tectonic pressure on a major fault zone at the bottom of the ocean. The slow earthquake was recorded spreading along the tsunami-generating portion of the fault off the coast of Japan, behaving like a tectonic shock absorber. Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin described the event as the slow unzipping of the fault line between two of the Earth’s tectonic plates. Their results were published in Science. “It's like a ripple moving across the plate interface,” said Josh Edgington, who conducted the work as a doctoral student ...

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Earth Science

Famous Ice Age ‘puppies’ likely wolf cubs and not dogs, study shows

New analysis of the remains of two ‘puppies’ dating back more than 14,000 years ago has shown that they are most likely wolves, and not related to domestic dogs, as previously suggested. The genetic analysis also proved that the cubs were sisters at the age of around two months, and like modern day wolves had a mixed diet of meat and plants. Researchers, however, were surprised to see evidence of a wooly rhinoceros as part of their last meals, as this would have been a considerably large animal for a wolf to hunt. The ‘Tumat Puppies’ are two remarkably well-preserved puppy remains found in northern Siberia, about 40 km from Tumat, the nearest village. One was found ...

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Earth Science

Researchers solve ultrasound imaging problem using seismology technique

Scientists from Colorado State University and the University of São Paulo have overcome a challenge that has prevented medical ultrasound imaging from being used in intensive care and emergency room settings. This technological advancement could someday lead to improved critical care for patients. Obtaining accurate medical images using ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) is challenging due to the uncertainty of sensor positioning, which changes with patient movement. The interdisciplinary team, including a mathematician, an engineer ...

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Earth Science

An Alaskan volcano could help scientists understand why ‘stealthy’ volcanoes erupt without warning

When volcanoes are preparing to erupt, scientists rely on typical signs to warn people living nearby: deformation of the ground and earthquakes, caused by underground chambers filling up with magma and volcanic gas. But some volcanoes, called ‘stealthy’ volcanoes, don’t give obvious warning signs. Now scientists studying Veniaminof, Alaska, have developed a model which could explain and predict stealthy eruptions. “Despite major advances in monitoring, some volcanoes erupt with little ...

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Earth Science

UN scientists propose a ‘global trust’ to safeguard critical minerals as trade tensions mount

Richmond Hill, Ontario— Amid intensifying trade wars, geopolitical tensions, and surging demand for AI and clean energy technologies, United Nations scientists and global experts have unveiled a bold proposal for a "Global Minerals Trust"—a cooperative, multilateral governance mechanism to ensure fair, sustainable, and conflict-free access to critical minerals. The Trust would include independent audit mechanisms—similar to those used by the International Atomic Energy Agency—to ensure environmental and social safeguards. Countries would retain full sovereignty over their ...

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Earth Science

Why seismic waves spontaneously race inside the earth

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, shifting tectonic plates - these are all signs that our planet is alive. But what is revealed deep inside the earth surprises laymen and scientists alike: Almost 3000 kilometres below the Earth's surface, solid rock is flowing that is neither liquid, like lava, nor brittle like solid rock. This is shown by a new study by geoscientists led by Motohiko Murakami, Professor of Experimental Mineral Physics at ETH Zurich. The study has just been published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. Half a ...

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Earth Science

Dinosaur eggshell study confirms biogenic origin of secondary eggshell units

The calcitic layers of the eggshells of archosaurs (including crocodilians and birds) and turtles are composed of distinctive crystalline structures known as eggshell units. Those growing from the shell membrane are called primary eggshell units (PEUs), while those forming within the calcitic layer are called secondary eggshell units (SEUs). Although rare in modern bird eggs, SEUs are common in dinosaur eggs. Due to the lack of in-depth research on this structure, however, scientists are uncertain whether they are biogenic or abiogenic in origin. To tackle this issue, an international ...

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Earth Science

Cluster-root secretions improve phosphorus availability in low-phosphorus soil

Plants require phosphorus to grow and survive. In environments with low levels of available soil phosphorus, plants need to adjust to stay alive. The pincushion hakea is a large woody, evergreen shrub native to southwestern Australia, an area that has amazingly low levels of soil phosphorus. This plant has adapted to these conditions by forming cluster roots—a large number of smaller rootlets extending from the root axis that resemble a bottlebrush—to extract the small amount of phosphorus in the soil. Cluster roots help plants in low-nutrient soils by increasing the amount of root surface area in contact with the soil, improving ...

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Earth Science

A detailed examination of the 2025 Myanmar earthquake

On March 28, 2025, a catastrophic earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck central Myanmar, marking the most devastating seismic event in the region since 1912. Originating along the Sagaing Fault — a 1,400-km-long dextral strike-slip boundary separating the Burma Microplate and Sunda Plate — the earthquake propagated a supershear rupture over 460 km with surface displacements exceeding 6 meters. The shallow (10 km depth) strike-slip mechanism unleashed violent shaking (Modified Mercalli Intensity IX) across densely populated urban centers, including Mandalay, Sagaing and Naypyidaw, while amplifying seismic energy in distant locations such as Bangkok, Thailand. The human toll was ...

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Earth Science

“Chicago archaeopteryx” unveiled: New clues on dinosaur–bird transition revealed by Chinese–American research team

Recently, a joint Chinese–American research team led by Dr. HU Han from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dr Jingmai O’Connor from the Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago) announced the discovery and scientific description of the 14th known specimen of Archaeopteryx, known as the Chicago Archaeopteryx. Owing to its exceptional and exquisite preservation, the team was able to use advanced techniques like high-resolution CT scanning and 3D reconstruction to investigate the skeletal, soft tissue, and feather structures in unprecedented ...

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Earth Science

Tiny gas bubbles reveal secrets of Hawaiian volcanoes

Under embargo until 2pm EST on May 14, 2025 in Science Advances ITHACA, N.Y. – Using advanced technology that analyzes tiny gas bubbles trapped in crystal, a team of scientists led by Cornell University has precisely mapped how magma storage evolves as Hawaiian volcanoes age. Geologists have long proposed that, as the Hawaiian Islands slowly drift northwest with the Pacific Plate, they move away from a deep, heat-rich plume rising from near Earth’s core. Young volcanoes like Kilauea – positioned directly above the hotspot on Hawaii’s main island – receive a steady flow of magma. Far less is known about older ...

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Earth Science

The ripple effect of small earthquakes near major faults

When we think of earthquakes, we imagine sudden, violent shaking. But deep beneath the Earth’s surface, some faults move in near silence. These slow, shuffling slips and their accompanying hum—called tremors—don’t shake buildings or make headlines. But scientists believe they can serve as useful analogs of how major earthquakes begin and behave. A new study by geophysicists at UC Santa Cruz explains how some of these tremor events can yield insights into how stress builds up on the dangerous faults above where major earthquakes ...

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Earth Science

Slickrock: USU geologists explore why Utah's Wasatch Fault is vulnerable to earthquakes

LOGAN, UTAH, USA -- About 240 miles long, Utah’s Wasatch Fault stretches along the western edge of the Wasatch Mountains from southern Idaho to central Utah, running through Salt Lake City and the state’s other population centers. It’s a seismically active normal fault, which means it is a fracture in the Earth’s crust that has moved many times in the past. “Normal faults are observed along different tectonic systems, where the tectonic plates are moving apart,” says Utah ...

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Earth Science

Researchers solve one of Earth's ancient volcanic mysteries

Geologists led by the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaiʻi finally connected the dots between one of the largest volcanic eruptions in Earth’s history and its source deep beneath the Pacific Ocean. In a paper published in the journal Nature on March XX, 2025, the team revealed that the same underwater hotspot created both a chain of underwater volcanoes in the southern Pacific region and the massive Ontong-Java Plateau, the largest volcanic platform on Earth. “Up until now, we’ve had this extremely disconnected picture of the Pacific and its volcanoes,” said the study’s corresponding author ...

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Earth Science

Noto quake 3D model adds dimension to understand earthquake dynamics

On New Year’s Day 2024, a massive 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in north central Japan, resulting in extensive damage in the region caused by uplift, when the land rises due to shifting tectonic plates. The observed uplift, however, varied significantly, with some areas experiencing as much as a 5-meter rise of the ground surface. To better understand how the characteristics of the affected fault lines impact earthquake dynamics, researchers in Japan used recently developed simulations to make a detailed model of the fault. The findings could help develop models to simulate scenarios ...

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Earth Science

Farms with more intensive management have lower soil functionality

Soil health hinges more on how agricultural land is managed than whether the farming system is organic or conventional, according to a new study showing that farms with more intensive management have lower overall soil functionality. The findings argue that optimizing yield whilst lowering management intensity – what the authors call "productive deintensification" – may be a more sustainable path forward that could boost soil health across diverse farming practices. Soils play a critical role in supporting ...

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Earth Science

Water quality could be degraded by development and conversion of forests upstream, with sediment levels and nitrogen concentrations also worsened, per modelling analysis of the Middle Chattahoochee wa

Water quality could be degraded by development and conversion of forests upstream, with sediment levels and nitrogen concentrations also worsened, per modelling analysis of the Middle Chattahoochee watershed of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. #### Article URL: https://plos.io/3Gi6Kaq Article Title: Projected land use changes will cause water quality degradation at drinking water intakes across a regional watershed Author Countries: United States Funding: This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ...

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Earth Science

PREPSOIL launches assessment tool for soil living lab and lighthouse initiatives

This tool is specifically designed to assess how well your initiative aligns with the EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe (Mission Soil) criteria for Soil Living Labs and Lighthouses, as further defined by the PREPSOIL taxonomy. Should your initiative meet the necessary criteria, you will be invited to participate in a more detailed assessment developed by the SOILL-Startup project. This next phase will provide an opportunity to join a network of 100 Soil Living Labs and ...

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Earth Science

PREPSOIL Final Event: Facilitating the deployment of the Mission Soil across European regions

Monday May 26, 2025, key stakeholders from across Europe will gather in Brussels at the Committee of the Regions for the PREPSOIL Final Event, marking a major step in advancing soil health policies and practices. The event will bring together policy-makers, researchers, and civil society representatives to discuss how the objectives of the Mission Soil and the proposed Soil Monitoring Law may be supported and implemented at regional and local scale across EU Member States and the role that regional and local actors can play in promoting ...

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Earth Science

Native American names extend the earthquake history of northeastern North America

In 1638, an earthquake in what is now New Hampshire had Plymouth, Massachusetts colonists stumbling from the strong shaking and water sloshing out of the pots used by Native Americans to cook a midday meal along the St. Lawrence River, according to contemporaneous reports. When Roger Williams, founder of the Rhode Island colony, talked with local Native Americans, he reported that the younger tribe members were surprised by the earthquake. But older tribe members said they had felt similar shaking four times in the past 80 years. In his talk at the Seismological ...

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Earth Science

Lake deposits reveal directional shaking during devastating 1976 Guatemala earthquake

Sediment cores drawn from four lakes in Guatemala record the distinct direction that ground shaking traveled during a 1976 magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated the country, according to researchers at the Seismological Society of America’s Annual Meeting. The earthquake, which killed more than 23,000 people and left about 1.5 million people homeless, took place along the Motagua Fault, at the boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plate boundary. Severe ground shaking from the 1976 earthquake caused landslides ...

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Footprints of tail-clubbed armored dinosaurs found for the first time
Earth Science

Footprints of tail-clubbed armored dinosaurs found for the first time

Victoria, BC— For the first time, footprints of armoured dinosaurs with tail clubs have been identified, following discoveries made in the Canadian Rockies. The 100-million-year-old fossilized footprints were found at sites at both Tumbler Ridge, BC, and northwestern Alberta. There are two main groups of ankylosaurs. Nodosaurid ankylosaurs have a flexible tail and four toes, while ankylosaurid ankylosaurs have a sledgehammer-like tail club, and only three toes on their feet. Unlike the well-known ankylosaur footprints called Tetrapodosaurus ...

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Soil conditions significantly increase rainfall in world’s megastorm hotspots
Earth Science

Soil conditions significantly increase rainfall in world’s megastorm hotspots

Storm forecasting is traditionally based on studying atmospheric conditions but ground-breaking research that also looks at land surface conditions is set to transform early warning systems in tropical regions. This will enable communities to better adapt to the destructive impacts of climate change. The new study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) has shown that a large contrast in soil moisture levels over a range of hundreds of kilometres results in atmospheric changes that increase rainfall area and amount in several megastorm hotspots globally. This increase ranges from 10 to 30% depending on the region and size ...

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