Isua in Greenland Credit: Hanika Rizo

Traces of Earth’s early magma ocean identified in Greenland rocks

Despite ESA’s GOCE mission ending over seven years ago, scientists continue to use this remarkable satellite’s gravity data to delve deep and unearth secrets about our planet. Recent research shows how scientists have combined GOCE data with measurements taken at the surface to generate a new model of Earth’s crust and upper mantle. This is the first time such a model has been created this way – and it is shedding new light on the processes of plate tectonics. The new model produced in ESA’s 3D Earth study shows for the first time how dissimilar the sub-lithospheric mantle is beneath different oceans, and provides insight as to how the morphology and spreading rates of mid-oceanic ridges may be connected with the deep chemical and thermal structure. Credit: ESA/Planetary Visions)

Gravity mission still unearthing hidden secrets

In this image, the warped amount of the surface is due to the opening of the Central American gateway that allowed hot material to flow through. (a) Before 8.5 million years ago, hot material was upwelling under the Galapagos from deep inside the Earth, but was blocked out of the Caribbean because of a curtain of subducting plate. (b) A gateway opened at 8.5 million years ago allowing the hot material to flow through. (c) Today, the hot material reaches midway between Central America and the Lesser Antilles, tilting up the bottom of the Caribbean sea by about 300 m (1,000 ft). Credit: University of Houston

Geologists discover powerful ‘river of rocks’ below Caribbean

Arenal, a major tourist attraction in Costa Rica, is one of the most active volcanos in Central America. Credit: Ernesto Tejedor

Volcanic eruptions had large and persistent impacts on global hydroclimate over...

Fungi sample, hypha and sphere in a drill core sample from 540 m depth in the Siljan impact structure, scanning electron microscope image (width ~70 µm). Credit Henrik Drake.

Europe’s largest meteorite crater – home to deep ancient fungi

Skeletons of four tyrannosaurid specimens tested in the study. Clockwise from above left: adult Tyrannosaurus rex “Sue” (FMNH PR 2081) (Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL; photo by the Field Museum), juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex “Jane” (BMRP 2002.4.1) (Burpee Museum of Natural History; photo by A. Rowe), adult Tarbosaurus bataar (Dinosaurium exhibition, Prague, Czech Republic; photo by R. Holiš) and Raptorex kriegsteini skeletal reconstruction (LH PV18) (Long Hao Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China; photo by P. Sereno). Credit: Listed in caption. Final image by Andre Rowe

Younger Tyrannosaurus Rex bites were less ferocious than their adult counterparts

These fossil ammonites have lost their outer coating of shell, revealing the iridescent nacre beneath. Now extinct, ammonites were a group of marine mollusks that first appeared about 409 million years ago, persisting until the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs about 66 million years ago. Credit: Florida Museum photo by Jeff Gage

Rise of marine predators reshaped ocean life as dramatically as mass...

Fossil of Dickinsonia, an Ediacaran-era animal. (Mary Droser/UCR)

Research shows we’re surprisingly similar to Earth’s first animals

Reconstruction of the crown of Paratingia wuhaia sp. nov.

‘Pompeii of prehistoric plants’ unlocks evolutionary secret

The Cinders lava flow Utah

Unusual earthquakes highlight central Utah volcanoes

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