The Atlantis II fracture zone in the southwestern Indian Ocean with a zoom on the northern corner. The greater water depth in the transform valley is clearly visible. As the plates move, magmatism in the corners refills the deep transform valleys so that the adjacent fracture zones are shallower. Graphic: Christoph Kersten/GEOMAR according to Grevemeyer et al., 2021

A new view on plate tectonics

The research potentially has wide implications for the materials sector and industry. Credit: Monash University

Rare earth unlocks copper, gold and silver secrets

Volcano magma chamber. Credit: Cardiff University

When volcanoes go metal

Adzebills, also close relatives of cave-rails, were large, flightless birds with big beaks that could have been used to prey on small animals or strip vegetation. Illustration courtesy of Nobu Tamura, CC BY 3.0

Extinct Caribbean bird’s closest relatives hail from Africa, South Pacific

Glaciers such as the Yakutat in Southeast Alaska, shown here, have been melting since the end of the Little Ice Age, influencing earthquakes in the region. Credit: Sam Herreid

Melting glaciers contribute to Alaska earthquakes

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

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