geology

Oakland used to brag about the quality of its streets, which were made of Oakland rock. Two things, an accident of geology and technological happenstance, meant our first roads were built starting around 1860 with macadam paving, the pre-asphalt method of constructing roadways with layers of clean, sterile crushed rock, each layer wetted down and compacted under heavy rollers.

Group have been stuck in flooded cave in central Laos for five days after heavy rain caused landslides Divers who helped in the dramatic rescue of a young Thai football team in 2018 have joined efforts to free seven people who have been trapped for five days inside a remote, flooded cave in central Laos. The group entered the cave in Xaysomboun province on Wednesday to hunt for wildlife and searc…

Carbonatites don’t come only from the mantle. Using petrological analysis of Himalayan meta-marls, we show that they can also form in the orogenic crust by melting carbonate-rich sediments.

Deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, something strange happened inside Earth around 2010. Scientists have discovered that part of the planet’s liquid outer core unexpectedly reversed direction, challenging long-held ideas about how Earth’s deep interior behaves. The finding comes from a new study that analyzed data collected between 1997 and 2025 using both ground observations and […] The post Earth’s…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 23 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54326-1 Dense MASW shear-wave imaging of weak-zone networks and preferential leachate pathways beneath rumah landfill site, central saudi arabia

Abstract UNESCO Global Geoparks function as outdoor learning environments that integrate science education with natural and cultural heritage. This study comparatively examines the educational strategies of selected geoparks in Türkiye (Kula–Salihli, Ida Madra) and Europe (Lesvos, Burren & Cliffs of Moher) in terms of pedagogical approaches, technology use, and learner roles. Using a qualitat…

Scientists are working to solve a mystery of Earth’s molten outer core, which lies more than 2,000 kilometers beneath our feet

A new study conducted by UW researchers suggests that the Seattle fault zone may produce its largest earthquakes less frequently than scientists previously estimated. Published in the journal Geology, the study, led by ESS graduate studend Elizabeth Davis, found evidence that only one major earthquake of roughly magnitude 7.5 has occurred on the Seattle fault zone in the past 11,000 years.

Nature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73462-w Craton margins, vital for mineral deposits and plate tectonics, are poorly understood. In this study, seismic imaging suggests mantle flow is eroding cratonic interiors through deep channels. This drives volcanism and uplift, redefining how continents evolve.

Luminescence dating has confirmed Roman exploitation of alluvial gold in the Eastern Pyrenees for the first time. For centuries, stories of gold hidden in the rivers of the Pyrenees have circulated across the Iberian Peninsula, with even medieval Islamic sources praising the quality of gold from the Segre River for minting coins. Now, researchers have [...]

Tens of thousands of satellite images of the Tibetan Plateau, including Lake Paiku, seen here, helped researchers create the clearest-ever picture of how the plateau is deforming. Credit: NASA/JSC , Public Domain

Researchers found that ancient rocks beneath Canada are naturally generating and releasing hydrogen gas over long periods of time. The discovery could open the door to a major new source of clean energy hidden within Earth’s crust. Deep beneath Canada’s ancient geological formations, scientists have identified naturally occurring hydrogen gas accumulating inside some of Earth’s [...]

Scientists have unlocked one of ancient Egypt's most enduring mysteries, revealing how the Great Pyramid has remained standing through nearly five millennia of seismic activity. Researchers from the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics have determined that sophisticated construction methods employed by ancient builders are able to explain why Pharaoh Khufu's tomb shows no signi…

Angeles Crest Highway is a 66-mile scenic route that hikers use to reach some of the most beautiful places in the San Gabriel Mountains. It has been recently plagued by closures.

A routine seafloor scan near Sicily caught something that wasn't supposed to exist. What surfaced in the data rewrites maps and forces experts to rethink the risks.

Mélange and bounding faults of Punta Prieta Ridge, Cedros Island, Mexico. The higher-grade, blueschist (bsch) blocks were eroded and recycled back into the subduction trench as sedimentary debris before being reburied. Credit: Wang et al. [2026] , Figure 6b

Climbers take advantage of clear weather after threat of ice fall on normal route delayed start of spring season A record 274 climbers have reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepalese side in a single day after a spring season that started late because of the threat of ice fall on the normal tourist route. The climbers took advantage of the clear weather on Wednesday, said Rishi Ram Bha…

Accurate characterization of salt caverns is a prerequisite for evaluating the feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), yet high-noise urban environments pose challenges for conventional active-source geophysical methods. To address this, our study utilized Microtremor Array Measurements (MAMs) based on the Spatial Autocorrelation (SPAC) method to characterize deep salt caverns for a …

This story has been co-published by Reasons to be Cheerful and the Outrider Foundation. The Newberry Volcano in central Oregon is set among a ravishing landscape of ancient lava flows, lakes and pine forests. Every year droves of tourists come to admire the geological phenomenon, which was formed over 600,000 years ago. But... The post Superhot Rock Holds the Energy of the Future appeared first o…

Abstract The Martins-Portalegre Plateau, located in the semiarid region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, harbors a hydrological heritage of significant regional importance. However, the lack of (re)cognition by both local populations and public administrators has contributed to the degradation of its Sites of Hydrological Interest (SHI). This study aims to classify twelve (12) Hydrolo…