Geology articles
What are fragments of rocks called?
The pieces that make up many types of rock, particularly sedimentary ones, have specific names that often tell geologist...
What is a slice of rock called?
When looking at a carefully cut and polished piece of rock, whether it's for geological study or decorative display, peo...
How to know which crater is older?
Dating an impact crater, whether on our Moon or the red sands of Mars, is akin to looking at a snapshot of an ancient ev...
How to identify an impact crater?
Identifying a genuine impact crater on our planet is a fascinating pursuit that blends geology, physics, and a bit of de...
Will the Craters of the Moon erupt again?
The vast, dark expanse of the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho presents a landscape so alien ...
Does Earth have a hidden ocean?
The idea that oceans exist only where the sky meets the land is a simplification that planet science is busy overturning...
Is there a hidden world inside the earth?
The persistent human curiosity about what lies beneath our feet fuels countless stories, yet the reality of Earth's inte...
What is hidden inside the earth?
The planet beneath our feet is not a simple ball of rock and molten metal; it is a dynamic realm layered with secrets, w...
Where does accretion most commonly occur?
The concept of accretion describes an accumulation process, a gradual build-up of material onto a central mass or object...
What makes a crater a crater?
The circular depression we call a crater is far more than just a simple hole in the ground; it is the lasting scar of an...
What's it called when the Earth shifts?
The concept of the Earth "shifting" is fascinating because it encompasses several distinct geophysical phenomena, each w...
Why do scientists refer to Earth as a differentiated planet?
The designation of Earth as a **differentiated planet** is more than just academic jargon; it describes the most fundame...
What process formed Earth's layers?
The Earth is not a uniform ball of rock; it is structured like a giant onion, with distinct layers stacked concentricall...
What causes mass extinction events?
The planet has experienced several moments in its deep history when the rate of species disappearance spiked dramaticall...
How is the Vredefort Dome still visible?
The fact that we can still trace the outline of an impact structure from an event that happened over two billion years a...
How are fossils preserved in rock layers?
The path from a living organism to a permanent record etched in stone is an extraordinary sequence of rare events, begin...
How does erosion shape landscapes?
This dynamic planet we inhabit is never static; its surface is in a constant state of flux, sculpted by forces both subt...
How do sedimentary rocks record past climates?
Sedimentary rocks are Earth’s most accessible and extensive archive of deep time, offering a unique window into climates...
What drives mantle convection?
The churning motion within the Earth's interior, known as mantle convection, is the engine responsible for nearly all la...
What causes earthquakes along fault lines?
The grinding movement of the Earth's outer shell is the fundamental driver behind seismic activity. Earthquakes are esse...
How do plate tectonics shape Earth’s surface?
The dynamic processes occurring deep beneath our feet are the primary architects of the world we see above ground, dicta...
Why do volcanoes form at subduction zones?
The fiery display of a volcano is not a random occurrence across the globe; rather, it is a direct consequence of massiv...
What is the oldest material ever found on Earth?
The quest to uncover the absolute oldest substance on our planet leads not to terrestrial bedrock or the deepest ocean c...
What is the oldest crater on Earth?
The designation for the oldest known impact structure on our planet now belongs to a site in the remote reaches of Weste...