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earth matters
science and insights for people who care about Earth, its resources and its environment

Evolution of Earth and Life

Green hills
February 16, 2016

Oxygen-starved oceans held back life's recovery after the 'Great Dying'

 Analysis of ancient seabed rocks from disparate locations reveal that life did not rebound until anoxia had fully ebbed.

Evolution of Earth and Life, Oceans
January 22, 2016

Stanford scientists discover how Pangea helped make coal

The same geologic forces that helped stitch the supercontinent Pangea together also helped form the ancient coal beds that powered the Industrial Revolution.

 

Energy, Evolution of Earth and Life
December 17, 2015

Earth and space science, in cartoons!

Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences

Stanford Earth’s multimedia producer Miles Traer captures the latest scientific discoveries presented at the American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting in this ongoing series of cartoons drawn live from the event.

Climate Change, Dynamic Earth, Energy, Evolution of Earth and Life, Natural Hazards
Hari Mix working in his field site in the Sierra Nevada
December 11, 2015

Stanford scientists crack mystery of Sierra Nevada's age

Stanford News Service

Recent research by Stanford Earth scientists uses new techniques to shed light on the contentious history of California's iconic mountain range.

Climate Change, Dynamic Earth, Evolution of Earth and Life
October 20, 2015

Life on Earth likely started at least 4.1 billion years ago

Courtesy of UCLA

Scientists finds evidence that early Earth was not dry and desolate.

Evolution of Earth and Life
October 19, 2015

Surprising source for ancient life biomarker found

Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences

The finding means scientists will have to reevaluate their views about ancient organisms and ecosystems.

 

Evolution of Earth and Life
October 2, 2015

Briny Liquid Water Found On Mars

Chemical & Engineering News

Prof. Norm Sleep thinks some of the newly discovered water on Mars could be habitable.

Evolution of Earth and Life
September 2, 2015

Arsenic attaches to water that's 'too pure'

Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences

Stanford Earth scientist Scott Fendorf helped discover how trace amounts of arsenic were moving from sediments into groundwater aquifers in Southern California.

Evolution of Earth and Life, Fresh Water Resources
Earth's core
August 17, 2015

How we know what lies at Earth's core

BBC Earth

We can't journey to the center of the Earth, but that hasn't stopped us finding out what is down there. Associate Prof. Wendy Mao provides her perspective on studying Earth's interior.

Dynamic Earth, Evolution of Earth and Life
The Macellum of Pozzuoli
July 9, 2015

Volcanic rocks resembling Roman concrete explain record uplift

Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences

Research by Tiziana Vanorio finds that fiber-reinforced rocks beneath Italy’s dormant Campi Flegrei supervolcano are similar to a wonder-material used by the ancients to construct enduring structures such as the Pantheon, and may lead to improved building materials.

Natural Hazards, Evolution of Earth and Life
June 9, 2015

Weathering and river discharge surprisingly constant during Ice Age cycles

Stanford School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences

A new Stanford study finds that, contrary to expectations, weathering rates over the past 2 million years have remained constant through glacial cycles.

Dynamic Earth, Evolution of Earth and Life

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