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Geologic Processes
Geological processes have helped to create many iconic features on Earth. Processes, such as plate tectonics, are what shapes the face of the Earth. Here you can discover the power of geological processes.
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Drones Help Bridge the Gaps in Assessing Global Change
Drones are helping researchers bolster scientific understanding of the ecology of a greening Arctic.
What's the Difference Between a Cave and a Cavern?
One term might give you the impression of something grand and mysterious, while the other makes you think of claustrophobia-inducing environs that threaten human life. But what's the real difference?
7 Hot Facts About the Pacific Ring of Fire
The Pacific's Ring of Fire is a 25,000 mile long "ring" that's home to 75 percent of all the world's volcanic activity and 90 percent of the planet's earthquakes. So what makes this area so active?
What Will Earth Look Like in 500 Years?
"The 26th century" doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as "the 21st century" does. But that hasn't stopped us from imagining what our hometown planet will be like in a few hundred years. Any guesses?
Why Does the 'Dirty Dancing' Lake Keep Draining?
Mountain Lake in Virginia is best known for its starring role in 'Dirty Dancing.' But today, it's nothing more than a muddy pit that's all but dried up ... and geologists think they may know why.
How the Ancient Land Blob Gondwana Became Today's Continents
Gondwana was a humongous landmass that persisted for 300 million years before it began to break up, forming all the continents in the modern Southern Hemisphere.
Plate Tectonics Puts Together the Puzzle of Earth's Shifting Crust
The Earth is unique in the solar system because its surface is made of moving plates, which may enable the very existence of life.
The Anthropocene Epoch: Humans vs. the Earth
Many scientists believe that humans influence Earth at a rate so massive that a change to the geologic time scale is in order.
Is Permafrost Really, Well, Permanent?
Permafrost across the globe is rapidly melting. What could this mean for the future of the planet?
The Geology Behind 5 American Landmarks
The U.S. is full of exceptional geological formations. But these five set the bar high as far as landmarks go.
Toadstools Are Mother Nature's Geological Mushrooms
You can see these rocky formations in the Badlands of Nebraska, and they're as awe-inspiring as they are eerie.
Fettuccine Rock Could Signal Life on Mars
If fettuccine rock exists on Mars, it would suggest the existence of microbial life there.
What Is Cave Popcorn?
Caves are full of incredible geological formations, including stalagmites and stalactites. But you've probably never seen anything like cave popcorn before.
Antarctic Prone To 'Ice Quakes' Every Night, Study Finds
Scientists set up two stations to capture this strange seismic activity.
Nevada's Fly Geyser Is a Manmade Wonder
The decades-old geyser was created by accident when a geothermal company tried to drill a well. Now the strange geyser is open to tourists for the first time ever.
Mexico's Giant Crystal Cave Is Beautiful But Deadly
Massive gypsum crystals were discovered beneath Mexico's Sierra de Naica Mountain in very inhospitable environs — to humans anyway.
Ancient Rock Arches Sing Songs
These ancient wonders aren't static sculptures; they vibrate and shift throughout the day, creating a variety of sounds as they stretch their aging, eroding 'bones.'
Earth's Missing Crust Was Removed by Glaciers, New Study Says
Researchers hypothesize that missing rocks from the geologic record, known as the Great Unconformity, were sheared away by glaciers at a time when most — or all — of the world's surface was coated with ice.
Gigantic Undiscovered Cave Found in British Columbia
How, in today's world, could a cave this massive go undetected for so long?
Earthquakes on the Mississippi: The New Madrid Seismic Zone
Will a town in southern Missouri be the epicenter of the next 'big one'?
Rising Rock: Earth's Crust Has Its Own Tides, Too
The oceans on planet Earth cycle through daily tidal changes. But the ground beneath our feet experiences tides of its own, too.
The Sahara Desert Is Getting Bigger
The Sahara has expanded by about 10 percent in the past century, mostly due to natural causes, but not all. We can blame the rest on man-made climate change.
How Does Petrified Wood Form?
Petrified wood can be found all over the world, but how is it created?
Earth and Mars Experience Mysterious Mega-avalanches
Scientist have figured out why two historic avalanches happened on the same unlikely slopes within weeks of one another.
Mountain Heights Are Always Changing
If geology has taught us anything about Earth's history, it's that nothing is permanent. And that goes for mountain ranges, all of which are constantly rising and falling.
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