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Geology is the study of the composition and physical properties of rocks, minerals, gems and other related earth materials, including diamonds and crystals. Scientists gain an understanding of the Earth's history by studying its composition.
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Geologists agree that the world's landmasses were once all one supercontinent. Is it likely to happen again?
By Mark Mancini
The beautiful scenery in Washington state hides a darker history. It was formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption that cooled the planet.
Where on the planet can you visit to see with your own eyes the tracks left by dinosaurs? Fossilized dino footprints might be just outside your back door, but here are good places to start.
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Researchers discovered that everyone's favorite prehistoric cat had some seriously big bones — even as a youngster.
By Robert Lamb
Antarctica's Blood Falls looks like a geological horror scene. For decades, scientists weren't sure why. Until now.
Talk about a Brexit! Scientists have clues to catastrophic flooding that destroyed a land bridge that once connected England and France.
You might be in trouble when the end of the world is near, but at least your data won't be.
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Surprisingly, living in a city with a high level of natural radiation doesn't have any ill effects.
By Alia Hoyt
The prehistoric penguin was the size of a small adult human, which says a lot about penguins' evolution.
The Cuvette Centrale peatlands hold astounding amounts of carbon scientists had never fully mapped. The new discovery emphasizes a need for protection.
Decades after the massive conflict, reminders of battles linger in pristine Pacific waters.
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Recent icebergs and unexpected glacial rifts are indicating that something troubling is going on beneath the ice.
Science has determined that disappearing completely into quicksand isn't possible — but that doesn't mean that getting stuck still won't kill you.
Sea level change, plastic pollution and invasive species aren’t just political issues — they’re likely signs of a new epoch called the Anthropocene, geologists say.
The uncut gem is 3 billion years old and may fetch $70 million.
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Snorkelers found what looked to be the ancient ruins near the Greek island of Zakynthos, but not all that glitters is gold.
Decades of fossil discoveries have revealed much about the extinct members of our hominid family tree, but we're far from having all the answers. What have we learned from some of these fascinating finds?
By Jane McGrath
You likely heard that paleontologists uncovered a cache of dinosaur embryos, bone fragments and eggshells in China. You also may recall that we've made crazy leaps forward in genetics and genomics. Can we put the two together and create a dinosaur?
From the Hope diamond to the shiny bits in instant coffee, crystals have always held the power to fascinate us humans. Are they more than just a bunch of pretty facets?
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From dinosaur skeletons to petrified wood, fossils help us learn about prehistoric creatures' anatomy and physiology. See pictures of incredible examples of fossils from around the world.
Anthropologists specialize in, well, us. But studying humankind doesn't mean you have to hole up in a library or laboratory. Take a peek at this article to learn more about the dynamic, enriching field of anthropology.
When it comes to fossils, specimens like Sue the Tyrannosaurus rex grab much of the attention. And while Sue is a staggering 67 million years old, she's a new kid on the block, compared to some of the oldest fossils ever found. What's older than Sue?
At best, fossilization is a long and tricky process that mineralizes an occasional Tyrannosaurus rex or other extraordinary find. How has that affected our chances at charting a model of life itself?
By Robert Lamb
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It's easy to trace the evolution of the automobile. Your family tree poses a whole different challenge. Even an extensive genealogy chart can only reach back so far. So how do we chart the evolution of the human race?
By Robert Lamb
Crack open any science textbook and the authors will tell you that such things don't happen. So how did a couple of paleontologists and an acid bath turn that widespread belief on its head?
By Robert Lamb