Geology
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.
Is Africa Splitting in Two? Really? Here's the Scoop
What Exactly Is the Eye of the Sahara, aka the Richat Structure?
The Driest Place on Earth: Chile's Atacama Desert
7 Power Crystals for Protection and Positive Energy
Carnelian Meaning: Healing Properties, Benefits, & Symbolism
Creating Crystal Grids: A Step-by-Step Guide
Velociraptor Alert: The Feathered Dinosaur Quiz
The Rockin' State Fossils Quiz
10 Extinct Hominids
Learn More / Page 4
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.
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?
Researchers discovered that everyone's favorite prehistoric cat had some seriously big bones — even as a youngster.
By Robert Lamb
Advertisement
Not all fossils are found on dry land. In fact some of the most fascinating fossil finds in history have been submerged for centuries.
By Mark Mancini
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?
By Mark Mancini
The U.S. is full of exceptional geological formations. But these five set the bar high as far as landmarks go.
By Mark Mancini
This white-hot metal not only makes beautiful jewelry, it's coveted for industrial, medical and military purposes too.
By Alia Hoyt & Desiree Bowie
Advertisement
Permafrost across the globe is rapidly melting. What could this mean for the future of the planet?
By Mark Mancini
Let's take a look at some of the strongest metals on Earth and their surprising uses.
By Dave Roos & Sascha Bos
It's perhaps one of the strangest fossils ever discovered. We'll explain how it came to be 15 million years ago, and how hikers found it in the '30s.
By Mark Mancini
Cobalt is associated with the color blue, but it's so needed for rechargeable batteries that the U.S. put it on the list of minerals it can't live without.
By Dave Roos
Advertisement
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.
By Mark Mancini
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?
Tanzanite is so rare, it is sourced from just an 8-square-mile (20-square-kilometer) area in Tanzania. It was first discovered in the late 1960s and it burst onto the jewelry scene thanks to Tiffany & Co.
The Mohs hardness scale is used by geologists and gemologists as a way to help identify minerals using a hardness test. How does it work?
Advertisement
Not all deserts have sand and they're certainly not all hot. They're just extremely dry and have little vegetation. That means deserts are located all over the planet, including at super-high elevations.
This beautiful pink quartz is found in numerous places throughout the world and is thought to be associated with unconditional love.
Trovants, found only in a small town in Romania, are stones that actually seem to move and grow. But are they alive?
The oceans on planet Earth cycle through daily tidal changes. But the ground beneath our feet experiences tides of its own, too.
By Mark Mancini
Advertisement
Will a town in southern Missouri be the epicenter of the next 'big one'?
By Mark Mancini
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, in today's world, could a cave this massive go undetected for so long?
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.'
Advertisement
Massive gypsum crystals were discovered beneath Mexico's Sierra de Naica Mountain in very inhospitable environs — to humans anyway.
By Mark Mancini
Scientists set up two stations to capture this strange seismic activity.
By Mark Mancini