Geology

New research reveals that a rift in Earth’s crust is just a few million years away from splitting the continent of Africa into two—and creating a new ocean

When an earthquake rupturing along a fault hits a barrier, it creates a seismic signature called the “stopping phase.” Scientists have isolated this and could use it to better predict earthquake risk

In 2022 a swarm of earthquakes in the Azores suggested that an eruption was imminent, but none happened. Now we know why, and it means magma can be sneakier than we knew

After a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan and set off tsunami warnings, there’s an elevated risk of a “megaquake” following in its wake

A new study suggests a proto–Colorado River filled a large basin before spilling westward to set the Grand Canyon’s modern path

Here’s how scientists drilled 8,000 feet through ice to place the world’s deepest seismometers

Science writer Hanne Strager explores how the trailblazing Danish seismologist Inge Lehmann overcame self-doubt to discover that Earth has a solid inner core, overturning the long-held belief that it was liquid

Scientists have found the oldest direct evidence for tectonic motion on Earth by more than half a billion years

New satellite data come up dry as the search for lunar ice continues

After decades of debate, researchers say that they have found the clearest evidence yet for this rare form of carbon

Over nine hours, Kīlauea released 16 million cubic yards of lava and sent a cloud of ash beyond 30,000 feet

A continental collision trapped oil within what is today Iran. The same collision explains why that oil is trapped behind the Strait of Hormuz now