Becky Oskin

Contributing Writer
Becky Oskin covers Earth science, climate change and space, as well as general science topics. Becky was a science reporter at Live Science and The Pasadena Star-News; she has freelanced for New Scientist and the American Institute of Physics. She earned a master's degree in geology from Caltech, a bachelor's degree from Washington State University, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Articles by: Becky Oskin

Diagram of plate tectonics showing subduction zone

What is a subduction zone?

By Michael Dhar published

A subduction zone is a collision between two of Earth's tectonic plates, where one plate sinks into the mantle underneath the other plate.

Deep Discoverer exploring the seamount wall at Subducting Guyot 1.

Mariana Trench: The deepest depths

By Becky Oskin published

Reference The Mariana Trench is more than 7 miles (11 kilometers) deep. Although it is a toxic environment, some creatures of the deep thrive there.

An aerial view of damage to Sukuiso, Japan, a week after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area in March, 2011. Also this isn't likely to happen on the East Coast, it's not inconceivable.

Japan earthquake & tsunami of 2011: Facts and information

By Becky Oskin published

Facts and information about the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan.

An artist's cross-section of Lake Vostok

What is Lake Vostok?

By Becky Oskin, Nicoletta Lanese published

Lake Vostok lies buried under miles of ice in East Antarctica.

Continental drift theory introduced the idea Earth was once a single supercontinent.

Continental Drift: The groundbreaking theory of moving continents

By Becky Oskin published

Continental drift was Alfred Wegener's theory proposing continents move position on the Earth's surface.

aquifer, groundwater, underground water

Aquifers: Underground Stores of Freshwater

By Becky Oskin published

Aquifers are underground layers of rock that are saturated with water that can be brought to the surface through natural springs or by pumping.

The San Andreas Fault

Fault lines: Facts about cracks in the Earth

By Becky Oskin last updated

Faults in the Earth are categorized into three general groups based on the sense of slip, or movement, that occur along them during earthquakes.

Hurricane Preparation: What to Do

By Becky Oskin published

How to prepare for a hurricane, from supplies to emergency evacuation plans.

Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park

Can Rocks Grow?

By Becky Oskin published

Don't rush out to buy a pet rock just yet.

Hurricane Alex, the first hurricane of the 2016 season, whirls near the Azores islands in this image snapped on Jan. 14.

Hurricane 2016 Forecast: A 'Near-Normal' 10 to 16 Storms

By Becky Oskin published

The 2016 hurricane forecast is NOAA's most accurate and reliable yet, according to NOAA.

Hot springs in Yellowstone National Park are just one of the types of thermal features that result from volcanic activity.

What Would Happen If Yellowstone's Supervolcano Erupted?

By Becky Oskin published

There are better things to worry about than a supervolcano exploding from the bowels of Yellowstone National Park.

Volcanic eruptions, like this one at Sakurajima volcano in Japan, generate amazing displays of lightning.

What Causes Eerie Volcanic Lightning?

By Becky Oskin published

Lightning flashing in the sky during volcanic eruptions stems both from ash and from ice, scientists find.

Alaska's Pavlof volcano erupts in 2013, shooting a plume of ash into the air. A steam plume from melting snow and ice can also be seen.

Distant Volcanic Roars Reveal Eruption Hazards

By Becky Oskin published

The roar of a volcano erupting on a remote Alaska island reveals important details about the blast, such as its size and location, a new study reports. And now scientists are listening.

Nearly Snowless Tioga Pass

California's Extreme Droughts Blamed on 'Ridiculously Resilient Ridge'

By Becky Oskin published

The weird weather pattern that hatched California's ongoing drought is becoming more common, and could bring more extreme dry spells in the future, a new study finds.

Southern Idaho Canyon

12 Supereruptions Pockmark Path of Yellowstone Hotspot

By Becky Oskin published

Up to 12 massive volcanic blasts occurred between 8 million and 12 million years ago in Idaho's Snake River Plain, leading up to today's Yellowstone supervolcano, new research reveals.

Yellowstone hot spring

Can You Outrun a Supervolcano? Maybe, Study Finds

By Becky Oskin published

Can you outrun a supervolcano? New evidence from an ancient eruption suggests the answer is a surprising yes, at least for some of the best athletes. And if you have a car, you're golden as well.

Tornado

Tornado Clusters Becoming More Deadly And More Common

By Becky Oskin published

Damaging, deadly tornado clusters are becoming more common, a new study finds.

The Barberton mountains preserve some of Earth's oldest rocks.

Earth's Early Ocean Was No Scalding Sea

By Becky Oskin published

An illustration of Earth's core and its composition.

Earth's Fiery Depths Filled with Brimstone

By Becky Oskin published

During the last ice age, Greenland experienced wild climate swings, but even during its coldest stints, a blob of warm surface water lurked nearby.

'Warm Blob' Caused Wild Climate Swings During Last Ice Age

By Becky Oskin published

A new study reveals how Greenland's unstable ice age climate was influenced by Atlantic Ocean currents.

Adélie penguins like this one feed mainly on krill.

Let's All Chill: Antarctica's Adélie Penguins Are Probably Fine

By Becky Oskin published

There may be other explanations for 150,000 missing Adélie penguins presumed dead in Antarctica.

Adélie penguins come to the edge of sea ice to feed on krill and fish.

In Photos: Adélie Penguins of East Antarctica

By Becky Oskin published

Exoplanet Orbits Coku Tau 4

Extraterrestrial Life Could Be Vulnerable to Greenhouse Effect

By Becky Oskin published

A powerful greenhouse effect can destroy a planet's chances of hosting life, a new study suggests.

A long crack that popped up in a Michigan forest on Oct. 4, 2010, uprooted trees and caused others to tilt.

What Caused This Weird Crack to Appear in Michigan?

By Becky Oskin published

Strange and sudden earth movement that caused a gaping gash and a deep booming sound in a Michigan forest is being explained as a "pop-up" in the bedrock.

Global Warming

1-in-a-Million Odds Link Global Warming and Record Heat

By Becky Oskin published

Mother Nature can't take the blame for the recent string of record-breaking heat waves, a new study finds.