The far-reaching science of geology covers everything from ancient fossils to the precious minerals beneath our feet. At Live Science, we deliver geology discoveries that absolutely rock and help you to understand the makeup of our planet. Whether you want to know how to tell the difference between geologic ages, why Earth has a new geologic age or facts about an ancient supercontinent, our expert writers and editors have you covered with the latest geology news, features and articles.
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A huge helium shortage is looming — but ancient rocks in Earth's crust may be hiding massive reservoirs
For decades, helium has been produced with natural gas, generating huge carbon emissions. Now, geologists are looking for new helium sources — and finding enormous "carbon-free" reservoirs that could revolutionize the industry.
Trio of 'black mesas' leftover from Paleozoic era spawn rare sand dunes in the Sahara
Earth from space A 2023 astronaut photo shows three dark hills, or mesas, towering above part of the Sahara desert in southern Mauritania. The structures are remnants of a single Paleozoic era formation, and have helped to create a series of striking sand dunes.
Sistema Ox Bel Ha: A vast hidden system that's the longest underwater cave in the world
This incredible submerged cave network is the longest of its kind in the world and plays a vital role in the region.
A gulf separating Africa and Asia is still pulling apart — 5 million years after scientists thought it had stopped
The Arabian and African tectonic plates failed to pull apart 28 million years ago at the Gulf of Suez, but the area hasn't stopped rifting.
Parts of Arizona are being sucked dry, with areas of land sinking 6 inches per year, satellite data reveals
Groundwater extraction has caused parts of the Willcox Basin to subside by up to 12 feet since the 1950s. New research reveals that some areas sunk by 3 feet in just 4 years.
Breakup of ancient supercontinent Nuna created 'incubators' for complex life, study finds
Ancient supercontinent Nuna's breakup around 1.5 billion years ago set off a chain of events that made Earth more habitable, new research suggests.
Triple Divide Peak: Montana's unique liquid 'crossroads' where water can flow into three oceans
Triple Divide Peak in Montana is the only place on Earth where water can flow into one of three different oceans, according to some definitions.
First of its kind 'butt drag fossil' discovered in South Africa — and it was left by a fuzzy elephant relative 126,000 years ago
The first hyrax fossil tracks and traces ever to be discovered were identified on South Africa's coast.
Greenland is twisting, tensing and shrinking due to the 'ghosts' of melted ice sheets
Earth's mantle is so gooey, it takes eons for material that has been displaced by the weight of ice sheets to flow back. And Greenland is very much still processing its glacial past, a new study shows.
