Geology news, features and articles

Seismic mapping of North America has revealed that an ancient slab of crust buried beneath the Midwest is causing the crust above it to "drip" and suck down rocks from across the continent.

Fossilized vulture feathers that were stunningly preserved in volcanic ash were a mystery until now.

The End-Permian mass extinction killed an estimated 80% of life on Earth, but new research suggests that plants might have done okay.

Buried "megaripples" — some the size of five-story buildings — are helping scientists piece together the devastation following the impact that wiped out the nonavian dinosaurs.

Researchers say they have found "unequivocal evidence" that a meteorite smashed into Earth 3.47 billion years ago, potentially affecting plate tectonics and creating conditions for life.

Mount Roraima is a flat-topped formation with crystal-clear pools, waterfalls and a unique ecosystem that has been isolated from the surrounding savanna for millions of years.

Earth from space This 2023 astronaut photo shows a series of slowly moving "star dunes" in the Erg Chebbi region of Morocco. Most of these massive structures are likely several centuries old.

Researchers have identified a giant flying squirrel fossil from a cache of unusual animal remains dug out of an ancient sinkhole in Tennessee 25 years ago. The fossil sheds light on how flying squirrels reached North America.

The Savonoski Crater is a round hole in Alaska's Katmai National Park that has defied scientific explanation ever since it was discovered.