SCIENCE Tamu Massif, a volcano the size of New Mexico, has been identified under the Pacific Ocean, about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) east of Japan, making it the biggest volcano on Earth and one of the biggest in the solar system. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to better understand Tamu Massif and undersea geology. Discussion Ideas Look at our beautiful high-resolution map of “Earth’s … Continue reading World’s Largest Volcano Discovered
SCIENCE Not Just a Pretty Facet A jewelry store is an archive of the Earth. Every gem fixed to every ring or necklace was forged deep inside our planet, according to its own recipe of elements, temperature and pressure. Discussion Ideas The article is about the importance of all jewels to the study of geology. However, Carl Zimmer, the New York Times science writer, focuses … Continue reading Not Just a Pretty Facet
SCIENCE Ancient Water, New Hopes in Search for Life Scientists have discovered water that has been trapped in rock for more than a billion years. The water might contain microbes that evolved independently from the surface world, and it’s a finding that gives new hope to the search for life on other planets. Discussion Ideas: The NPR article says Canada’s 1.5-billion-year-old water was trapped far … Continue reading Water Trapped For 1.5 Billion Years Could Hold Ancient Life
SCIENCE Scientists Discover Possible ‘Lost Continent’ Researchers may have discovered granite remnants of a “lost continent” off the coast of Brazil this week. How do continents get lost in the first place? (They lie low after bad break-ups.) Discussion Ideas: Granite boulders discovered far off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, may be remnants of a giant continent that was “lost” as movements in … Continue reading Scientists Discover Possible ‘Lost Continent’
UNITED STATES Landslide Puts Homes at Risk More than a dozen people were evacuated and homes put at risk as a hillside on Whidbey Island, Washington, slid into the sea. One home was pushed more than 60 meters (200 feet) into Puget Sound, and the area remains without electricity or safe roads. According to the Centers for Disease Control, landslides result in about 25-50 deaths … Continue reading Landslide Puts Homes at Risk
