Earth Science

Gases from hot springs in central Zambia show signs of mantle fluids rising to the surface, suggesting an early-stage continental rift. Researchers say this could mark the start of a new tectonic plate boundary. The findings come from samples collected in the Kafue Rift.

2. mai 2026 Rapportert av AI

A new study indicates that the Cascadia subduction zone and the northern San Andreas fault may trigger earthquakes in close succession, potentially amplifying disaster risks along the U.S. West Coast. Researchers identified evidence of such synchronization in ocean floor sediment cores spanning 3,100 years. This connection could affect cities from San Francisco to Vancouver simultaneously.

Scientists have revealed that a hidden mantle plume contributed to the formation of the King's Trough Complex, a vast underwater canyon system in the North Atlantic larger than the Grand Canyon. Located about 1,000 kilometers off Portugal's coast, this 500-kilometer structure resulted from tectonic rifting between Europe and Africa millions of years ago. The findings, based on rock samples and seafloor mapping, highlight how deep Earth processes influence ocean floor features.

20. februar 2026 Rapportert av AI

Researchers at Stanford University have developed the first worldwide map of rare earthquakes occurring deep in Earth's mantle, rather than the crust. These elusive events cluster in regions like the Himalayas and near the Bering Strait. The study, published on February 5 in Science, identifies hundreds of such quakes and introduces a new method to detect them using seismic waves.