‘It’s had 1.1 billion years to accumulate’: Helium reservoir in Minnesota...
A recently discovered helium reservoir in Minnesota boasts "mind-bogglingly" high concentrations of the gas that are even greater than initially thought, potentially paving the way for commercial extraction.Resource exploration company Pulsar Helium, Inc. announced the discovery of helium stores in late February, after a drill just outside of Babbitt, in northern Minnesota, located gas deposits…
Hidden chunk of Earth’s crust that seeded birth of ‘Scandinavia’ discovered...
By studying river crystals in Finland, researchers have identified traces of a hidden chunk of Earth's crust from the heart of an ancient continent, a new study has found.The crystals, from the mineral zircon, formed deep within the crust and provide clues as to how some of Europe's oldest bedrock formed 3.75 billion years ago.To…
How much does Earth weigh?
Our planet holds everything from hard rocks and minerals to millions of species of living things, and is covered in countless natural and human-made structures.So how much does all of that weigh? There's no single answer to that question. Just like humans weigh much less on the moon than we do at home, Earth doesn't…
Largest gold nugget ever found in England unearthed with faulty metal...
The largest gold nugget ever found in England was discovered by a man using a faulty metal detecting device. Metal detectorist Richard Brock unearthed the chunk of gold last May while exploring Shropshire, a county in western England, despite arriving late to a meetup with fellow treasure hunters and using an older detector, The Guardian…
Polar vortex is ‘spinning backwards’ above Arctic after major reversal event
The polar vortex circling the Arctic is swirling in the wrong direction after surprise warming in the upper atmosphere triggered a major reversal event earlier this month. It is one of the most extreme atmospheric U-turns seen in recent memory.In the past, disruptions to the polar vortex — a rotating mass of cold air that…
The sea ‘began to boil’: Freak volcanic eruption of Santorini 1,300...
An eruption at Santorini volcano 1,300 years ago was far larger than previously thought, suggesting explosive blasts can occur even in periods of relative quiet, new research shows.Santorini is an underwater volcano located along a string of volcanoes known as the Hellenic Island Arc between Greece and Turkey. It can produce eruptions that are so…
Santorini volcano: Freak eruption 1,300 years ago was as violent as...
An eruption at Santorini volcano 1,300 years ago was far more violent than previously thought, suggesting explosive blasts can occur even in periods of relative quiet, new research shows.Santorini is an underwater volcano located along a string of volcanoes known as the Hellenic Island Arc between Greece and Turkey. It can produce eruptions that are…
When were sea levels highest?
Sea levels are rising as climate change rapidly melts glaciers and ice sheets and the water within the oceans expands in a warming world. But have sea levels ever been higher than they are today? And when were they the highest?In short, sea levels have easily been higher than they are today. But it's still…
Are kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts really all the same plant?
Kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens and kohlrabi have unique nutritional values, and we think of them as distinct vegetables. Yet, they all share the same species name. Could they all really come from the same plant?The short answer is yes, and humans are responsible for the differences among these veggies."It is all…
Iceland volcano: Gigantic plume of toxic gas from latest eruption is...
Scientists are tracking a massive plume of toxic gas moving across northern Europe that was spat out by the ongoing volcanic eruption in Iceland. The gas cloud is unlikely to cause any serious health problems. However, it could impact the ozone hole above the Arctic, experts warn.On March 16, an underground volcano in Icealnd's Reykjanes…
