Puhahonu shield volcano is Earth’s biggest Scientists say new research shows the Puhahonu volcano, which is about 1,100 kilometers northwest of Honolulu in the Pacific Ocean and contains about 150,000 cubic kilometers of rock, is the world’s largest shield volcano. About a third of it rises above the seafloor, while the rest is buried under […]
Ridges on moon may indicate tectonic activity Scientists who studied temperature data from a NASA orbiter say ridges on the moon may be evidence of recent tectonic activity. “From this paper, it appears that the moon may still be creaking and cracking — potentially in the present day — and we can see the evidence […]
Ice avalanches linked to features in Mars craters Scientists who analyzed open-source multispectrum and radar data from NASA with a 3-D modeling software program and separate mathematical calculations say large, fast-moving ice avalanches may have created debris in two craters on Mars. The hupothesis could help researchers understand the moraine-like features in the planet’s north […]
Cosmic-ray technique may help forecast volcanic eruptions Scientists used a visual technique known as muography at the active Sakurajima stratovolcano in Kyushu, Japan, in an effort to forecast eruptions. Researchers recorded muon cosmic-ray particles passing through the volcano and used the data collected to create detailed maps of the volcano’s interior, which were then analyzed […]
Range of personalities observed in wild dolphins Some wild bottlenose dolphins in Italy’s Gulf of Aranci are much more bold and adventurous than others, and the bolder dolphins appear to have deeper social connections than shyer dolphins, according to a study published in Animal Behavior. Differences in social behaviors could affect reproductive success and group […]
Elevated amyloid may predict Alzheimer’s in seniors Researchers who used amyloid PET found that older adults with healthy cognition and elevated amyloid levels had poorer test scores and more reports of subtle daily cognition declines, compared with those with lower amyloid deposition. “These results support the hypothesis that elevated amyloid represents an early stage in […]
Array of facial expressions detected in mice Subtle facial movements indicating a number of emotions have been detected in mice by machine learning tools that may help researchers learn more about how animals convey emotions. Researchers used high-speed cameras to capture the mice’s expressions as they were given experiences meant to spark emotions such as […]
Radiation tsunamis may be coming from quasars Quasars may be releasing tsunami-like bursts of radiation that can push material from their home galaxies outward and may inhibit star formation, according to findings in six studies published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. “The amount of mechanical energy that these outflows carry is up to several […]
GPS measurements help map Himalayas’ quake risk Scientists who studied measurements from GPS stations say they’ve identified four parts of the Himalayas that could be shaken by major earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 8.5. Researchers examined fault-locking levels in the Himalayan arc by comparing the Indian and Eurasian plates’ convergence rates with their relative velocities […]
Why crocodilians weather climate change well Crocodilians may be uniquely suited to adapt well to climate change because they’ve survived two mass extinction events and have a special kind of reproductive biology, but their diversity has decreased. “[T]he main lesson that crocs can teach us is that extinction really is forever, and really destroys so […]