Geology

The Earth's inner core is a ball of solid iron about the size of the Moon. This iron core is surrounded by a dynamic outer core of a liquid iron-nickel alloy - along with other, lighter elements - a…

The first large-scale picture of the electrical conductivity of the underground molten rock that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano suggests that the plume beneath the volcanically active area, known…

For 20 years, some seismologists in Japan, such as Katsuhiko Ishibashi, now professor emeritus at Kobe University, have warned of the seismic and tsunami hazards to the safety of nuclear power…

These are fulgerites, Now, without googling (!) can you tell what they are? You can find several fulgerites at Corrie on the Isle of Arran (I've heard that there were something like 5, but I could…

Have you noticed that whenever a [natural]disaster strikes we quickly look around to find a guilty party? The first place we look is among politicians. The politicians are not to blame for the…

At the Top of the World.The massive 9.0 M earthquake at Tohoku, Japan, 11. March 2011 literally shook the entire planet. The signals were read even at the top of the world, close to the north pole.…

Japan Earthquake Increases Flood Risk In Fukushima During the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in Japan, the ground level sank along the coast near Onahama Port,  Fukushima Prefecture. This has caused…

What do the Ansei-Nankai and Ansei-Tokai earthquakes of 1854 have in common with the 1944-1946 Tononkai and Nankai earthquakes in Japan?   They each suffered massive aftershocks shortly…

Earthquakes are big news due to the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday.   As a result, some are curious about the worst earthquakes and resulting tsunamis we know…

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan was a devastating event and did unknown amounts of damage.    There is risk of fire, water shortages, power outages and radiation leaks,…