earth science
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Diseased Ocean Microbes Could Be Messing With The Weather
Our oceans are brimming with microscopic phytoplankton — plant-like organisms that contribute significantly to marine diversity. Tiny though they are, these sea critters, when infected with a particular virus, may influence atmospheric processes such as cloud formation, according to new research.
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Satellite Analysis Shows North Korea’s 2017 Nuclear Test Literally Moved A Mountain
By combining satellite radar with seismic data, an international team of researchers has reassessed the effects of North Korea’s most recent nuclear test at Mount Mantap, offering disturbing new estimates for the strength of the device used and its influence on the mountain itself.
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Ice Crystals In Diamonds Reveal Pockets Of Water Deep In Earth’s Mantle
Diamonds, the super-strong and brilliant crystals of carbon atoms produced under the Earth’s crushing pressures, are typically valued for their beauty and durability. But scientists also value them for another reason: They contain all kinds of hidden messages about the Earth’s mantle. You just need the right tools to read them.
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Earth’s First Land Plants May Have Sprouted 80 Million Years Earlier Than Previously Thought
For hundreds of millions of years, life on Earth was a purely aquatic phenomenon. The jump from the oceans to the continents was a monumental event, one that would irrevocably change the face of our planet. A new study suggests the first plants to make this evolutionary leap appeared much earlier than we thought.