EurekAlert! News by Subject: Earth Science - News by Subject: Earth Science

Earth Science

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 11-Apr-2026 11:15 ET (11-Apr-2026 15:15 GMT/UTC)

Organic soil amendments work together to help sandy soils hold water longer, study finds

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Sandy soils are among the most challenging environments for agriculture because water drains quickly and nutrients are easily lost. A new long-term field experiment shows that combining biochar with compost and sludge can dramatically improve how sandy soils retain water, offering a practical strategy for farming in drought-prone regions.

Journal: Biochar

Iron, carbon, and the art of toxic cleanup

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In the complex world of soil and water chemistry, certain minerals act like microscopic sponges, soaking up pollutants and keeping our environment safe. Among the most dangerous of these pollutants is hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), a highly toxic and mobile substance often found at industrial and mining sites. Now, a groundbreaking study published in Carbon Research has identified the specific "superstar" minerals that are best at neutralizing this threat while simultaneously locking away organic carbon.

Journal: Carbon Research

Rare fossil at Montana State’s Museum of the Rockies records Tyrannosaurus attack

Montana State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An edmontosaurus skull in the museum's collection was the subject of a new scientific paper published Feb. 17.

Journal: PeerJ

SeaCast revolutionizes Mediterranean Sea forecasting with AI-powered speed and accuracy

CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new forecasting system developed in collaboration between the University of Helsinki and CMCC delivers detailed 15-day Mediterranean Sea predictions in just 20 seconds. By combining machine learning, ocean physics, and atmospheric data, SeaCast is faster than traditional numerical forecasts and more accurate than traditional physical models, achieving high-resolution predictions that represent a big advancement in marine forecasting. Published in Nature – Scientific Reports, this research opens new horizons for understanding, preparing for, and responding to the challenges and opportunities of the Mediterranean region.

Journal: Scientific Reports

New knowledge about Northern Europe's radiator: Volcanic eruptions in the past may have pushed ocean current towards collapse

University of Copenhagen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that volcanic eruptions during the Ice Age may have triggered sudden climate change by disrupting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), causing temperatures to fluctuate between hot and cold for thousands of years. The study contributes missing pieces to our understanding of what could cause Northern Europe's radiator to shut down.

Journal: Science

Record-breaking sediment core may help predict Antarctic ice loss

ETH Zurich
Reports and Proceedings

Beneath the ice of West Antarctica lie natural records of past climate variability, containing sediments deposited during warmer periods when the region was partly or entirely ice-free.

An international team co-led by a researcher from ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) has now retrieved the longest sediment core ever drilled from beneath an ice sheet, using a custom-designed drilling system.

The 228 metre-long core contains geological evidence and fossils of marine organisms that indicate a previously open, ice-free ocean. This archive provides new insights into how sensitive the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is to a warming climate.

Why Triceratops has such a big nose

University of Tokyo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Triceratops and similar horned dinosaurs had unusually large nasal cavities compared to most animals. Researchers including those from the University of Tokyo used CT scans of fossilized Triceratops skulls and compared their structures with modern animals like birds and crocodiles. Through direct observation and inference, researchers reconstructed how nerves, blood vessels and structures for airflow fit together in the skulls. They concluded horned dinosaurs probably used their noses not just for smelling but also to help control temperature and moisture.

Journal: The Anatomical Record
Funder: JSPS

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