News archive
A missing mineral in half the planet
For decades, models of Earth’s interior have relied on a mineral that had never been measured under the conditions in which it actually exists. New measurements now show that most of the lower mantle may contain far less of this mineral than previously thought.
Meteorite uncovers ancient brines inside primitive asteroids
A rare meteorite, recovered within minutes of its fall, has revealed that salty, mineral-rich fluids once circulated inside a primitive asteroid. Researchers at ETH Zurich helped reconstruct the rock's journey through space.
Ancient tectonic scars reveal how Pluto’s moon Charon slowed its spin
Researchers from ETH Zurich and UCLA have uncovered the first convincing geological evidence that Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, preserves a tectonic record of its early tidal despinning.
Molecular fossils reveal secrets of Earth’s recovery from ancient global warming event
Scientists have uncovered new evidence from one of Earth’s most extreme ancient warming events, revealing how the climate may recover long after human-driven CO₂ emissions cease.
Faults shape Earth’s surface far beyond the fault lines itself
Active faults do more than uplift mountains: they weaken rocks over distances of up to 100 kilometres, making landscapes erode easier than previously thought.
Deep iron nanoparticles prove the Earth's mantle never mixed
Hidden within volcanic rocks from Hawaii, Iceland and Samoa lies a chemical relic from the earliest history of our planet.
Weakening ocean currents could have intensified ice ages
About a million years ago, a slowdown in North Atlantic ocean circulation intensified and prolonged ice ages. The findings may also sharpen predictions of how ocean currents could shape future climate change.
Scotland's ancient heart: how water built the Earth's first continent
How did Earth’s first continents form? Geologists have long studied Northwest Scotland for clues. Now ETH researchers show its foundations are about 500 million years older than thought, and that water was the crucial ingredient behind their formation.
A new study improves prediction of shallow landslides
Weathered rock layers beneath the soil influence how groundwater moves during storms. The findings help explain when and where shallow landslides occur and could improve hazard prediction.