Geology
Eight of the Best Spots to Go Freshwater Diving or Snorkeling in the United States
These bucket-list underwater sites offer up megalodon teeth, manatee herds and other unique encounters
Humans Have Shifted Earth's Axis by Pumping Lots of Groundwater
Removing water from the ground has led to sea-level rise and caused Earth's axis to shift by about 2.6 feet between 1993 and 2010, per a new study
Secrets Still Smolder at One of the World's Most Active Volcanoes
A century after one of Mount Etna's many notable eruptions, scientists are more eager than ever to study the peak's frequent bursts of fiery fury
Seven Ways to Explore Space Without Leaving Earth
From astronaut training sites to working spaceports, these spots across the United States put a terrestrial spin on space travel
Scientists Extract Rocks From Earth’s Mantle
They drilled into a mountain at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean
Hawaii's Kīlauea Volcano Is Erupting Again—Here's How to See It
The youngest and most active volcano on the Big Island, it's expected to draw thousands of tourists
Why Indiana Limestone Is One of America's Most Prized Building Materials
From the 19th century to today, a geological trove offers a strong foundation for the nation's cities
See the Breathtaking Ocean Life Found at Deep-Sea Vents
An international team of scientists discovered new hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge releasing mineral-rich water hot enough to melt lead
Five Places Where You Can Still Find Gold in the United States
Lucky for you, these gold rush hot spots have not yet run their mining course
These Students Are Part of a 75-Year Study to Map Alaska’s Glaciers
Traversing an icefield by foot and on skis, the young researchers experience one of the coolest classrooms in the nation
America's Waterways: The Past, Present and Future
In a series of articles, <em>Smithsonian</em> magazine highlights all that draws our eyes to our nation's fresh and coastal waters
Florida’s Love-Hate Relationship With Phosphorus
The state has mined and abused the Devil's Element for decades, and now it is increasingly fouling precious coastal waters
Scientists Find Evidence of Another Core Within Earth's Center
The newly proposed layer might have a different structure from the rest of the inner core
These Tsunami Detectives Search for Ancient Disasters
The gigantic waves have been decimating coastlines since time immemorial. We ignore these prehistoric warnings at our own peril.
Perseverance Rover Completes Depot of Mars Rock Samples
The collection is a failsafe for the Mars Sample Return project, which aims to deliver Martian rocks to Earth
The Spin of Earth's Inner Core May Be Changing, Scientists Say
A new study finds our planet's iron center shifts between spinning slightly faster and slightly slower than the surface—but not all experts agree
The Etymology of Unobtanium
The much-mocked wonder-rock from the 2009 blockbuster 'Avatar' doesn’t have an atomic number, but engineers have used the actual word for decades
A Surprising Amount of Magma Is Under Yellowstone’s Supervolcano
New research suggests more melted rock lies beneath the Yellowstone Caldera—but it’s still not likely to erupt anytime soon
What Made Indonesia’s Recent Earthquake So Deadly?
The 5.6-magnitude earthquake that rocked the island of Java last week has killed at least 321 people
Volcanic Eruption Creates a New Island in the South Pacific
The growing land mass is larger than 8 acres and visible from space
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