Bartenders in Argentina sometimes entertain patrons by tossing a few peanuts into their beer. Initially, the peanuts sink, but after a few seconds they rise, wreathed in bubbles. Once on Keep reading
Tag: geophysics
Underwater Volcanic Flows
The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption in December 2021 was the most violent in 140 years, and we are still learning from its aftermath. A recent study focuses on the Keep reading
Field of Dunes
Barchan dunes collide in this astronaut image of Brazil’s southern coastline. Barchan (pronounced “bar-kahn”) dunes are crescent-shaped; their tips point downwind into their direction of travel. When many barchan dunes Keep reading
Predicting Landslides
Landslides can cause catastrophic damage, but historically it’s been difficult to monitor susceptible slopes and predict when they’ll fail. But a recent study looking at the 2017 Mud Creek landslide Keep reading
To Clog or Not to Clog?
The clear plastic disks use to study clogging appear rather plain — at least until you look at them through polarizers. Then the disks light up with a web of Keep reading
Puddle Depth Matters for Stalagmites
In a cave, mineral-rich water drips from the ceiling, spreading ions used to build stalagmites. A recent study considers how the depth of a pool affects the droplet’s splash and Keep reading
Studying Earth’s Interior
The Earth’s interior is almost entirely inaccessible to humanity, so how do we know what it consists of? As explained in this video, our knowledge of the planet’s interior is Keep reading
Fast-Moving Martian Rivers
For the first time, scientists have found evidence of deep, fast-flowing ancient rivers on Mars. After examining images taken recently by the Perseverance rover in Jezero Crater, fluvial experts have Keep reading
Hawaiian Magma Complex
Few volcanoes are as well-studied as those of the Big Island of Hawai’i. With a host of seismic monitors and frequent eruptions, scientists know the near-surface region of Hawai’i well. Keep reading
Why Rivers Shift
In their natural state, rivers are variable in their course, shifting and meandering. Sometimes they deposit sediment, and sometimes they erode it. In this video, Grady from Practical Engineering digs Keep reading