On July 30, 2025, a powerful M 8.8 earthquake occurred off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia. Fortunately, there was only moderate damage from the earthquake shaking and the tsunami associated with the earthquake was weaker than expected. All great earthquakes provide scientists with new and valuable information, along with questions about how our earth operates.
Diamonds form under complex and unusual conditions, and provide valuable insights into the evolutionary history and composition of our planet. The diamond rush that began in the Kimberley region of South Africa in the 1860s transformed the area and has had a major influence on the history and economy of the country.
The Nile River had a central role in ancient Egyptian history–and today, Egypt relies on this water for about 90% of the countries’ supply. However, the Nile River Basin also contains ten other countries. Regional population and economic growth, climate change, and the enormous new Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam indicate increased cooperation will be essential to manage the Nile River water supply.
When major rivers flow through multiple states or countries, and water shortages affect a region, conflicts can develop. The Colorado River supplies essential water to seven US states, plus Mexico. Jordan River water is vital to Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. Disagreements about water allocations and environmental damage in both river basins will eventually require tough decisions and alternative strategies.
Ancient societies constructed remarkable monumental earthworks for millennia. In eastern North America, indigenous people began building enormous earthen mounds and other landscape structures more than 5,000 years ago. Only human muscle and simple hand tools were available, but the ancient ones clearly had a sophisticated understanding of scientific and engineering concepts.
Colorful chert, in varieties known as jasper, flint, agate, chalcedony, and others, have always intrigued me. So, when I recently saw a carpet of dark red jasper covering the surface of a river terrace in a remote corner of Utah, I was amazed. I wanted to learn more about how this chert bed formed and about the indigenous people who had left ancient rock art and storage structures nearby – and I found some fascinating information.
Rare-earth elements are widely distributed around our planet but found only in low concentrations that are difficult to extract and separate from ore. China controls nearly 90% of these elements that are produced and processed world-wide–-a supply chain and security situation that many consider unstable.
Demand is rising rapidly for many types of metals, along with an increase in e-waste containing valuable and hazardous materials. Knowledgeable researchers believe that metals already in use, in infrastructure, or in waste can make up much, if not most, of the metals that we will need. Opening new mines should be a last resort.
By the 1800s, intensive agriculture had seriously depleted soil fertility along the East Coast of the United States. Guano mined from Pacific islands offshore from Peru became a prized imported fertilizer. Competition for that resource led to an 1856 law directing the country to secure access to guano by claiming sovereignty over unclaimed territories.
Los Angeles is famous for many reasons, although the enormous oil and gas deposits beneath the city are unfamiliar to many. According to researcher estimates, the Los Angeles Basin just might contain more oil per unit volume of rock than any other sedimentary basin on Earth.
