Earth science
The latest chemistry news and research on earth science, including ecology, geochemistry and natural resources, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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FeatureCarbon in an ice world
Antarctica may seem pristine and almost devoid of life, but there’s plenty of chemistry going on. Victoria Atkinson explains what it can tell us about the climate and pollution across the globe
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NewsEurope and US face diminishing lithium supply for electric vehicle batteries
China will still dominate the market for the vital battery metal in 2030
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ResearchMedieval bear’s teeth shed light on historic heavy metal pollution
1000 years ago, a bear died after falling down a cave shaft in Romania’s Carpathian mountains. Was lead poisoning to blame?
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ResearchEarthquake-induced electricity offers answer to mystery of gold nugget formation
Under pressure quartz veins donate electrons to grow larger nuggets
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ResearchWater-splitting reaction reversal could extract lithium more sustainably and cheaply
Environmentally-friendly electrochemistry could cut extraction costs by 40%
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ResearchPeptide bond interactions explain collagen’s ‘impossible’ longevity in dinosaur bones
Discovery reveals why bonds are a million times more stable than expected
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ResearchIsotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid
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ResearchStonehenge Altar stone likely came from Scotland, not Wales
Mineral analysis matches sandstones from over 750km away
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NewsMetallic nodules sought by deep sea miners could be making oxygen in the depths
Water-splitting at the bottom of the Pacific holds intriguing implications for the origin of life on Earth – and further afield
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ResearchWater droplets accelerate formation of mineral nanoparticles essential for life
Calculations and experiments reveal that water microdroplets may play role in soil formation
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ResearchRedox reactions ‘mine’ old fluorescent light bulbs for europium
In just three simple steps rare earth element can be recovered, avoiding ‘ecologically devastating’ mining
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FeatureThe oceans’ climate challenge
Nina Notman speaks to the researchers unpicking the many ways the climate crisis is impacting our oceans – and vice versa
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FeatureThe chemists dedicated to making drinking water safer
Across the world, scientists use a variety of techniques to analyse and treat water to ensure it’s safe for us to drink. Julia Robinson talks to some of the people involved
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Research‘Dolomite problem’ that has puzzled scientists for centuries may have finally been solved
Solution helps to explain the mystery of why common mineral won’t crystallise in the lab
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FeatureThe perchlorate Martian mystery
Rachel Brazil looks at how the compounds might have formed on our neighbouring planet and whether they could be useful for future exploration
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ResearchUnderwater device reveals marine chemical diversity
I-Smel device probes metabolites produced by Mediterranean sponges
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ResearchStrings that draw-up brine could help supply the world with lithium
Concept takes lithium extraction into the third dimension away from cumbersome, slow pools of brine
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FeatureFighting algal blooms with chemistry
These harmful events are the result of a complex interplay of factors, but Bárbara Pinho talks to the researchers finding out how they form and how we can stop them
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ResearchOcean lithium concentrations declined sevenfold over 150 million years
The concentration of lithium in seawater, previously assumed constant, could be related to geologic and climate effects