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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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
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ResearchLithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found
Find could point to new ways to prospect for material in high demand for batteries.
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FeatureThe hunt for natural hydrogen reserves
For a long time, nobody thought there could be large quantities of the gas underground. Anna Demming talks to the people proving otherwise