Ancient Earth’s hot interior created “graveyard” of continental slabs
Higher mantle temperatures caused subducting tectonic plates to sink much further than they do today.
Department
Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Q&A: Richard Binzel on tips for observing the 2017 solar eclipse
Whether you'll be in the path of totality on Aug. 21 or anywhere else in North America, you should be able to view the eclipse.
Training students' eyes on the skies
MIT hosts Astronomy Training Camp for student-run national astronomy team.
Lunar dynamo’s lifetime extended by at least 1 billion years
Findings suggest two mechanisms may have powered the moon’s ancient churning, molten core.
Phytoplankton and chips
Simons Foundation supports enhanced computer infrastructure for MIT's Darwin Project, which focuses on marine microbes and microbial communities.
TESS mission to discover new planets moves toward launch
Satellite’s cameras have been delivered by MIT researchers and passed NASA inspection.
Underground magma pulse triggered end-Permian extinction
Study ties specific interval during an extended period of volcanism to Earth’s most severe mass extinction.
Understanding tropical rainfall
Study finds ocean circulation, coupled with trade wind changes, efficiently limits shifting of tropical rainfall patterns.
Exploring an unusual metal asteroid
Alumna and former MIT professor Lindy Elkins-Tanton is working with MIT faculty in her role as principal investigator for NASA's upcoming Psyche mission.
Study: Indian monsoons have strengthened over past 15 years
A 50-year dry spell has reversed, with more rain to come.
Susan Solomon awarded the Royal Society's Bakerian Medal
Professor of atmospheric chemistry honored for her contributions to atmospheric science.
Climate change to deplete some US water basins, reduce irrigated crop yields
By 2050, the Southwest will produce significantly less cotton and forage, researchers report.
Rising temperatures are curbing ocean’s capacity to store carbon
Study finds large amounts of carbon dioxide, equivalent to yearly U.K. emissions, remain in surface waters.
Charting a better future for Africa
Kenneth Strzepek applies models to help decision makers advance food security and sustainable development in a climate-compromised continent.
Measuring biological dust in the wind
A technique developed in the Cziczo Lab may be the most accurate way of identifying biological aerosols from mineral dust in the atmosphere and analyzing their contribution to cloud formation and climate change.