Instant Islands and Ecology
May 19, 2015
A new volcanic island near Japan recalls the rapid colonization of Iceland's Surtsey island in 1963.
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Neanderthal News and the Limits of Organic Material Survival
May 13, 2015
Red blood cells and DNA samples raise questions about the decay time of soft tissue and genetic material.
Animal Excellence Exceeds Mere Survival
April 4, 2015
A tiny bird could live like other birds do without having to fly non-stop for 1,700 miles. Other examples abound of over-design in the animal world.
Darwinians Fill Gaps With Magic
February 17, 2015
Like rabbits in a magic show, things just "appear" on the Darwin stage. And like magicians, Darwinians don't reveal how the trick is done.
What Is the Temperature of the Earth?
January 16, 2015
The news are all reporting 2014 as the hottest year on record, but no one is asking how such a measurement can be made without bias.
Geology Sale
November 19, 2014
We need to clear the deck of geology news. Here's a garage sale of interesting headlines, provided "as is" for researchers to pursue further.
Mercury, Moon May Still Be Erupting
October 17, 2014
Two objects that should be old and dead show surprising activity. Other indications of youthfulness in the solar system are noted.
Scientific Claims Are Reversible
September 11, 2014
How much confidence can the public put in scientific claims today, given that some long-lived dogmas have been reversed?
Active Moon Triton Revisited
August 25, 2014
25 years ago today, Voyager 2 flew by Triton, a moon of Neptune, astonishing scientists with its active geology.
Living Stalactites and Other Geological Surprises
August 19, 2014
Dripstones in caves can be made by microbes, some speleologists find. That's among several recent geological surprises.
Io Volcanoes Go Hyperactive
August 7, 2014
The volcanoes on Jupiter's moon are bursting out at record rates, and nobody knows why. Is it the new normal?
Every Planet Surprises Secular Astronomers, I: Inner Planets
May 3, 2014
"Surprise" or "puzzling" are the most common words in news reports about bodies in the solar system. Here are recent examples that discuss the inner planets.
Chinese Dinosaurs May Have Been Buried in Volcanic Ash
February 4, 2014
A new analysis of Chinese fossils claims a Pompeii-style eruption buried them suddenly. What does this imply about dating the fossils?
Europa Joins the Geyser Club
December 12, 2013
Hints of watery plumes have been detected on Europa – like Enceladus, at its south pole, too.
Was Earth Like Io?
October 11, 2013
It apparently solves an old problem to propose that the early Earth was busting out all over with volcanoes, like Jupiter's moon Io.