Recent News
For more news about the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, visit our research highlights.
The methane hunters
How URochester scientists are tracking the elusive greenhouse gas—and why it matters.
What tiny fossils tell us about Earth’s changing oceans
For paleoceanographer Chiara Borrelli, microscopic fossils buried beneath the seafloor are a window into the oceans of the past—and a changing planet.
Why icy landscapes can behave like oobleck
URochester researchers use mathematical modeling to explore how wave-like soil patterns form—and what they could reveal about landscape stability.
Hidden ocean feedback loop could accelerate climate change
Researchers identify how warming oceans may trigger increased methane emissions, adding a key insight for current climate models.
Hidden magma oceans could shield rocky exoplanets from harmful radiation
New research suggests that molten rock deep inside so-called super-earths may generate powerful magnetic fields necessary for sustaining life.
Earth’s atmosphere may help support human life on the moon
New research shows that Earth’s magnetic field has helped deliver atmospheric particles to the lunar surface over billions of years.
Souped-up kayaks become ‘floating laboratories’ on the Genesee River
URochester researchers use specially designed kayaks to collect real-time data on methane and carbon dioxide emissions.
Mars surface patterns resemble Earth, revealing secrets of its past
Wave-like landforms on Mars offer insights about the planet’s icy past, its potential habitability, and the physics of flowing granular materials.
January 2025 in Photos
The start of a new year brought innovative events, a peek into the past, and a snowy first day of classes. Here’s how we spent January at the University of Rochester.
Rochester’s Kevin Righter kept NASA space rocks free from contamination
Precise curation was necessary to discover that the Bennu asteroid sample contains building blocks of life on Earth.