Analysis of fossil, modern whales points to when and how whales started bulking up

For decades, scientists have theorized that the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates is driven largely by negative buoyancy created as they cool. New research, however, shows plate dynamics are driven...Read more

Mantle swallowed massive chunk of Eurasia and India, study finds

Multiple environmental influences complicate climate predictions

Massive terrestrial planets, called “super-Earths,” are known to be common in Earth’s galaxy, the Milky Way. Now a Northwestern University astrophysicist and a University of Chicago geophysicist report the odds...Read more

Although scientists have known since the middle of the 19th century that the tropics are teeming with species while the poles harbor relatively few, the origin of the most dramatic...Read more

Chelsea Leu, a third-year in geophysical sciences, spent spring break learning scientific field methods at San Salvador in the Bahamas with a group of other University of Chicago students and...Read more

UChicago researchers suggest that unusual greenhouse gases might have kept planet warm back before the sun was bright enough to do the job

For a short time in grade school, Kevin Boyce lived within two blocks of the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, a place where ice age mammal fossils had...Read more

National Science medalist Lynn Margulis , AB’57, Lab,'54, one of the most influential biologists of her day, died Nov. 24 at her home in Amherst, Mass., at the age of...Read more

New faculty members to explore potential for other Earthlike planets

UChicago’s influence in geophysical, atmospheric sciences owes much to the late Ted Fujita, aka “Mr. Tornado.”

Two UChicago geophysical sciences professors have added awards for outstanding young scientists to their resumés. The American Geophysical Union has named Nicolas Dauphas , associate professor in geophysical sciences, as...Read more

Andrew Davis (left) and Lawrence Grossman pioneered study of the solar system’s chemical origins. Their new namesakes are minerals from the oldest known rocks.

Paleontologist discovers blossoming plant diversity in 100-million-year-old specimens.

Rebecca Terry, graduate student in Geophysical Sciences, was awarded the 2007 Alfred Sherwood Romer Prize from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.