Our world’s surface is a jumble of jostling tectonic plates, with new ones emerging as others are pulled under. The ongoing cycle keeps our continents in motion and drives life on Earth. But what happens when a plate disappears into the planet’s interior? The question has long puzzled scientists because conventional wisdom said that sinking… Continue Reading Fate of Sinking Tectonic Plates is Revealed
Earthquake Forecasts Move a Step Closer to Reality
Earthquakes — like lightning — strike unpredictably. The Earth’s tectonic plates, however, hide subtle warnings that a major fault may soon break. Like forecasting a thunderstorm, knowing how to read the warnings could help communities protect lives, infrastructure and local economies. For decades, scientists have struggled to reliably give forecasts for major earthquake hotspots, but… Continue Reading Earthquake Forecasts Move a Step Closer to Reality
How an award-winning geophysics professor is doing his part to reshape the geosciences
Backpack, hat and rock-hammer in hand: the archetypal geologist has attracted generations of outdoor-loving people to the geosciences. But it’s an image that people like Thorsten Becker, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences and this year’s recipient of the International Lithosphere Program’s Evgueni Burov Medal, hope to change.… Continue Reading How an award-winning geophysics professor is doing his part to reshape the geosciences
Second Jackson School Professor Wins Evgueni Burov Medal
Thorsten Becker, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin Jackson School of Geosciences, has been honored with the 2021 Evgueni Burov Medal, an award presented by the International Lithosphere Program to recognize pioneering scientific contributions and “unselfish service to the scientific community” by mid-career scientists. The award recognizes Becker’s contributions to research and… Continue Reading Second Jackson School Professor Wins Evgueni Burov Medal
New Computer Modeling Approach Could Improve Understanding of Megathrust Earthquakes
Years before the devastating Tohoku earthquake struck the coast of Japan in 2011, the Earth’s crust near the site of the quake was starting to stir. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin are using computer models to investigate if tiny tremors detected near the site of the quake could be connected to the… Continue Reading New Computer Modeling Approach Could Improve Understanding of Megathrust Earthquakes