Signs of geological activity found on Venus
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57567577
INTRO: Scientists have found evidence parts of Venus's surface move around like pieces of continent on Earth. And while this activity is probably not driven by plate tectonics, as on Earth, it could be a "cousin" of that process.
The findings fit an emerging picture of a planet very much alive, in contrast to the traditional view of Venus.
Europe is launching a spacecraft, EnVision, to radar-map and gather spectroscopic measurements of the planet's surface and atmosphere. And Nasa is sending two craft, Veritas and DaVinci+, to Venus, towards the end of this decade.
"We've identified a previously unrecognised pattern of tectonic deformation on Venus, one that is driven by interior motion just like on Earth," said lead author Paul Byrne, associate professor of planetary science at North Carolina State University. "Although different from the tectonics we currently see on Earth, it is still evidence of interior motion being expressed at the planet's surface." (MORE)
The Earth Suffers a Regular Cycle of Horrific Catastrophes, Scientists Say
https://futurism.com/the-byte/earth-cata...-heartbeat
INTRO: Every 27.5 million years or so, the Earth’s heart “beats.”
That’s according to a new study published in the journal Geoscience Frontiers, by a team of geologists who found that our planet goes through a cycle of severe geological events, much like the biological heartbeat that reverberates through a living organism.
“Many geologists believe that geological events are random over time,” said Michael Rampino, a geologist and professor at New York University and lead author of the study, in a statement. “But our study provides statistical evidence for a common cycle, suggesting that these geologic events are correlated and not random.”
The findings are also a testament to the fact that the technologies required to date these ancient geological events have come a long way. Over the last 100 years or so, scientists have been able to significantly hone in on the precise length of this cycle, with early estimates ranging from 26 to 36 million years... (MORE)
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57567577
INTRO: Scientists have found evidence parts of Venus's surface move around like pieces of continent on Earth. And while this activity is probably not driven by plate tectonics, as on Earth, it could be a "cousin" of that process.
The findings fit an emerging picture of a planet very much alive, in contrast to the traditional view of Venus.
Europe is launching a spacecraft, EnVision, to radar-map and gather spectroscopic measurements of the planet's surface and atmosphere. And Nasa is sending two craft, Veritas and DaVinci+, to Venus, towards the end of this decade.
"We've identified a previously unrecognised pattern of tectonic deformation on Venus, one that is driven by interior motion just like on Earth," said lead author Paul Byrne, associate professor of planetary science at North Carolina State University. "Although different from the tectonics we currently see on Earth, it is still evidence of interior motion being expressed at the planet's surface." (MORE)
The Earth Suffers a Regular Cycle of Horrific Catastrophes, Scientists Say
https://futurism.com/the-byte/earth-cata...-heartbeat
INTRO: Every 27.5 million years or so, the Earth’s heart “beats.”
That’s according to a new study published in the journal Geoscience Frontiers, by a team of geologists who found that our planet goes through a cycle of severe geological events, much like the biological heartbeat that reverberates through a living organism.
“Many geologists believe that geological events are random over time,” said Michael Rampino, a geologist and professor at New York University and lead author of the study, in a statement. “But our study provides statistical evidence for a common cycle, suggesting that these geologic events are correlated and not random.”
The findings are also a testament to the fact that the technologies required to date these ancient geological events have come a long way. Over the last 100 years or so, scientists have been able to significantly hone in on the precise length of this cycle, with early estimates ranging from 26 to 36 million years... (MORE)