Earth’s 660-km seismic discontinuity has long been attributed to ringwoodite breakdown, but this alone cannot explain complex seismic observations. Now, researchers have shown that the boundary forms through a coupled post-spinel transition involving majorite garnet, the mantle’s second most abundant mineral. This mechanism consistently explains seismic structure beneath subduction zones and mantle plumes and supports a compositionally homogeneous, pyrolite-like mantle, providing new insights into Earth’s deep interior and mantle dynamics.

A study using three years of satellite ground motion data (2018–2021) from 35 continuous GNSS stations has mapped crustal deformation in Central Sumatra, revealing that substantial tectonic strain is accumulating in multiple fault systems.

- Scientists at University of Leicester and Yunnan University identified an ancient member of the Chelicerate family

- X-ray analysis revealed pincer-like limbs that are the beginnings of what would become spiders’ fangs

- An inspiration for many monster movies and the origin of Spider-Man, the fangs of chelicerates made them formidable predators