Rocks, volcanoes, caves and the slow machinery of the planet, from plate boundaries to the water cycle.
Natural disasters such as hurricanes can be predicted. However, occurrence of an earthquake or a volcanic explosion surprises us. The world has witnessed a number of disasters over the centuries, with some being more devastating than the others. Some last for a few seconds, while some for a few days or even weeks.
Earthquakes are one of the most dreaded natural disasters. Severe earthquakes result in the massive destruction of life and property and change the face of Earth in the literal sense of the term. For an account on some of the major earthquakes in China, read on...
There are various types of volcanoes that are seen on Earth, Mars, and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Although some remain dormant, there are many active volcanoes. Located in the basin of the Pacific Ocean is an area called the Pacific Ring of Fire. This region witnesses a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Ring of Fire is home to 452 volcanoes and 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes.
Hot springs are known to be therapeutic in nature, owing to the minerals present in the Earth’s crust. Learn more about these in the following article.
There are a number of steps involved in the water cycle. Water passes through all three states of matter during this cycle. Natural forces such as the sun, air, land, trees, river, seas, and mountains play an important part in completing the water cycle.
Metamorphic rocks are formed when other types of rocks change because of the enormous pressure and heat they experience deep within the earth. Keep reading to know more...
Underwater volcanoes, also known as submarine volcanoes, are natural calamities of very high intensities that are capable of destroying life whenever they occur. However, sometimes beautiful islands are formed due to volcanic eruptions and that could be a possibility of beginning of life. Know how underwater volcanoes are formed in this ScienceStruck write-up.
Dutch researcher Arjan Lock has investigated the behavior of vibrating water molecules. Using ultra-short laser pulses, he has found that hydrogen atoms in water molecules vibrate for a longer period of time at higher temperatures, contrary to the majority of substances in which a vibration lives shorter at higher temperatures.
