AGI Press Releases

Asbestos Found in Nevada and Arizona: A Roadblock for Public Health

January 29, 2015

Alexandria, Va. — In 2011, geologists at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, began discovering asbestos where none should be — in granite rocks with a geologic history not previously known to produce asbestos. The discoveries, in Clark County in southern Nevada and… [Read More]

California: A Profusion of Drought Restrictions with Varying Results

January 26, 2015

At times last year, 100 percent of California experienced moderate to exceptional drought conditions; even after massive storms in December, almost 80 percent of the state was still under extreme drought, the second-worst category. The drought has been ongoing for a few… [Read More]

Protecting the Mineral Treasures of Antarctica's Larsemann Hills

January 21, 2015

In 2003, scientists visited the Stornes Peninsula in Antarctica s Larsemann Hills to study the rocks, especially those containing boron and phosphorus minerals. What they found set them on a decade-long path to protect the geology, culminating in 2014 with the naming of… [Read More]

Faria Magazine: The 100-year Flood Tallacy: Return Periods Are Misleading in Communication of Flood Risk

January 12, 2015

Alexandria, Va. — Have you heard of 100-year floods and 500-year droughts ? You might have seen signposts near rivers showing when the last big flood was or statements about when the last severe drought occurred. But do you really know what those terms mean, or what… [Read More]

Earth Science Week 2015 Theme Announced: 'Visualizing Earth Systems'

January 6, 2015

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2015 will be Visualizing Earth Systems. This year s event will promote awareness of the many ways scientists monitor and represent information about… [Read More]

Earth Magazine: A Dry and Ravaged Land: Investigating Water Resources in Afghanistan

January 5, 2015

Alexandria, Va. — Afghanistan is one of the world s poorest countries, with an economy largely based on subsistence agriculture. Working in an arid climate on thin margins of profitability and sustenance, Afghan farmers depend on reliable, year-round sources of surface… [Read More]

Antibacterial clays could fight superbugs

December 29, 2014

Alexandria, Va. — Doctors and public health officials are concerned about the growing number of antibiotic-resistant superbugs like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff), as well as more common, yet still dangerous,… [Read More]

EARTH Magazine: The Geology of Middle-earth

December 15, 2014

The vaguely familiar, yet primeval landscape of New Zealand served as the backdrop for the blockbuster film adaptations of the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy. The geology that created this landscape is front and center in EARTH s February… [Read More]

Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching Now Open to U.K. Teachers

December 9, 2014

Alexandria, VA - With just over a month left to apply, now is the time to view a new webcast about the prestigious Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching. The free, two-minute webcast provides an overview of the competition. To view the… [Read More]

Hundreds of Methane Seeps Discovered Along the U.S. East Coast

December 8, 2014

Alexandria, Va. — Methane is often found naturally leaking from the seafloor, particularly in petroleum basins like the Gulf of Mexico or along tectonically active continental margins like the U.S. West Coast. However, such plumes were not expected along passive… [Read More]