Earth & Climate

Textbook theory of how humans populated America is “biologically unviable,” study finds

The established theory of how Ice Age peoples first reached the present-day United States is now challenged by an unprecedented study that concludes that entry route was “biologically unviable.”

The North American ice-free corridor, thought to have been used by the first colonizers, only became biologically viable 12,600 years ago — after they would have arrived. Researchers suggest a Pacific coast was the entry route.
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Laser Beats Rock: Armored Dinosaur May Have Relied Most on Sense of Smell

Independent science journalist Sarah Puschmann covered the research of SMU Earth Sciences Professor Louis L. Jacobs in a post on her blog “Armored Dinosaur May Have Relied Most on Sense of Smell.”

A professor in Dedman College‘s Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Jacobs is co-author of a new analysis of the Cretaceous Period dinosaur Pawpawsaurus based on the first CT scans ever taken of the dinosaur’s skull. Continue reading

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The Dallas Morning News: Scientists offer explanation on how oil and gas activity triggers North Texas earthquakes

earthquake, causes, SMU, oil, fracking, seismologyIn an article contributed to The Dallas Morning News, science journalist Anna Kuchment covered the research of SMU seismologists on a possible explanation for the spate of earthquakes in North Texas in recent years.

The study, Ellenburger wastewater injection and seismicity in North Texas, posted online July 17 in the peer-reviewed journal Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors.

It is the first scientific work to offer an explanation for the Dallas and Irving quakes, Kuchment notes in her article, “Scientists offer possible explanation for how oil and gas activity may have triggered Dallas earthquakes.Continue reading

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KERA News: Near Wink, Texas, The Sink Holes Are Getting Bigger And Bigger

Wink sinkholes, smu, remote satellite images, insar, ogallala aquiferKERA public radio news covered the research of SMU geophysicists Zhong Lu, professor, Shuler-Foscue Chair, and Jin-Woo Kim research scientist, both in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at SMU.

KERA’s article, “Near Wink, Texas, The Sink Holes Are Getting Bigger And Bigger,” published June 28, 2016. Continue reading

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KERA: Thanks To CT Scans, Scientists Know A Lot About Texas’ Pawpawsaurus Dinosaur

Pawpaw skull, Jacobs, SMU, Ankylasaurus, hearing, smellKERA public radio journalist Justin Martin covered the research of SMU Earth Sciences Professor Louis L. Jacobs in a KERA interview “Thanks To CT Scans, Scientists Know A Lot About Texas’ Pawpawsaurus Dinosaur.”

A professor in Dedman College‘s Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Jacobs is co-author of a new analysis of the Cretaceous Period dinosaur Pawpawsaurus based on the first CT scans ever taken of the dinosaur’s skull. Continue reading

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Seeker.com: Giant Sinkholes Near Texas Oil Fields Are Growing

Wink sinkholes, smu, remote satellite images, insar, ogallala aquiferOnline news site Seeker.com covered the research of SMU geophysicists Zhong Lu, professor, Shuler-Foscue Chair, and Jin-Woo Kim research scientist, both in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at SMU.

Seeker.com’s article, “Giant Sinkholes Near Texas Oil Fields Are Growing,” published June 16, 2016. Continue reading

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Star-Telegram: Two giant sinkholes in West Texas expanding, researchers say

Wink sinkholes, smu, remote satellite images, insar, ogallala aquiferFort Worth Star-Telegram journalist Tom Uhler covered the research of SMU geophysicists Zhong Lu, professor, Shuler-Foscue Chair, and Jin-Woo Kim research scientist, both in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at SMU.

Uhler’s article, “Two giant sinkholes in West Texas expanding, researchers say,” published June 16, 2016. Continue reading

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New York Daily News: Giant sinkholes in Texas are growing, may collide: study

Wink sinkholes, smu, remote satellite images, insar, ogallala aquiferNew York Daily News journalist Anthony Izaguirre covered the research of SMU geophysicists Zhong Lu, professor, Shuler-Foscue Chair, and Jin-Woo Kim research scientist, both in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at SMU.

Izaguirre’s article, “Giant sinkholes in Texas are growing, may collide: study,” published June 16, 2016. Continue reading

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Daily Mail: The two massive and mysterious Texas sinkholes on the verge of creating one colossal lake

Wink sinkholes, smu, remote satellite images, insar, ogallala aquiferLondon Daily Mail online journalist Ashley Collman covered the research of SMU geophysicists Zhong Lu, professor, Shuler-Foscue Chair, and Jin-Woo Kim research scientist, both in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences at SMU.

Collman’s article, “The two massive and mysterious Texas sinkholes on the verge of creating one colossal lake,” published June 16, 2016. Continue reading

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