Earth Science

A craton of ancient rock that makes up much of the Northern Canadian shield,
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    A Rock-Solid Reputation

    Carnegie Science has shaped Earth science for over a century—one mineral, one method, one discovery at a time.

    A Legacy Written in Stone

    At least 53 minerals are named after Carnegie scientists—some discovered deep within our planet, others only exist in one location, and others hail from elsewhere in our Solar System.

    The World is Our Laboratory

    Earth’s interior holds clues to its formation and evolution. At Carnegie, our Earth science teams explore the physics and chemistry of planetary materials across all scales—from atomic interactions to whole-planet processes.

    We probe the physical processes that give rise to earthquakes and volcanoes; reveal the geochemical history of Earth's magnetic field—without which life as we know it could not exist; and seek to understand what our planet's geologic history can teach us about the search for habitable exoplanets and life beyond our Solar System.

    By mimicking extreme conditions in the lab, monitoring field sites, and applying advanced computation, our scientists illuminate what lies beneath—and beyond. Their research across geochemistry, geophysics, petrology, and mineralogy helps us understand how planets like ours form, evolve, and support life.

    Earth & Planets Laboratory Scientists

    Earth Science Updates

    This pile of lava flows is part of the Grande Ronde Basalt, the most voluminous formation of the Columbia River Basalt Group (Photo credit: Jennifer Kasbohm).

    This pile of lava flows is part of the Grande Ronde Basalt, the most voluminous formation of the Columbia River Basalt Group. (Photo credit: Jennifer Kasbohm).
    Probing the role of volcanism in ancient climate warming
    Get to know Jennifer Kasbohm, who joined the Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Laboratory this spring. She is a geochronologist specializes in a technique that produces the most accurate and precise ages for rocks and will soon be bringing this capability to a new lab at our Washington, D.C., campus.
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    Diana Roman conducting fieldwork at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

    Earth Science Research Areas

    Explore our core Earth science research areas:

    Geochemistry

    We combine lab experiments and fieldwork on rocks from around the world to understand how Earth’s crust formed and how materials cycle between the surface and interior. This work helps us piece together a chemical timeline of Earth’s early history.

    Geophysics & Geodynamics

    We study Earth’s interior and the forces that drive earthquakes, volcanoes, and our magnetic field. Our research reveals how the planet moves, evolves, and supports life at the surface.

    Experimental Petrology

    We use high-pressure equipment to recreate the extreme conditions found deep within the Earth. These experiments show how heat and pressure shape the structure and behavior of our planet’s interior.

    Mineralogy & Mineral Physics

    We investigate how minerals form and change using lab experiments, computer modeling, and artificial intelligence. By examining how minerals form, interact, and transform, we uncover stories written in Earth’s materials.

    Earth Science Glossary

    Curious about the terms used in our Earth science research? This glossary breaks down key concepts, tools, and phenomena that help us understand our planet—and others like it.

    Atom Glowing Isotope
    Diana Roman with a Quick Deploy Box (QDB) at a research site in Iceland
    Steven Shirey, Joe Boyd and Richard Carlson pose behind this unusually large xenolith

    Support Earth Science

    From building seismic arrays to supporting early career scientists, your donations have a direct impact on our research.

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