Scientists Are Using Tiny Pockets of Gas to Reveal the History of the Earth
By Darren Orf
Published on March 19, 2026.
Scientists are using krypton gas, which forms when cosmic rays hit zircons lying on Earth’s surface, to study how ancient coastlines and landscapes changed in Earth‘s past. The amount of gas inside these minerals can tell scientists how long they were buried before being buried. This research could help scientists understand how sea levels change and how deep-seated Earth movements influence landscapes. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It also helps scientists predict how climate and tectonic forces can control landscapes' evolution.
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