earth and environmental sciences
Postdoctoral research fellow wins early-career award from International Association of Sedimentologists
May. 3, 2021—Elizabeth Chamberlain, a U.S. National Science Foundation postdoctoral research fellow in earth and environmental sciences, has been awarded the 2021 Dr. Richard Faas Research Prize by the International Association of Sedimentologists.
Diet of Homotherium sabertooth cat included baby mammoths, according to new research
Apr. 15, 2021—Chemical signatures and microscopic wear patterns in dental fossils show that the diet of sabertooth cats included mammoths.
Vanderbilt research shows how polar bears maintained highly specialized diets during periods of Arctic warming—until now
Apr. 1, 2021—Dental analysis from Larisa DeSantis shows that polar bears may not be able to compete for food sources as their environment melts away.
Evidence suggests climate whiplash may have more extremes in store for California
Feb. 24, 2021—Vanderbilt paleoclimatologists deploy first calcium isotope analysis of North American stalagmite to show how past weather extremes may predict events in California.
Analysis of ancient teeth reveal clues about how sociopolitical systems grow
Dec. 15, 2020—Isotope analysis of ancient Peruvian teeth gives anthropologists a clearer image of how cooperating societies function.
NASA-funded project uses images from space to study underwater volcanoes
Nov. 18, 2020—Interdisciplinary Earth scientists explore how little-understood underwater volcanoes affect the atmosphere.
Vanderbilt paleontologists host National Fossil Day event for kids Oct. 10
Oct. 2, 2020—Kids and lifelong learners can hear directly from paleontologists about bizarre creatures of the past during a free virtual National Fossil Day event on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. CT. Registration is required.
Vanderbilt scientists awarded NSF grant to examine the future of international shipping in the Arctic Ocean
Sep. 11, 2020—Comparing risk of shipping along the Arctic and the Suez Canal through 2100 scientists weigh factors including climate change in their calculations.
Geochemical analysis from the last ice age may hold clues for future climate change and preparedness strategies
Jul. 14, 2020—Paleoclimatologist Jessica Oster uses geological clues from stalagmites to explore implications for future climate change.
International collaboration draws new conclusions about ‘convergent evolution’ of saber-tooth cats
Jun. 26, 2020—International collaboration shows that marsupial saber-tooth cats were more closely related to possums than fearsome predators.
Unexpected mammal provides insight into the lives of ancient hominins
Jun. 11, 2020—Paleontologist and associate professor of biological sciences Larisa DeSantis finds answers about early hominin diets are with an unrelated group of mammals—tapirs.
Virtual Gatherings: Grad student in Earth & Environmental Sciences keeps group hangouts on schedule
Apr. 10, 2020—When COVID-19 threw a wrench in their plans for meeting up in person, graduate students in Earth and Environmental Sciences decided to take their weekly hangout online.