Earth & Planetary Sciences

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon, and in the last five decades since that historic event, research and exploration into all things lunar have not waned. Focusing on...

The Sustainable Space Research Grand Challenge (SSR_GC) team has been awarded the 2025 New Mexico Excellence in STEM Award (STEMYS) in Higher Education by the New Mexico Tech Engagement Office of the Air Force Research Laboratory. The STEMYS celebrate...

Jason Moore, associate professor and chair of the Honors College at The University of New Mexico, is set to lead a team of researchers and students back to the Paraguayan Chaco in 2025 as part of the groundbreaking “Future Fossils on Fans” project. This...

A Martian landmark now bears the name of University of New Mexico planetary scientist Horton E. Newsom, whose decades of research helped expand humanity’s understanding of the red planet. “Horton Newsom Point,” a feature recently designated by NASA...

A team of geoscientists led by The University of New Mexico researchers has revealed an unprecedented look inside Yellowstone National Park’s massive underground magma system. Using cutting-edge seismic imaging, the team identified a sharply defined,...

Calling all those interested in environmental science! The Earth and Planetary Sciences department is hosting a free, week-long program that will introduce participants to Earth science data analysis and careers in a fun, inclusive, collaborative...

As NASA prepares for a new era of lunar exploration, University of New Mexico planetary scientist Charles “Chip” Shearer will explain how future missions hope to complete scientific goals during the Apollo era. Shearer is a member of the Sustainable...

It’s (Probably Not) Rocket Science (IPNRS), the podcast, says we may need to carve a few years off the Grand Canyon's age after the Arizona National Park was found to be younger than previously thought. This revelation challenges long-held assumptions...

The Moon has both a South and North Pole, but just how cold are they? For context, Antarctica's coastal temperatures average around 14°F (-10°C), while the interior drops to -76°F (-60°C), making Earth's South Pole one of the coldest places on the...

The University of New Mexico hosted Space Day recently to highlight important discoveries, advertise internships, and provide fun experiences - like walking on the planet Mars - for attendees to experience. The event, which was part of UNM’s Research &...