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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

Louis Jacobs, Earth Sciences and paleontologist Anthony Fiorillo announced the discovery of a new species of ancient mammal.

Huffington Post Originally Posted: October 8, 2015 Scientists have discovered a previously unknown creature — and it ate in a unique way that hasn’t been seen before. The extinct species, which belonged to a group of aquatic mammals called Desmostylia that lived across the North Pacific some 23 million years ago, hoovered up vegetation like […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

Louis Jacobs, Earth Sciences, New fossils intensify mystery of short-lived, toothy mammal found in ancient North Pacific

EurekaAlert.org Originally Posted: October 6, 2015 The identification of a new species belonging to the marine mammal group Desmostylia has intensified the rare animal’s brief mysterious journey through prehistoric time, finds a new study. A big, hippo-sized animal with a long snout and tusks — the new species, 23 million years old, has a unique […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

Palaeobotanist Bonnie Jacobs spent 15 years studying ancient plants to help predict future climate change

SMU NEWS Originally Posted: September 16, 2015 Professor recounts adventure and discovery in Ethiopia DALLAS (SMU) – In the movies, the adventure begins when the sinister industrialist abducts Harrison Ford to plan a hunt for lost treasure. For Bonnie Jacobs, it started with a phone ring. In the late summer of 2000, the SMU palaeobotanist […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

“SMU’s seismology team stands by its research and does not comment on public policy.”

Dallas Morning News Originally Posted: September 10, 2015 Five months ago geologists from Southern Methodist University identified two wells used to store wastewater from natural gas drilling as the likely cause of a series of earthquakes around the North Texas town of Azle in late 2013. Now the Texas Railroad Commission is questioning whether they […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

Dinosaur-hunting: A Famous Fossil Safari

Dallas Zoo Originally Posted: August 14, 2015 Just east of Matlock Road in Mansfield, Texas, a small, seemingly unremarkable plot of land overlooks a new shopping center. Graded for construction, the upturned earth impregnated with shale and red clay resembles so many other future building sites across the booming Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Yet this spring, […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

Mystery Booms Plaguing California Residents Finally Have a Source

Science World Report Originally Posted: August 8, 2015 Mysterious booms have plagued the residents of El Dorado County in California for some time now. While some have speculated what the cause of these booms has been, it’s remained a mystery until now. Like Us on Facebook Residents have reported that the booms aren’t as crisp […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

Heather DeShon, Earth Sciences, Inspectors check for damage to shaken North Texas bridges

The Eagle Originally Posted: July 30, 2015 FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — When a big earthquake hits, the world often sees horrific images of collapsed bridges. In 1989, during a 6.9-magnitude quake in the San Francisco area, the double-deck Nimitz Freeway pancaked, killing 42 people. Fifty-foot sections of the Bay Bridge also collapsed, killing a […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Events Faculty News

Success! Power Plays: Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields, the 2015 Conference Summary:

The SMU Geothermal Lab recently hosted its 7th international energy conference Power Plays:Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields. Along with discussion on generating geothermal energy from oil and gas fields, topics at this year’s event included desalination, flare gas and induced seismicity. A summary of the presentations is available at http://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Academics/Programs/GeothermalLab/Conference/PastPresentations. Read a summery of […]

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Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

State researchers not ready to blame quake on injection wells

Weatherford Democrat Originally Posted: June 17, 2015 AUSTIN – Disposal wells that catch the high-pressure byproducts of natural gas drilling cannot conclusively be blamed for an earthquake near Fort Worth this spring, according to state experts. The Railroad Commission of Texas tested five disposal wells in Johnson County after a 4.0 magnitude temblor on May […]

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Dedman College Research Earth Sciences Faculty News

Heather DeShon, Earth Sciences, Texas regulators find no evidence that disposal wells caused Johnson Co. quake

Texas Tribune Originally Posted: June 12, 2015 Regulators: No Evidence Wells Caused 4.0 Quake After wrapping up a round of testing, Texas regulators say they have found no evidence that injecting oilfield waste into five disposal wells triggered the largest recorded earthquake in North Texas’ history. “At this time, there is no conclusive evidence the […]