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![A diagram showing the age of Earth's crust below the Atlantic Ocean.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QHzAaBBbkvrqqLUe5vKdAX-320-80.png)
Sleeping subduction zone could awaken and form a new 'Ring of Fire' that swallows the Atlantic Ocean
By Sascha Pare published
A modeling study suggests a slumbering subduction zone below the Gibraltar Strait is active and could break into the Atlantic Ocean in 20 million years' time, giving birth to an Atlantic "Ring of Fire."
![Illustration of the Red Planet aka Mars against a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gyvJwtr8NxyGMMJ9T5Z5o3-320-80.jpg)
Every 2.4 million years, Mars tugs on Earth so hard it changes the ocean floor
By Emily Cooke published
A new geological study suggests that Mars' gravitational field pulls the Earth closer to the sun over cycles lasting millions of years, warming our climate.
![High angle aerial shot of an icy rocky terrain with mountains in the distance.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s8iZJiaBWb9foij36Zbz8i-320-80.jpg)
'More unzipping of the landscape': Arctic permafrost could crumble into rivers, unleashing devastating feedback loop
By Elyse Hauser published
Permafrost thaw could result in new rivers forming across the Arctic, potentially unleashing 35 million car journeys' worth of carbon every year.
![An image of an open oceans surface with crashing waves and a stormy sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gw5fiG9NWdDtRTeZLTVqRJ-320-80.jpg)
'We are approaching the tipping point': Marker for the collapse of key Atlantic current discovered
By Stephanie Pappas published
A vital Atlantic current that includes the Gulf Stream and keeps our climate in check may be giving off a warning sign of collapse.
![An underwater cave leading to a canyon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wd5u7G73bD8i9G7GFW9wP6-320-80.jpg)
Colossal underwater canyon discovered near seamount deep in the Mediterranean Sea
By Sascha Pare published
Researchers have discovered a 33,000-foot-wide (10 kilometers) underwater canyon that was carved out of the Mediterranean seabed shortly before the sea dried up around 6 million years ago.
![A multicolor sonar map of a large seamount](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fMLKvqgUbaNvyXJB3bzMUo-320-80.jpg)
City-size seamount triple the height of world's tallest building discovered via gravitational anomalies
By Harry Baker published
Researchers found and mapped four seamounts in the deep sea off the coast of Peru and Chile. The tallest of these new peaks rises around 1.5 miles above the seafloor.
![A red fish swims in front of white corals in the deep sea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w2qFL4endAXSsK7mGEuhNg-320-80.jpg)
World's largest deep-sea coral reef found lurking beneath the Gulf Stream 'right on the doorstep' of US coast
By Harry Baker published
A new deep-sea mapping project has revealed near-continuous reefs of cold-water corals spanning an area the size of Vermont just off the southeast U.S. coastline.
![A sonar image of seamounts at the bottom of the ocean.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qHavKeGiyL9r2qfkB9QQxb-320-80.jpg)
10 mind-boggling deep sea discoveries in 2023
By Harry Baker published
Scientists have made some intriguing discoveries exploring the deep sea this year. Here are some of our favorites.
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