Scientists Solve Mystery of River That Flows Uphill

A river that appears to defy gravity has puzzled scientists for decades, but new research finally explains the impossible feat.

The Green River starts in Wyoming and joins the Colorado River in Utah, but it does something unusual along the way. When the river formed millions of years ago, it carved straight through the Uinta Mountains instead of taking the easier path around them.

Geologists now believe they've cracked the case. A phenomenon called "lithospheric drip" pulled the mountains downward as the river was forming, making it easier for water to carve its path through the rock. The mountains later rebounded upward, creating the dramatic landscape visitors see today.

The discovery came as part of a broader week of underground breakthroughs. Scientists also found a massive blob of solid rock and iron beneath Hawaii that could date back to Earth's earliest days. This ancient relic may be fueling the islands' famous volcanic activity.

In Australia's Northern Territory, researchers discovered an unusual dent in Earth's magnetic field. The finding could help locate valuable resources hidden beneath the surface.

Another team suggested that Earth's missing lighter elements might be trapped inside our planet's solid inner core. Scientists have long wondered where these elements went during Earth's formation.

The Bright Side

These discoveries show how much we still have to learn about the planet beneath our feet. Technologies that can peer deep into Earth's structure are revealing secrets that have been hidden for millions of years.

The research also demonstrates how natural forces work on timescales far beyond human lifetimes. Mountains rise and fall, rivers carve impossible paths, and ancient blobs of rock continue influencing volcanic islands today.

Understanding these deep Earth processes helps scientists predict natural disasters and find resources. The magnetic field research in Australia could lead to new mining opportunities, while volcano studies keep island communities safer.

Every answer about our planet's interior opens up new questions worth exploring.