Science Below the Surface

We rarely see it, but the dirt and rocks below our feet and the water in our lakes and oceans are teaming with life and geologic activity. Take a dive underground and underwater to see what’s going on below the surface.

Maximizing the Sparkle of a Diamond

by Dana Simmons | Science Below the Surface

Flashes of fiery light. Infinite sparkles. The hardest rock on the scale. A traditional symbol of both love and status. […]

Deep Ocean or Deep Freeze: How Animals Have Evolved to Survive

by Ellis Moloney | Science Below the Surface

Animals are pretty remarkable – we can find them in virtually every environment on Earth, from the perpetually frozen hallows […]

Did Life Begin in the Oceans?

by Ellis Moloney | Science Below the Surface, Science of the Outdoors

The age-old question, “how did life begin?” has baffled humans for centuries. Many scholars have theorized about how life began, […]

Diatoms: The Cheat Sheet for Studying Our Waterways

by Brittany Maule | Science Below the Surface

If you head outside and you walk to a freshwater river, stream, or lake, you will probably find some rocks […]

Living Fossils Inspire Cures for Disease

by Camila Crnkovic | Science Below the Surface, Science of the Outdoors

Long before humans, dinosaurs, or plants, some of the first creatures on Earth were primitive single-celled organisms that survived exclusively […]

Two women representing the Illinois Science Council at an event.

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