Why Bermuda? It's not the beaches (okay, not only the beaches). This island sits on top of a 30-million-year-old geological mystery!
Plate tectonics explains almost everything about Earth's surface: volcanoes, mountains, drifting continents. But Bermuda doesn't quite fit. It sits alone in the middle of an oceanic plate, its last eruption was 31 million years ago, and it probably should have sunk by now. What's the deal?
That's the big mystery postsoc Will Frazer built (Bermuda Earthquake and Structure Test) to investigate!
Got questions for Will? We'll break things down in the comments!
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Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory
We explore and discover our world and its place in the universe.
Scientists at the Carnegie Institution for Science's Earth and Planets Laboratory (formerly Department of Terrestrial Magnetism and Geophysical Lab) bring the perspective of several disciplines to broad questions about nature.
05/19/2026
Carnegie Science researchers are back in Bermuda to check on seismometers placed across the island earlier this year. The instruments are helping the team investigate a hidden geologic structure beneath Bermuda, while Carnegie Science communicators document the fieldwork, partnerships, and science behind the project.
Follow all week for a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into studying this beautiful and mysterious volcanic island.
Slide to meet the field team β
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William Frazer
Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth & Planets Laboratory
William Frazer is an observational seismologist who develops and applies methods to image the crust and mantle. He is particularly interested in the circulation of subducted lithosphere and volatiles within the Earthβs mantle.
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Diana Roman
H.O. Wood Chair of Seismology, Earth & Planets Laboratory
Volcanologist Diana Roman is interested in the mechanics of how magma moves through the Earthβs crust, and in the structure, evolution, and dynamics of volcanic conduit systems.
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Katy Cain
Communications Specialist, Carnegie Science
Katy is a science communicator and visual storyteller with a background in biological photography and science writing.
Navid Marvi
Multimedia Designer and Producer, Carnegie Science
Navid is a graphic designer and multimedia producer with years of experience translating complex science into compelling visuals.
04/21/2026
A seismic mystery lurks beneath Bermuda. Join us for a special as Carnegie postdoc William Frazer goes beyond the triangle to uncover the truth! πΊποΈπ΅οΈπͺ¨π€―
ποΈ April 30 @ 6:30 PM ET
π Earth & Planets Laboratory | Washington, D.C.
π bit.ly/geo-mystery
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