This paper provides a timely, state-of-the-art overview of geophysical measurements in Antarctica assembled by a broad community of Antarctic scientists, advancing our understanding of solid-Earth processes and their impact on the cryosphere. The societal relevance of Antarctic observations is profound: the ongoing mass loss of the Antarctic Ice Sheet contributes to global-mean sea-level rise at 0.4 mm/yr. To generate reliable sea-level projections for the future, reviews like this manuscript are essential. The authors make a case for science-driven, multidisciplinary geophysical observations in combination with improved modelling in order to develop precise and reliable projections for Antarctica’s future mass change and associated contribution to sea-level change at both regional and global scales.

This paper provides a timely, state-of-the-art overview of geophysical measurements in Antarctica assembled by a broad community of Antarctic scientists, advancing our understanding of solid-Earth processes and their impact on the cryosphere. The societal relevance of Antarctic observations is profound: the ongoing mass loss of the Antarctic Ice Sheet contributes to global-mean sea-level rise at 0.4 mm/yr. To generate reliable sea-level projections for the future, reviews like this manuscript are essential. The authors make a case for science-driven, multidisciplinary geophysical observations in combination with improved modelling in order to develop precise and reliable projections for Antarctica’s future mass change and associated contribution to sea-level change at both regional and global scales.

Solid Earth is excited to announce the publication of the latest 2025 update of the World Stress Map (WSM) Project, marking the 40th anniversary of this ongoing collaboration between academia and industry. The WSM offers a global compilation of the present-day crustal stress field, integrating a broad range of measurement techniques. This dataset continues to serve as a valuable resource for researchers in geodynamics, tectonics, geomechanics, seismic hazards, structural geology, and resource engineering. The WSM is thus an indispensable resource that informs and impacts a global science community. As such, this latest iteration is worthy of being a highlighted paper in our journal.

The manuscript delivers a predictive, integrated model for fractures in truly deep/ultra-deep tight sandstones combining cores, thin sections, acoustic-emission tests, and well logs, linking micro- to reservoir-scale fracture evidence. It quantifies sedimentary controls, brindging rock mechanics, structural geology and stratigraphy/sedimentology. It also delivers clear rules and implementation, ensuring transferability, which is rather important for such a rare case study.

In curling – one of the 2026 Winter Olympic sports - stones are slid on ice and made to collide along a circumferential striking band. Each stone experiences thousands of impacts per season, over a lifespan of 10–15 years before refurbishment. This provides a unique opportunity to investigate fatigue and damage accumulation under cyclic loading, which is exactly what this unconventional study of rock physics and curling does.

This manuscript explores an important aspect of CCS, the potential interaction with and consequences of CO2-saturated solution with the host rock. In a series of well-executed experiments it is shown that the effects are, at elevated temperatures, especially severe in feldspars, with potentially significant geomechanical and geochemical implications.