Follow a Carnegie Scientist Into the Bermuda Triangle’s Geologic Mysteries

Carnegie Scientist Solving Bermuda Triangle Mysteries (Photo – Carnegie Science)

A long‑standing geological puzzle beneath the island of Bermuda is getting fresh attention, thanks to new research led by Carnegie Science Postdoctoral Fellow William Frazer.

By Melanie Hooks

William Frazer’s work, which probes a mysterious absence deep below the island, will be the focus of an upcoming talk in Carnegie’s Neighborhood Lecture Series on Thursday, April 30, at 3:30 pm. The event will be held live in Washington, D.C., with a simultaneous online broadcast, and is free to the public.

A Real‑World Mystery Beneath a Legendary Island

Bermuda has long been wrapped in myth, with tales of the Bermuda Triangle fueling decades of speculation. But beyond the folklore lies a genuine scientific anomaly. According to plate tectonics, oceanic islands such as Bermuda and Hawaii should form above massive plumes of hot rock rising from the base of Earth’s mantle. These plumes feed volcanic activity that builds islands over millions of years.

Yet scientists have never identified such a plume beneath Bermuda. Its absence has baffled researchers and challenged conventional models of how islands form.

Frazer’s lecture will explore how he is using Carnegie’s custom‑built portable seismometers—high‑precision instruments designed to detect subtle vibrations within the Earth—to map the crust and mantle beneath Bermuda. His findings may finally clarify what drives the island’s unusual geologic origins.

About the Scientist Behind the Search

William Frazer is an observational seismologist at Carnegie’s Earth & Planets Laboratory. His research focuses on imaging Earth’s interior, particularly the movement of subducted lithosphere and volatiles—materials like water and carbon—circulating through the mantle.

Frazer collaborates closely with Staff Scientist Diana Roman to investigate how these volatile cycles operate on both regional and global scales. Their work contributes to a deeper understanding of Earth’s internal dynamics and the forces that shape its surface.

Frazer’s upcoming lecture promises to shed new light on one of the Atlantic’s most intriguing geological mysteries, offering the public a rare window into cutting‑edge Earth science research.

Bermuda Triangle: A Geologic Mystery Talk
Thursday, April 30, 2026
3:00 pm PST
Location
Virtual Event
Sign up online here.