Including Original "Paul H. Letters" Copyright © 1996-2024 Paul V. Heinrich / website © 1996-2024 Dirk Ross - All rights reserved.



Wednesday 27 December 2017

New clues about Earth’s most elusive impact crater

New clues about Earth’s most elusive impact crater

Cavosie, A.J., N.E. Timms, T.M. Erickson, and C. Koeberl, 2017,
New clues from Earth’s most elusive impact crater: Evidence
of reidite in Australasian tektites from Thailand. Geology
Published: December 20, 2017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/G39711.1
https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article-abstract/525531/new-clues-from-earth-s-most-elusive-impact-crater?

" Here we report new evidence of a rare high-pressure
phase in Australasian tektites that further constrains
the location of the source crater. The former presence
of reidite, a high-pressure polymorph of zircon, was
detected in granular zircon grains within Muong
Nong–type tektites from Thailand."

"The data presented here place further constraints on the
distribution of high-pressure phases in Australasian tektites,
including coesite and now reidite, to an area centered over
Southeast Asia, which appears to be the most likely location
of the source crater."

Yours,

Paul H.

Monday 25 December 2017

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone from Louisiana.
Yours,
Paul H.

Monday 18 December 2017

Did Meteorites Help Start Life ?

Did Meteorites Help Start Life ?

Evidence suggests life on Earth started after meteorites splashed into warm little ponds, PhysOrg, October 2, 2017
https://phys.org/news/2017-10-evidence-life-earth-meteorites-splashed.html

How did Life Start? Meteorites crashing into Darwin's Little Warm Ponds May Have been Trigger, by Megham Bartels, Newsweek.
http://www.newsweek.com/2017/10/27/how-did-life-start-meteorites-crashing-darwins-warm-little-ponds-was-possible-675655.html

The paper is:

Pearce, B.K., Pudritz, R.E., Semenov, D.A. and Henning, T.K., 2017. Origin of the RNA world: The fate of nucleobases in warm little ponds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 114 no. 43, pp. 11327-11332
http://www.pnas.org/content/114/43/11327 https://arxiv.org/pdf/1710.00434.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Monday 31 July 2017

Signal may be from first 'Exomoon'

Signal may be from first 'Exomoon'

Signal may be from first 'exomoon' By Paul Rincon
BBC News, Science & Environment, July 27, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40741545

The paper is:

Teachey, A., D.M. Kipping, and A.R. Schmitt, 2017,
HEK VI: On the Dearth of Galilean Analogs in Kepler
and the Exomoon Candidate Kepler-1625b I
Submitted on 26 Jul 2017, arXiv:1707.08563 [astro-ph.EP]
https://arxiv.org/abs/1707.08563

Hunt for Exomoons with Kepler
http://hek.astro.columbia.edu/

An article, totally unrelated to astronomy, that I
found interesting nevertheless is:

Who was she? A DNA Test Only Opened New Mysteries.
How Alice Collins Plebuch's foray into “recreational
genomics” upended a family tree. The Washington Post,
By Libby Copeland, July 27, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/she-thought-she-was-irish-until-a-dna-test-opened-a-100-year-old-mystery/

Yours,

Paul H.

Saturday 29 July 2017

New Asteroid Detected Only After It Passes 76,000 miles from Earth

New Asteroid Detected Only After It Passes 76,000 miles from Earth

Close shave from an undetected asteroid
By Eddie Irizarry in SPACE | July 25, 2017
http://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2017-oo1-close-pass-undetected

Scientists spot a new asteroid the size of a passenger plane (but only three days After
it passed just 76,000 miles from Earth)
By Cheyenne McDonald, Daily Mail, July 27, 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4737450/Phew-Scientists-spot-asteroid-flew-past-Earth.html

Related news article is:

Friday 28 July 2017

Warning: Counterfeit Solar-eclipse Glasses Being Sold

Warning: Counterfeit Solar-eclipse Glasses Being Sold

People, who are using eclipse glasses to view the upcoming eclipse, need to be careful about counterfeit eclipse glasses.

Solar-eclipse fever means counterfeit glasses are flooding Amazon’s market Quartz, by Elijah Wolfson, July 27, 2107
https://qz.com/1040159/solar-eclipse-glasses-for-sale-on-amazon-may-not-meet-nasa-safety-recommendations/

Are Eclipse Goggles a Scam?
They’re essential for anyone who wants a direct view of the solar action—but knockoffs are dangerous, NASA warns.
By Adreinne LaFrance, The Atlantic, July 20, 2017
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/07/are-eclipse-goggles-a-scam/534357/

Eclipse Eyeglass Safety: Don’t be Blindsided!
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/safe_glasses_flyer.pdf

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov

Yours,

Paul H.

Monday 24 July 2017

Enormous Impact on Mars Could Have Created Mysterious Group of Asteroids

Enormous Impact on Mars Could Have Created Mysterious Group of Asteroids

Enormous Impact on Mars Could Have Created Mysterious Group of Asteroids. The Mars trojans
may show a giant impact in its past. Popular Mechanics
http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/news/a27319/enormous-asteroid-impact-mars-trojan-asteroids/

the paper is:

Polishook, D., S. A. Jacobson, A. Morbidelli and
O. Aharonson, 2017, A Martian origin for the Mars
Trojan asteroids Nature Astronomy 1, Article
number: 0179 (2017)
doi:10.1038/s41550-017-0179
http://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-017-0179

Yours,

Paul H.



New Law Provides Legal Framework for Asteroid Mining

New Law Provides Legal Framework for Asteroid Mining

New law paves way for companies to mine asteroids
Mike Wehner, BGR July 16, 2017
http://bgr.com/2017/07/16/space-mining-asteroid-law/

Luxembourg is the First Nation to offer Legal Framework for
Space Resources Utilization. Space Resources.LU, July 13, 2017
http://www.spaceresources.public.lu/en/actualites/2017/Luxembourg-is-the-first-European-nation-to-offer-a-legal-framework-for-space-resources-utilization.html

Note: this may or may not be hype. I am not enough of a
lawyer to answer this question. So Caveat emptor on the
above articles

Yours,

Paul H.

Friday 14 July 2017

A Few Quite Interesting 2017 Extended Conference Abstracts

A Few Quite Interesting 2017 Extended Conference Abstracts

Hi,

Below are some extended conference abstracts that I found quite interesting. Hopefully, there are some papers that are in preparation for publication to go with them.

Carling, P., Songtham, W., Tada, R., Tada, T. and Duangkrayon,
J., 2017, April. Effect of a Quaternary Meteoroid Impact in Indo-
China on the Surface Sedimentary Record. In EGU General
Assembly Conference Abstracts (Vol. 19, p. 2337).
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2017/EGU2017-2337.pdf
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017EGUGA..19.2337C

Santa Catharina, A., Kneller, B.C., Charao Marques,
J., McArthur, A.D., Kane, I.A. and Silvestre Cevallos
Ferriz, S.R., 2017, Evidence for a second impactor at
the K-Pg Boundary in Baja California, Mexico. In EGU
General Assembly Conference Abstracts (Vol. 19, p. 19405).
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2017/EGU2017-19405.pdf
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017EGUGA..1919405S

Wasson, J.T., 2017, March. A Thermal-Plume Origin of
Layered and Splash-Form Tektites and Libyan Desert
Glass. In Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Vol. 48).
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 9 July 2017

1847 Marion Meteorite Fall, Iowa

1847 Marion Meteorite Fall, Iowa

Old Gold: SUI began with a bang
Upcoming solar eclipse prompts UI archivist to revisit story of 1847 meteorite crash landing
David McCartney, Iowa Now, June 27,2017
https://now.uiowa.edu/2017/06/old-gold-sui-began-bang

Yours,

Paul H.

Saturday 8 July 2017

Why Morocco Loves its Meteorites (And Meteorite News From Sudan)

Why Morocco Loves its Meteorites (And Meteorite News From Sudan)

Why Morocco loves its meteorites
Why have more space rocks been recovered in Morocco than in other countries of a similar size?
It’s a great question for the world’s Asteroid Day
New Scientist, June 30, 2017

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2139323-why-morocco-loves-its-meteorites/

To save messages, an unrelated meteorite news article from Sudan is:

Scientists collect fresh meteorites fallen in Sudan’s White Nile State
Sudan Tribune, June 26, 2017
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article62834

Yours,
Paul H.

Wednesday 5 July 2017

How Frogs Benefited From The Dinosaurs' Extinction

How Frogs Benefited From The Dinosaurs' Extinction


How Frogs Benefited From The Dinosaurs' Extinction
Facebook. The two-Way, NPR, July 3, 2017
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/03/535383841/how-frogs-benefited-from-the-dinosaurs-extinction

Extinction event that wiped out dinosaurs cleared way for frogs, Florida Museum of Natural History, July 3, 2017
https://phys.org/news/2017-07-extinction-event-dinosaurs-frogs.html

The paper is:

Yan-Jie Feng, David C. Blackburn, Dan Liang, David M. Hillis, David B. Wake, David C. Cannatella, and Peng Zhang, 2017, Phylogenomics reveals rapid, simultaneous diversification of three major clades of Gondwanan frogs at the Cretaceous –Paleogene boundary PNAS 2017 : 1704632114v1-201704632.
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/06/26/1704632114

Yours,

Paul H.

Tuesday 4 July 2017

New Paper About Asteroid Impact Hazards for Humans

New Paper About Asteroid Impact Hazards for Humans

If you die via asteroid, this is how it will happen
It’s incredibly unlikely. But what if?
by Brian Resnick July 3, 2017
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/3/15903154/asteroid-death-one-chart

The paper is;
Rumpf, C. M., H. G. Lewis, and P. M. Atkinson (2017), Asteroid impact effects and their
immediate hazards for human populations,
Geophysical Research Letters, 44, 3433–3440, doi:10.1002/2017GL073191.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL073191/full

PDF file at: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1703.07592.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Friday 23 June 2017

Volcanoes, Not Impacts, Caused End Triassic Mass Extinction

Volcanoes, Not Impacts, Caused End Triassic Mass Extinction

Volcanic eruptions triggered dawn of the dinosaurs (Huge pulses of volcanic activity are likely to have
played a key role in triggering the end Triassic mass extinction, which set the scene for the rise and age
of the dinosaurs, new Oxford University research has found.)
http://www.heritagedaily.com/2017/06/volcanic-eruptions-triggered-dawn-dinosaurs/115652

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170619151530.htm

Dinosaurs got an evolutionary assist from huge volcanic eruptions by Mary Beth Griggs Popular Science
http://www.popsci.com/volcanic-eruptions-dinosaur-evolution

The paper is:
Lawrence M. E. Percival, Micha Ruhl, Stephen P. Hesselbo, Hugh C. Jenkyns, Tamsin A. Mather, and
Jessica H. Whiteside. Mercury evidence for pulsed volcanism during the end-Triassic mass extinction. PNAS, June 2017 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1705378114
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/06/13/1705378114

Unrelated article about volcanoes are:

Volcanic crystals give a new view of magma
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-volcanic-crystals-view-magma.html

and

Tracking the buildup to volcanic eruptions
University of Arizona, June 15, 2017
https://asunow.asu.edu/20170615-discoveries-asu-scientists-tracking-buildup-volcanic-eruptions

Crystals once deep inside a volcano offer new view of magma, eruption timing (Volcanologists are gaining a better understanding of what’s going on inside the magma reservoir that lies below New Zealand’s Mount Tarawera volcano. They’re finding a colder, more solid place than they thought, according to research published today in the journal Science.)
http://www.heritagedaily.com/2017/06/crystals-deep-inside-volcano-offer-new-view-magma-eruption-timing/115558

The paper is;
Rubin, A.E., Cooper, K.M., Till, C.B., Kent, A.J., Costa, F., Bose, M., Gravley, D., Deering, C. and
Cole, J., 2017. Rapid cooling and cold storage in a silicic magma reservoir recorded in individual
crystals. Science, 356(6343), pp.1154-1156. science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.aam8720
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/356/6343/1154

Yours,

Paul H.

Friday 9 June 2017

A volcanic trigger for the Late Ordovician mass extinction?

A volcanic trigger for the Late Ordovician mass extinction?

Interesting open access paper on mass extinctions.

Jones, D. S., A. M. Martini, D. A. Fike, and K. Kaiho, 2017,
A volcanic trigger for the Late Ordovician mass extinction?
Mercury data from south China and Laurentia. Geology v. 45; no. 7; p. 631–634

http://geology.geoscienceworld.org.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/content/45/7/631

http://geology.geoscienceworld.org.libezp.lib.lsu.edu/content/45/7

Yours,

Paul H.

Thursday 8 June 2017

Monday 5 June 2017

Massive Craters formed by Methane Blow-outs

Massive Craters formed by Methane Blow-outs

Massive craters formed by methane blow-outs from
the Arctic sea floor, June 1, 2017

https://phys.org/news/2017-06-massive-craters-methane-blow-outs-arctic.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170601151803.htm

the paper is;

K. Andreassen, A. Hubbard, M. Winsborrow, H. Patton, S. Vadakkepuliyambatta, A. Plaza-Faverola, E. Gudlaugsson, P. Serov, A. Deryabin, R. Mattingsdal, J. Mienert, and S. Bünz,
2017, Massive blow-out craters formed by hydrate-controlled methane expulsion from the Arctic seafloor. Science. Vol. 356, Issue 6341, pp. 948-953 DOI: 10.1126/science.aal4500

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/356/6341/948

Another paper is:

Long, D., Lammers, S. and Linke, P., 1998. Possible hydrate mounds within large sea-floor craters in the Barents Sea.Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 137(1), pp.223-237.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269630462_Possible_hydrate_mounds_within_large_sea-floor_craters_in_the_Barents_Sea

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/P_Linke/publications/6

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 4 June 2017

Is the Falkland Islands Basin an Enormous Impact Structure ?

Is the Falkland Islands Basin an Enormous Impact Structure ?

Falkland Islands basin shows signs of being among world's
largest craters, New York University, May 4, 2017
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170504131658.htm

Falkland Islands basin shows signs of being among world's
largest craters, Engineering, Science and Technology Research
New York University, May 4, 2017
http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2017/may/falkland-islands-basin-shows-signs-of-being-among-worlds-largest.html

The paper is:

Rocca, M.C., Rampino, M.R. and Báez Presser, J.L., 2017.
Geophysical evidence for a large impact structure on the
Falkland (Malvinas) Plateau. Terra Nova.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ter.12269/abstract

Another paper is:

Rocca, M. C. L., & Baez Presser, J. L., 2015. A possible new very
large impact structure in Islas Malvinas. Historia Natural,
Tercera Serie, 5, 121–133.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283123311_A_POSSIBLE_NEW_VERY_LARGE_IMPACT_STRUCTURE_IN_MALVINAS_ISLANDS

Yours,

Paul H.

Friday 2 June 2017

Recent Chapter About Corossol Impact Structure, Gulf of St Lawrence, eastern Canada

Recent Chapter About Corossol Impact Structure, Gulf of St Lawrence, eastern Canada

Lajeunesse, P., Duchesne, M.J., St-Onge, G., Locat, J., Higgins, M., Sanfacon, R. and Ortiz, J., 2016. The Corossol Structure: a glaciated crater of possible impact origin in the northwestern Gulf of St Lawrence, eastern Canada.
Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 46(1), pp.127-128.

PDF file:
http://www.ismer.ca/IMG/pdf/lajeunesse_et_al_2016_corossol_atlas.pdf

Abstract:
http://mem.lyellcollection.org/content/46/1/127.short

Yours,
Paul H.

"The past is never dead. It's not even past."
William Faulkner, Act 1, Scene III, Requiem for a Nun (1951)

Thursday 18 May 2017

The Types of Uniformitarianism

The Types of Uniformitarianism

Below is a paper about the types of Uniformitarianism.

Romano, M., 2015. Reviewing the term uniformitarianism in modern Earth sciences. Earth-Science Reviews, 148, pp. 65-76.
PDF file:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277090082_Reviewing_the_term_uniformitarianism_in_modern_Earth_sciences

http://www.academia.edu/12884807/Reviewing_the_term_uniformitarianism_in_modern_Earth_sciences
Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825215000938

Another paper is:
Phillips, J., 2012. Storytelling in earth sciences: The eight basic plots. Earth-Science Reviews, 115(3), pp. 153-162.
Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012825212001249

PDF file:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jonathan_Phillips4/publication/248394618_Storytelling_in_Earth_sciences_The_eight_basic_plots/links/02e7e51df3bff629d5000000.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Prospecting for Possible Impact Structures Using Google Earth

Prospecting for Possible Impact Structures Using Google Earth

Hi,
A paper about an attempt to use Google Earth to hunt for impact craters is:

Chaabout, S., Aoudjehane, H.C., Reimold, W.U., Baratoux, D. and Youbi, N., 2015. Prospecting for possible impact structures in Morocco. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 112, pp.339-352.

PDF file:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/S_Chaabout/publication/281596476_Prospecting_For_Possible_Impact_Structures_In_Morocco/links/563a484908aeed0531dcae86.pdf

Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1464343X15300364

A related paper about Google Earth and geology is:

Lisle, Richard J. Google Earth: a new geological resource. Geology today, 2006, vol. 22, no 1, p. 29 -32.

PDF file:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Lisle/publication/229485742_Google_Earth_A_new_geological_resource/links/54782d590cf205d1687ca36d/Google-Earth-A-new-geological-resource.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Wednesday 17 May 2017

More Comments by Graham Hancock About Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis

More Comments by Graham Hancock About Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis


Popular writer and fringe archaeologist Graham Hancock has written a new and extended commentary
about the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis. He is quite unhappy about he believes that he and other proponents of this hypothesis have been treated by so-called “gradualists” whoever they are, within the scientific community. The commentary is at:

Why Science Should Cherish Its Rebels by Graham Hancock

https://grahamhancock.com/hancockg17/



Commentary by Jason Calavito on Hancock’s comments can be found at:



In Major New Article, Graham Hancock Repeats Previous Anti-Scientist Claims, Defends the Search for Atlantis
http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/in-major-new-article-graham-hancock-repeats-previous-anti-scientist-claims-defends-the-search-for-atlantis

http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog -- http://www.jasoncolavito.com

Related comments by Jason Calavito can be found in:

Academic Journal Runs Article Claiming Göbekli Tepe Records Comet Strike, Misses Fact That Article Is Based on Speculative Andrew Collins Book 4/22/2017
http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/academic-journal-runs-article-claiming-gobekli-tepe-records-comet-strike-misses-fact-that-article-is-based-on-speculative-andrew-collins-book

http://www.jasoncolavito.com/apps/search?q=Dryas

and

Orbiting the Graham Hancock Universe: "Archaeological Fantasies" Explores Gobekli Tepe and Rebecca Bradley Discusses Gunung Padang, 5/16/2017
http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/orbiting-the-graham-hancock-universe-archaeological-fantasies-explores-gobekli-tepe-and-rebecca-bradley-discusses-gunung-padang

Göbekli Tepe, Bad Fox, No Comet - Episode 73
https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archyfantasies/73


Contrary to what Mr. Hancock seems to believe, neocatastrophism has become popular among
geologists and scientists as discussed in:

Marriner, N., Morhange, C. and Skrimshire, S., 2010. Geoscience meets the four horsemen?: Tracking the rise of neocatastrophism. Global and Planetary Change, 74(1), pp.43-48.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222537265_Geoscience_meets_the_four_horsemen_Tracking_the_rise_of_neocatastrophism

One item that Jason Calavito did not mention in his commentaries, is that Mr. Hancock does not appreciate the significance of recent research about the chronology of the Missoula (Spokane) Floods and older “Ancient Cataclysmic Floods.” The identification of numerous Missoula Floods has nothing to do with any imaginary conspiracy by an equally imaginary cabal of nameless “gradualists.” Rather the recognition is based upon multiple, unconformity-bounded sets of flood deposits. These flood deposits are separated subaerial exposure surfaces in which paleosols, including some very well-developed calcretes, and terrestrial animals burrows have developed. There also are separate sets of clastic dikes truncated at different unconformities. Some of different sets of flood deposits have been
dated using, where possible, by radiocarbon dating magnetostratigraphy, optically stimulated luminescence dating, and tephrachronology. The oldest of these deposits predate 1.77 million years ago. There exists an abundance of published evidence that demonstrates the occurrence of innumerable Missoula-like megafloods over a period greater than 1.77 million years.

Also, Mr. Hancock overlooks Antonio Zamora ‘s badly flawed optically stimulated luminescence arguments that ignores the context of these dates and collaborating pollen records from the fills of the Carolina Bays.

Finally, Mr. Hancock is seemingly unaware of the lack of any credible evidence supporting the existence of Michael Davias’ seemingly imaginary Saginaw Bay impact structure that is used to explain the Carolina Bays. The geology that region is well known enough to show that there is a complete lack of the deformation of bedrock and overlying Quaternary deposits that such an impact would have caused. Also, any geophysical signature ot such as impact structure is lacking. Finally, regional
sedimentary and paleoenvironmental archives for that time period lack and are undisturbed by the ejecta deposits that such an impact would have created. The Saginaw Bay impact structure is just one of a few likely imaginary Pleistocene impact craters that have been reported in the Great lakes region.

Yours,

Paul H

Saturday 13 May 2017

OT - Be Warned, Malware Cripples Computers Worldwide

OT - Be Warned, Malware Cripples Computers Worldwide

Looks like a major malware attack is in progress.
So you-all be careful out there.

Malware, described in leaked NSA
documents, cripples computers worldwide Washington Post, May 12, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hospitals-across-england-report-it-failure-amid-suspected-major-cyber-attack/2017/05/12/84e3dc5e-3723-11e7-b373-418f6849a004_story.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Saturday 6 May 2017

Geoscience meets the four horsemen?

Geoscience meets the four horsemen?

Marriner, N., Morhange, C. and Skrimshire, S., 2010. Geoscience meets the four horsemen?: Tracking the rise of neocatastrophism. Global and Planetary Change, 74(1), pp.43-48.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christophe_Morhange/publication/222537265_Geoscience_meets_the_four_horsemen_Tracking_the_rise_of_neocatastrophism/links/09e4150b4acde179c4000000.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Friday 5 May 2017

Asteroid impact effects and their hazards for human populations

Asteroid impact effects and their hazards for human populations

Rumpf, C.M., Lewis, H.G. and Atkinson, P.M., 2017. Asteroid impact effects and their immediate hazards for human populations.
Geophysical Research Letters. First published: 19 April 2017

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL073191/full

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL073191/epdf

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1703.07592.pd

Yours,

Paul H.

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Psuedo -Impactites Created by Natural Fires

Psuedo-Impactites Created by Natural Fires

Below is a recent paper that a direct connection with one line of evidence for the Younger Dryas Impact.

Roperch, P., Gattacceca, J., Valenzuela, M., Devouard, B., Lorand, J.P., Arriagada, C., Rochette, P., Latorre, C. and Beck, P., 2017. Surface vitrification caused by natural fires in Late Pleistocene wetlands of the Atacama Desert. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 469, pp.15-26.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X17301887
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01514600/
http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2017/EGU2017-8946.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

"The past is never dead. It's not even past."
William Faulkner, Act 1, Scene III, Requiem for a Nun (1951)

Proceedings of the Geophysical Laboratory-Lawrence Radiation Laboratory Cratering Symposium

Proceedings of the Geophysical Laboratory-Lawrence Radiation Laboratory Cratering Symposium

While searching the Internet I came across an online and downloadable PDF file of:

Nordyke, M.D., 1961. Proceedings of the Geophysical Laboratory-Lawrence Radiation Laboratory Cratering Symposium (No. UCRL6438PT12). LLNL (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)).

The PDF file is at:
https://www.osti.gov/scitech/biblio/1122567
https://www.osti.gov/scitech/servlets/purl/1122567

Although old, I thought that people on this list might appreciate it.

Yours,

Paul H.

Thursday 27 April 2017

New Paper about Göbekli Tepewith and the Younger Dryas Impact

New Paper about Göbekli Tepewith and the Younger Dryas Impact

A recent paper in Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry discusses the Göbekli Tepewith
Site in Turkey in the context of the Younger Dryas Impact hypothesis. It is:

Sweatman MB, Tsikritsis D. Decoding Göbekli Tepewith
Archaeoastronomy: What Does the Fox Say?. 
Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry. 2017;17(1):233-50.

http://maajournal.com/Issues/2017/Vol17-1/Sweatman%20and%20Tsikritsis%2017%281%29.pdf

http://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/files/33194700/MAA_TEMPLATE_Decoding_Gobekli_Tepe_final.pdf

Some comments on the paper can be found in

1. “Academic Journal Runs Article Claiming Göbekli Tepe Records Comet Strike, Misses Fact That Article Is Based on Speculative Andrew Collins Book” by Jason Colavito, April 22, 2017, at:

http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/academic-journal-runs-article-claiming-gobekli-tepe-records-comet-strike-misses-fact-that-article-is-based-on-speculative-andrew-collins-book

2. “Archaeoastronomy, meteor showers, mass extinction: What does the fox say? (And what the crane? The aurochs?)” by Robert Kerr, The Tepe telegrams.

https://tepetelegrams.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/archaeoastronomy-meteor-showers-mass-extinction-what-does-the-fox-say-and-what-the-crane-the-aurochs/

and “Ancient stone carvings confirm how comet struck earth in 10,950 BC, sparking the rise of civilisations,” Hall of Ma’at messageboard at:

http://www.hallofmaat.com/read.php?1,611196

The paper seemed like an exercise in speculation and personal opinion lacking a firm basis in evidence
and unconstrained by what other researchers have published and documented.They certainly failed to consider what modern geologists have written in published peer-reviewed articles in plain English in reference to Spokane / Missoula Flood as seen in the statement:

"Analysis of the geology of the Scablands and similar features across North America indicating
sudden melting of the Laurentide ice sheet and immense flooding across large areas of North America."

The fact of the matter is that the "analysis of the geology of the Scablands and similar features
across North America" had shown that the Laurentide ice sheet did **not** suddenly melt at the time of their alleged impact. It has been clearly demonstrated that there has been multiple Missoula Floods over the past 1.5 to 2 million years and that the significant flooding events predate the hypothesized Younger Dryas Impact event. At least, in respect to the Missoula Floods, their ideas are unconstrained by the known evidence.

Yours,

Paul H.

"The past is never dead. It's not even past."
William Faulkner, Act 1, Scene III, Requiem for a Nun (1951)

Tuesday 25 April 2017

The T-Rex of Prehistoric Earthworms or Pseudofossil?

The T-Rex of Prehistoric Earthworms or Pseudofossil?
I know that this is off-topic. However, it is not often that a person finds a rock that is weirder than a meteorite. Scientists cannot even agree whether it is a fossil or not.

The latest theory is that this rock is the fossil of the T-Rex of earthworms. Go see the open access paper at:
Broughton, P.L. 2017: Enigmatic origin of massive Late Cretaceous-to-Neogene coprolite-like deposits
in North America: a novel palaeobiological alternative to inorganic morphogenesis. Lethaia, Vol. 50, 194–216.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/let.12186/epdf

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/let.12186/full

A related paper is:

Yancey, T.E., Mustoe, G.E., Leopold, E.B. and Heizler, M.T., 2013. Mudflow disturbance in latest Miocene forests in Lewis County, Washington. Palaios, Vol. 28(6), 343-358.

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.957.6112&rep=rep1&type=pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/George_Mustoe/publication/266138598_Mudflow_disturbance_in_latest_Miocene_forests_in_Lewis_County_Washington/links/542608920cf238c6ea7785e0.pdf

Meteorwrongs are common compared to the above pseudofossils / fossil earthworm. :-)

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 23 April 2017

Meteorite Impacts Sites of Tennessee

Meteorite Impacts Sites of Tennessee

Ford, J.R.H., Orchiston, W. and Clendening, R., 2012.
The Wells Creek meteorite impact site and changing views on impact cratering. Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 15(3), pp. 159-178.
http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2012JAHHvol15/2012JAHH...15..159F.pdf

http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2012JAHHvol15/

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wayne_Orchiston


Ford, J.R.H., Orchiston, W. and Clendening, R., 2013.
The Flynn Creek meteorite impact site and changing views on impact cratering. Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 16, pp. 127-183.
http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2013JAHHvol16/

http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2013JAHHvol16/2013JAHH...16..127F.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wayne_Orchiston


Ford, J.R.H., Orchiston, W. and Clendening, R., 2014.
An historical perspective on the suspected meteorite impacts sites of Tennessee. 1: The Dycus Structure. Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 17(3), pp. 352-364.
http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2014JAHHvol17/

http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2014JAHHvol17/2014JAHH...17..352F.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wayne_Orchiston


Ford, J.R.H., Orchiston, W. and Clendening, R., 2015.
An historical perspective on the suspected meteorite impacts sites of Tennessee. 2: The Howell Structure Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 18(1), pp. 65-97.
http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2015JAHHvol18/

http://www.narit.or.th/en/files/2015JAHHvol18/2015JAHH...18...65F.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wayne_Orchiston


Yours,

Paul H.

Online Lecture About The Formation of Terrestrial Planets

Online Lecture About The Formation of Terrestrial Planets

While slumming on Youtube, I came across a really nice lecture on the formation of terrestrial planets. It is: The Formation of Terrestrial Planets - the 2nd Lobanov-Rostovsky Lecture in Planetary Geology Published on Oct 8, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMj9whiI31I

Fortunately, the audio is increased just before the main lecture begins. Only the introduction is hard to hear.

Yours,

Paul H.

Tuesday 28 March 2017

Impact Crater Linked to Martian Tsunamis

Impact Crater Linked to Martian Tsunamis

Impact Crater Linked to Martian Tsunamis
By Paul Rincon, BBC News website, March 26, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39394583



Water On Mars: Researchers Link Lomonosov Crater To Ancient Martian Tsunamis by Avaneesh
IBT, March 26, 2017
http://www.ibtimes.com/water-mars-researchers-link-lomonosov-crater-ancient-martian-tsunamis-251524


The paper is:

Costard, F., A. Séjourné, K. Kelfoun, S. Clifford, F. Lavigne, I. Di Pietro, and S. Bouley (2017), Modeling tsunami propagation and the emplacement of thumbprint terrain in an early Mars ocean, Journal Geophysical Research Planets, 122, doi:10.1002/2016JE005230
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016JE005230/full


An article about studying Mars is:

Studying Martian Rocks Without Leaving Planet Earth
Matching Martian rock formations to those found on Earth can help researchers learn more about the Red Planet.
By Alexandra Branscombe, AGU, March 1, 2017
https://eos.org/research-spotlights/studying-martian-rocks-without-leaving-planet-earth

https://eos.org/research-spotlights

Yours,

Paul H.

Wednesday 22 March 2017

Chinese Meteorite Lawsuit

Xinjiang Herdsman’s Fight for His Meteorite
Kazak rancher sues government for ownership of a grounded shooting star.
Wang Lianzhang, March 22, 2017

http://www.sixthtone.com/news/xinjiang-farmer-and-government-tussle-over-meteorite-ownership



Also from China, the magical alternative universe of Internet and tabloid news has this story:

Man pops the question with 33-ton “meteorite”
Master BlasterMaster Blaster 3 days ago
http://en.rocketnews24.com/2017/03/20/man-pops-the-question-with-33-ton-meteorite/



Well, she said she wanted a big rock! Chinese man proposes to his ...
Daily Mail-March 15, 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-4315506/Man-proposes-girlfriend-33-tonne-meteorite.html



Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 19 March 2017

Another Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis Paper

Another Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis Paper

The discussion continues.

Discovery of widespread platinum may help solve Clovis people mystery, University of South Carolina, March 9, 2017
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309120656.htm
http://www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2017/03/uofsc_archaeologists_discover_platinum_at_clovis_sites.php

Moore, C.R., West, A., LeCompte, M.A., Brooks, M.J., Daniel Jr, I.R., Goodyear, A.C., Ferguson, T.A., Ivester, A.H., Feathers, J.K., Kennett, J.P. and Tankersley, K.B., 2017.
Widespread platinum anomaly documented at the Younger Dryas onset in North American sedimentary
sequences. Scientific Reports, 7, p.44031.
http://www.nature.com/articles/srep44031
http://1f9hwg1wionh254zdu2abfkg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/srep44031.pdf
https://www.academia.edu/31867816/Widespread_platinum_anomaly_documented_at_the_Younger_Dryas_onset_in_North_American_sedimentary_sequences_OPEN

The number of publications on this topic must be closing in on circa 180 to 200 by now.

Yours,

Paul H.

Monday 13 March 2017

The Permo-Triassic Boundary in the Karoo Basin - Guidebook and Summary Chapter

The Permo-Triassic Boundary in the Karoo Basin - Guidebook and Summary Chapter

Neveling, J., R. A. Gastaldo, and J. W. Geissman, 2016,
The Permo-Triassic Boundary in the Karoo Basin. Field
Guidebook for the Pre-3 trip, 35th International
Geological Congress, Cape Town, 2016

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307907418_The_Permo-Triassic_Boundary_in_the_Karoo_Basin_Field_Guidebook_for_the_Pre-3_trip_35th_International_Geological_Congress_Cape_Town_2016

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Gastaldo

Neveling, J., R. A. Gastaldo, S. L. Kamo, J. W. Geissman,
C. V. Looy, and M. K. Bamford, 2016, A Review of Stratigraphic, Geochemical, and Paleontologic Data of the Terrestrial End-Permian Record in the Karoo Basin, South Africa. In Origin and Evolution of the Cape Mountains and Karoo Basin, Chapter: 15, Publisher: Springer
International Publishing, Editors: B. Linol, M.J. de Wit,
pp.151-157 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-40859-0_15

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307623963_A_Review_of_Stratigraphic_Geochemical_and_Paleontologic_Data_of_the_Terrestrial_End-Permian_Record_in_the_Karoo_Basin_South_Africa

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Gastaldo

Yours,

Paul H.

Friday 3 March 2017

DNA Provides Clue to Why Woolly Mammoth Died Out

DNA Provides Clue to Why Woolly Mammoth Died Out

DNA clues to why woolly mammoth died out By Helen Briggs,
BBC News, March 2, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39142941

The last, lonely woolly mammoths faced a 'genomic meltdown'
By Michael Price, Science News, March 2, 2017
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/03/last-lonely-woolly-mammoths-were-genetically-screwed
DNA clues to why woolly mammoth died out By Helen Briggs,
BBC News, March 2, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39142941

The last, lonely woolly mammoths faced a 'genomic meltdown'
By Michael Price, Science News, March 2, 2017
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/03/last-lonely-woolly-mammoths-were-genetically-screwed

The Woolly Mammoth's Last Stand, New York Times
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39142941

The paper is:

Rogers, R. L., and M. Slatkin, 2017, Excess of genomic
defects in a woolly mammoth on Wrangel island.
PLOS Genetics. Published: March 2, 2017, open access.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.100660
http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1006601

The Woolly Mammoth's Last Stand, New York Times
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39142941

Yours,

Paul H.

Tuesday 28 February 2017

Mars: More Earth-Like Than Moon-Like

Mars: More Earth-Like Than Moon-Like

Mars: More Earth-Like Than Moon-Like, Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, February 24, 2017
http://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2017/02/24geology_susko_scientificreports.php
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2017/02/24/Mars-mantle-is-complex-and-Earth-like-new-research-suggests/1481487958074/

More Earth-Like than Moon-Like: How Mars Got Its Volcanoes
by Paige Jarreau, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana
State UniversityBaton rouge, Louisiana, February 24, 2017
http://lsuscienceblog.squarespace.com/blog/2017/2/21/more-earth-like-than-moon-like

Elysium Mons Volcano, Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) High and
Low Resolution Images SPO-2 Observations
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mgs/msss/camera/images/7_10_98_elysium_rel/index.html

The paper is:

Susko, D., and others (2017) A record of igneous evolution in
Elysium, a major Martian volcanic province. Scientific Reports 7
http://www.nature.com/articles/srep43177

Another paper is:

Grott, M., Baratoux, D., Hauber, E., Sautter, V., Mustard, J., Gasnault,
O., Ruff, S.W., Karato, S.I., Debaille, V., Knapmeyer, M. and Sohl, F.,
2013. Long-term evolution of the Martian crust-mantle system.
Space Science Reviews, 174(1-4), pp.49-111.
http://people.earth.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Karato/Grott%20et%20al_%20(2013).pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 26 February 2017

Carboniferous Cosmic Microspheres Usolka, Russia

Carboniferous Cosmic Microspheres Usolka, Russia

Sungatullin, R.K., Sungatullina, G.M., Zakirov, M.I., Tsel’movich,
V.A., Glukhov, M.S., Bakhtin, A.I., Osin, Y.N. and Vorob’ev,
V.V., 2017. Cosmic microspheres in the Carboniferous deposits
of the Usolka section (Urals foredeep). Russian Geology and
Geophysics, 58(1), pp.58-68.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312629897_Cosmic_microspheres_in_the_Carboniferous_deposits_of_the_Usolka_section_Urals_foredeep
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1068797116302607

Сунгатуллин Р. Х., Сунгатуллина Г. М., Закиров М. И., Цельмович
В. А., Глухов М. С., Бахтин А. И., Осин Ю. Н., Воробьев В. В.
Микросферы космического происхождения в каменноугольных
породах разреза Усолка, Предуральский прогиб // Геология и
геофизика. 2017. Т. 58. № 1. С. 74-85.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312628823_Mikrosfery_kosmiceskogo_proishozdenia_v_kamennougolnyh_otlozeniah_razreza_Usolka_Preduralskij_progib
http://www.nsu.ru/rs/mw/link/Media:/57928/6_01_2017.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Evidence of a 'Chaotic Solar System' from Cretaceous of Colorado

Evidence of a 'Chaotic Solar System' from Cretaceous of Colorado

From rocks in Colorado, evidence of a 'chaotic solar system'
University of Wisconsin-Madison, February 22, 2017
http://news.wisc.edu/from-rocks-in-colorado-evidence-of-a-chaotic-solar-system/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170222131512.htm
http://www.astrobio.net/also-in-news/rocks-colorado-evidence-chaotic-solar-system/

The paper is:

Ma, C., S. R. Meyers, and B. B. Sageman. Theory of chaotic
orbital variations confirmed by Cretaceous geological evidence.
Nature, 2017; 542 (7642): 468-470 DOI: 10.1038/nature21402
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v542/n7642/full/nature21402.html

Related paper:

Sageman, B. B., J. Rich, M. A. Arthur, G. E. Birchfield, and
W. E. Dean, 1997, Evidence for Milankovitch Periodicities in
Cenomanian-Turonian Lithologic and Geochemical Cycles,
Western Interior U.S.A. Journal of Sedimentary Research,
Section B: Stratigraphy and Global Studies Vol. 67 (1997)
No. 2. (March), Pages 286-302
http://www.earth.northwestern.edu/research/sageman/PDF/97.Sageman.etal.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Thursday 23 February 2017

After Earth’s Worst Mass Extinction, Life Rebounded Rapidly

Worst Mass Extinction, Life Rebounded Rapidly

After Earth’s Worst Mass Extinction, Life Rebounded Rapidly, Fossils
Suggest, Trilobites, Nichlos ST. Fleur, New york times, Feb. 16, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/science/great-dying-permian-extinction-fossils.html

New fossil discovery suggests sea life bounced back after the 'Great
Dying' faster than thought, PhysOrg, February 16, 2017
https://phys.org/news/2017-02-fossil-discovery-sea-life-great.html

The paper is:

Brayard, A., Krumenacker, L.J., Botting, J.P., Jenks, J.F., Bylund, K.G.,
Fara, E., Vennin, E., Olivier, N., Goudemand, N., Saucède, T. and
Charbonnier, S., 2017. Unexpected Early Triassic marine ecosystem
and the rise of the Modern evolutionary fauna. Science Advances,
3(2), p.e1602159.
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/2/e1602159

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 19 February 2017

Who Isn’t Profiting Off the Backs of Researchers?

Who Isn’t Profiting Off the Backs of Researchers?

Below are a couple of though provoking essays. Needless to say,
they do not necessarily represent my opinions, just that it is a
matter that the producers and consumers of scientific research
meteorites and other matters have to deal with in their lives.

Dear Scholars, Delete Your Account At Academia.Edu
Sarah Bond, Forbes, #WhoaScience, January 23, 2017
http://www.forbes.com/sites/drsarahbond/2017/01/23/dear-scholars-delete-your-account-at-academia-edu/

A response to the above article is:

Who Isn’t Profiting Off the Backs of Researchers?
Jon Tennant, The Crux, February 1, 2017
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2017/02/01/who-isnt-profiting-off-the-backs-of-researchers/

Green Tea and Velociraptors, Jon Tennant
(Papers on open access and scientific publishing)
https://tinyurl.com/jogxpel

Yours,

Paul H.

Monday 13 February 2017

Modeling Impact Breaching of Europa's Ice Crust

Modeling Impact Breaching of Europa's Ice Crust

Life on Europa may have been sparked by COMETS: Rocks carrying biological material could have penetrated the moon's thick crust to reach the oceans beneath
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3273914/Life-Europa-sparked-COMETS-Rocks-carrying-biological-material-penetrated-moon-s-crust-reach-oceans-beneath.html

The paper is:

Cox, R. and Bauer, A.W., 2015. Impact breaching of Europa's ice:
Constraints from numerical modeling. Journal of Geophysical
Research: Planets, 120(10), pp.1708-1719.
https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~awb/data/Cox_et_al-2015-Journal_of_Geophysical_Research-_Planets.pdf
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Impact-Breaching-of-Europa-s-Ice-Constraints-from-Cox-Bauer/724dfc775b2e1d4e8e651261f49083743e9f6bbd

https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~awb/data/Cox_et_al-2015-Journal_of_Geophysical_Research-_Planets.pdf

Another paper is:

Cox, R., *Ong, L.C.F., Arakawa, M., and *Scheider, K.C., 2008
Impact penetration of Europa’s ice crust as a mechanism for
formation of chaos terrain, Meteoritics and Planetary Science,
v. 43 (12), p. 2027-2048.
http://sites.williams.edu/rcox/publications/
http://sites.williams.edu/rcox/files/2013/01/Cox_EtAl_2008_MAPS.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

New Insight into Silica Explains Planetary Smashup

New Insight into Silica Explains Planetary Smashup

New Insight into Silica Explains Planetary Smashup
Earth & Space Science News, Eos, vol. 98, no. 2, p. 43.
https://eos.org/research-spotlights/new-insight-into-silica-explains-planetary-smashup
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309873404_New_Insight_into_Silica_Explains_Planetary_Smashup

There are other interesting science articles in the
February 2017 issue (vol. 98, no. 2) of "EOS" at:
https://eos.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Feb-17_magazine.pdf?x35494

The paper is:

Connolly, J.A., 2016. Liquid‐vapor phase relations in the Si‐O
system: A calorically constrained van der Waals‐type model.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 121(9), pp.1641-1666.
http://www.perplex.ethz.ch/papers.html
http://www.perplex.ethz.ch/papers/Connolly_JGR_Planets_2016.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 12 February 2017

First Nuclear Explosion Helps Test Theory of Moon's Formation

First Nuclear Explosion Helps Test Theory of Moon's Formation

First nuclear explosion helps test theory of moon's formation
By Annie Reisewitz, Univ. of California, San Diego, February 9, 2017
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/first-nuclear-explosion-helps-test-theory-moons-formation
https://phys.org/news/2017-02-nuclear-explosion-theory-moon-formation.html

Glass from nuclear test site shows the moon was born dry
New Scientist, February 8, 2017
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2120748-glass-from-nuclear-test-site-shows-the-moon-was-born-dry/

Day, J. D. M., F. Moynier, A. P. Meshik, O. V. Pradivtseva,
and D. R. Petit, 2017, Evaporative fractionation of zinc during
the first nuclear detonation Science Advances. Vol. 3, no. 2, e1602668
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602668 CCBY-NC
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/2/e1602668
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/2/e1602668.full

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 5 February 2017

No link between gigantic Ordovician asteroid break-up, rise in biodiversity (open access paper)

No link between gigantic Ordovician asteroid break-up, rise in biodiversity (open access paper)

Myth busted: No link between gigantic asteroid break-up,
rise in biodiversity, University of Copenhagen, February 3, 2017
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170203110156.htm
https://phys.org/news/2017-01-meteorites-enrich-ocean-life.html

the paper is;

Lindskog, A., M. M. Costa, C.M.Ø. Rasmussen, J. N. Connelly,
and M. E. Eriksson, 2017, Refined Ordovician timescale reveals
no link between asteroid breakup and biodiversification.
Nature Communications, 2017; 8: 14066 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14066
http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1038/ncomms14066

Yours,

Paul H.

Dwarf planet Ceres may have vanishing ice volcanoes

Dwarf planet Ceres may have vanishing ice volcanoes

American Geophysical Union, February 2, 2017
https://phys.org/news/2017-02-ceres-ice-volcanoes.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170202123044.htm



Ceres' vanishing ice volcanoes: Dwarf planet may havehad 'cryovolcanoes' millions of years ago that flattened out over time, leaving just one behind, Daily Mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4186036/Study-investigates-Ceres-vanishing-ice-volcanoes.html

The paper is:

Michael M. Sori, Shane Byrne, M. T. Bland, A. M. Bramson,

A. I. Ermakov, C. W. Hamilton, K. A. Otto, O. Ruesch, and

C. T. Russell, 2017, The vanishing cryovolcanoes of Ceres.

Geophysical Research Letters, 2017; DOI: 10.1002/2016GL072319

Yours,

Paul H.

Evidence of 2 billion years of volcanic activity on Mars

Evidence of 2 billion years of volcanic activity on Mars

Evidence of 2 billion years of volcanic activity on Mars
Meteorite found in Africa provides clues to evolution
of the red planet, University of Houston, February 2, 2017
http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2017/February/02012017mars-volcano-meteorite.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170202090848.htm
https://phys.org/news/2017-02-evidence-billion-years-volcanic-mars.html

The paper is:

Lapen, T. J., M. Righter, R. Andreasen, A. J. Irving,
A. M. Satkoski, B. L. Beard, K. Nishiizumi, A. J. T. Jull,
and M. W. Caffee. Two billion years of magmatism
recorded from a single Mars meteorite ejection site.
Science Advances, 2017; 3 (2): e1600922 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600922
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/2/e1600922

Yours,

Paul H.

Saturday 28 January 2017

Articles About Meteorites And Asteroids

Articles About Meteorites And Asteroids

Meteorite Studies Reveal Surprises About Earth's Formation
By Elizabeth Howell, SpaceCom, January 26, 2017
http://www.space.com/35468-earth-building-blocks-different-than-thought.html

Nice picture of Meteorite On Mars

Curiosity Finds An(other) Alien Visitor on Mars
Earth Isn't the Only Planet Hit by Meteorites. Mars Gets
Them, Too. by Phil Plait, Blog-Slate Magazine, January 23, 2017
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2017/01/23/curiosity_sees_a_meteorite_on_the_surface_of_mars.html

This image was taken by Mastcam: Right (MAST_RIGHT)
onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 1577
(2017-01-12 11:21:52 UTC). NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=1577MR0080320000800289E01_DXXX&s=1577

Deflecting Asteroids

Objective: To deflect asteroids, thus preventing their collision
with Earth Space Daily, Madrid, Spain, January 27, 2017
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Objective_To_deflect_asteroids_thus_preventing_their_collision_with_Earth_999.html

Scientists working on deflecting asteroids headed for Earth
The Indian Express, January 27, 2017
http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/scientists-working-on-deflecting-asteroids-headed-for-earth-4493719/

Yours,

Paul H.

Deflecting Asteroids

Deflecting Asteroids

Objective: To deflect asteroids, thus preventing their collision
with Earth Space Daily, Madrid, Spain, January 27, 2017
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Objective_To_deflect_asteroids_thus_preventing_their_collision_with_Earth_999.html

Scientists working on deflecting asteroids headed for Earth
The Indian Express, January 27, 2017
http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/scientists-working-on-deflecting-asteroids-headed-for-earth-4493719/

Yours,

Paul H.

Nice Picture of Meteorite On Mars

Nice Picture of Meteorite On Mars

Curiosity Finds An(other) Alien Visitor on Mars
Earth Isn't the Only Planet Hit by Meteorites. Mars Gets
Them, Too. by Phil Plait, Blog-Slate Magazine, January 23, 2017
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2017/01/23/curiosity_sees_a_meteorite_on_the_surface_of_mars.html

This image was taken by Mastcam: Right (MAST_RIGHT)
onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity on Sol 1577
(2017-01-12 11:21:52 UTC). NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw/?rawid=1577MR0080320000800289E01_DXXX&s=1577

Yours,

Paul H.

Thursday 26 January 2017

Online Comet and Meteorite Lectures

Online Comet and Meteorite Lectures

P33I Whipple Lecture:
The Complex Evolution of Comet Nuclei
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published on Aug 4, 2015
AGU Fall Meeting 2011 - P33I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf4irGb8QLE

The meaning of meteorites
Royal Astronomical Society
Published on Mar 24, 2015
Royal Astronomical Society public lecture, 10 February 2015
by Dr Ted Nield, Geoscientist Magazine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lgd_bJELtM

Yours,

Paul H.

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Rare meteorites common in the Ordovician period

Rare meteorites common in the Ordovician period

A 466-million-year-old space collision is still raining shrapnel
on Earth By Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, January 23, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/23/a-466-million-year-old-space-collision-is-still-raining-shrapnel-down-on-earth/

Today’s rare meteorites were once common, The Field Museum,
Monday, January 23, 2017
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/science/blog/todays-rare-meteorites-were-once-common

The paper is:

Heck, P. R., B. Schmitz, W. F. Bottke, S. S. Rout, N. T. Kita, A. Cronholm,
C. Defouilloy, A. Dronov, and F. Terfelt, 2017, Rare meteorites common
in the Ordovician period. Nature Astronomy 1, Article number: 0035 (2017)
doi:10.1038/s41550-016-0035
http://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-016-0035

Yours,

Paul H.

Monday 23 January 2017

Cosmic dust found in city rooftop gutters

Cosmic dust found in city rooftop gutters
PhysOrg, December 7, 2016

https://phys.org/news/2016-12-cosmic-city-rooftop-gutters.html

http://www.sciencealert.com/cosmic-dust-has-been-discovered-on-city-rooftops-for-the-first-time

The paper is:
Genge, M.J., J. Larsen, M. Van Ginneken, and M.D. Suttle, 2016,
An urban collection of modern-day large micrometeorites:
Evidence for variations in the extraterrestrial dust flux through
the Quaternary. Geology, First published online December 2016,
doi: 10.1130/G38352.1

http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/early/2016/12/05/G38352.1.abstract

https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/42484/9/Geology-2016-Genge-G38352.1.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Sunday 15 January 2017

Multiple-Impact Theory of Moon's Origin Revisited

Multiple-Impact Theory of Moon's Origin Revisited

Study suggests Earth once had many moonlets — until they
merged to form the moon By Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/10/study-suggests-earth-once-had-many-moonlets-until-they-merged-to-form-the-moon/

How Earth's previous moons collided to form the moon:
New theory. American Technion Society, January 9, 2017
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170109125125.htm

The Many-Moons Theory by Alan Burdick, The New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-many-moons-theory

The paper is:

Rufu, R., O. Aharonson, and H. B. Perets, 2016, A multiple-
impact origin for the Moon. Nature Geoscience (2017)
doi:10.1038/ngeo2866 Received 14 September 2016
Accepted 30 November 2016 Published online 09 January 2017
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo2866.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Moon Zircons dated at 4.51 Billion Years

Moon Zircons dated at 4.51 Billion Years

The moon is older than scientists thought, UCLA-led
research team reports< UCLA Newsroom, January 11, 2017
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/the-moon-is-older-than-scientists-thought-ucla-led-research-team-reports

Scientists: Moon over the hill at 4.51 billion years old
By Marcia Dunn and Associated Press, Washington Post,
January 13, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-moon-is-older-than-scientists-thought/2017/01/13/7633e5f2-d83a-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html

Moon is much older than we thought, scientists find
The Independent, Andrew Griffen, January 12, 2017
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/moon-age-how-old-earth-planet-satellite-science-scientists-ucla-a7524071.html

the paper is:

Barboni, M., P. Boehnke, B. Keller, I. E. Kohl, B. Schoene,
E. D. Young, and Kevin D. McKeegan, 2016, Early formation
of the Moon 4.51 billion years ago. Science Advances.
Vol. 3, no. 1, e1602365,DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602365
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/1/e160236
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/1/e1602365.figures-only

Yours,

Paul H.