What Does A Real Astronaut Think Of 'Gravity'?

What Does A Real Astronaut Think Of 'Gravity'?
Forbes Magazine, Oct. 17, 2013
http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/10/17/what-does-a-real-astronaut-think-of-gravity/

Both my wife and i saw the movie and enjoyed it.

I agree with the interview that movies are not reality
and can be forgiven for taking artistic license as they
are meant to be entertainment, not college courses.

Yours,

Paul H.

Corossol Impact Structure, Quebec, Canada

Corossol Impact Structure, Quebec, Canada

Back in 2011, Higgins et al. (2011) published an extended
abstract about what they called the Corossol Impact
Crater, which is a 4-km diameter impact structure that
lies off of the coast of Sept-Iles in Gulf of St Lawrence,
Canada. They suggested that it might be as young as
12,900 BP based upon calibrated radiocarbon dates
from shells in marine sediments that directly overlie the
structure.

However, I am skeptical of it being a terminal Pleistocene
crater in that the colored relief map shown in that extended
abstract show a badly eroded impact structure that has
been strongly modified by erosion. The feature shown in
Figure 1 looks nothing like a pristine impact crater that was
created close to 12,900 years ago. In addition the calibrated
radiocarbon date corresponds exactly to the point in time
that various maps showing reconstructing the deglaciation
of North America indicate that this part of Canada became
ice-free as the Laurentide Ice Sheet melted back. Thus, the
12,900 BP date could very well be a minimum date that
indicates only when the site of the impact structure became
ice-free and sediments containing datable could
accumulate after being scoured by a continental ice sheet.
Finally, Higgins et al. (2011) pointed out that this impact
structure could be any age between 12,900 BP and local
470 million year old sedimentary rocks. This left it as an
uncertain candidate for a terminal Pleistocene impact.

More recently, I found an abstract by Locat et al. (2012).
After an analysis of "excellent" multibeam sonar coverage
of the area, they concluded on the basis of its surface
morphology that this impact structure exhibited the
characteristics of glacial erosion. Based upon other
morphological criteria, they estimated the minimum age
of this impact structure to about 20 million years. They
assigned a tentative age to it that ranged between 20 to
470 million years. Although this is still quite a range of
age, the estimated minimum age of 20 million years,
if it holds, would make it far too old to be the result of
an terminal Pleistocene impact. Also, a 20 million year
minimum age seems to be far more consistent with the
eroded appearance of this impact structure than a
12,900 BP age. if this impact structure is glacially
eroded, then it would even more unlikely that this is
the result of a terminal Pleistocene impact given the
glacial history of the region. However, further research
into the age of this impact structure is still needed.

Reference Cited

Higgins M. D., P. Lajeunesse, G. St-Onge, J. Locat, M.
Duchesne, J. Ortiz, and R. Sanfacon, 2011, Bathymetric and
Petrological Evidence for a Young (Pleistocene?) 4-km
Diameter Impact Crater in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence,
Canada. 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
(2011), Abstract #1504.

Locat, J., P. Lajeunesse, G. St-Onge, M. Duchesne,
M. D. Higgins, R. Sanfacon, and J. Ortiz, 2012, A
morphological analysis for estimating the age of a
possible impact structure; the Corossol Structure
on the seafloor of the northwestern Gulf of St
Lawrence Eastern Canada. Congres Geologique
International, Resumes. vol. 34, pp. 3440.

Yours,

Paul H.

Meteorite pulled from Lake Chebarkul, Russia

Meteorite pulled from Lake Chebarkul, Russia

Meteorite pulled from Russian lake, BBC News, Oct. 16, 2103
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24550941

Scientists find half-ton chunk of Chelyabinsk meteor on bottom
of Russian lake, Associated Press and The Telegraph
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/10/16/scientists-find-half-ton-chunk-of-chelyabinsk-meteor-on-bottom-of-russian-lake/

Russian meteor fragment literally breaks the scales,
by Elizabeth Barber, Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 16, 2013
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/1016/Russian-meteor-fragment-literally-breaks-the-scales

Yours,

Paul H.

Fantastic Space Shuttle Launch Video

Fantastic Space Shuttle Launch Video

Absolutely mindblowing video shot from the
Space Shuttle during launch, io9.com
http://io9.com/5893615/absolutely-mindblowing-video-shot-from-the-space-shuttle-during-launch

yours,

Paul H.

Penn Dixie Fossil Site, Blasdell, New York

Penn Dixie Fossil Site, Blasdell, New York

They’ll never run out of fossils at Penn Dixie
by Barbara O’Brien, The Buffalo News,
Oct. 13, 2013, http://www.buffalonews.com/spotlight/theyll-never-run-out-of-fossils-at-penn-dixie-20131013

Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor
Education Center, http://penndixie.org/

Penn Dixie Fossils, http://penndixie.org/paleo/fossils/hp.html

For Goggle Earth fans, the latitude and
longitude of the Penn Dixie Fossil Site is:

Latitude: 42°46'39.92"N (42.777756°)
Longitude: 78°49'55.98"W (-78.832217°)

Google Earth provides a very nice aerial
overview of the Penn Dixie Fossil Site.

Yours,

Paul H.

Age of the Moon and Its Craters

Age of the Moon and Its Craters

Dating the Moon's basins by Emily Lakdawalla, The
Planetary Society, September 26, 2103
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/09261218-dating-the-moons-basins.html

Fassett, C. I., J. W. Head, S. J. J. Kadish, E. Mazarico,
G. A. Neumann, D. Smith, and M. T. Zuber (in press),
Lunar impact basins: Stratigraphy, sequence and ages
from superposed impact crater populations measured
from Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) data, J.
Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2011JE003951, in press.
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/pip/2011JE003951.shtml

Relative and absolute ages in the histories of Earth and the
Moon: The Geologic Time Scale by Emily Lakdawalla
The Planetary Society, September 30, 2013
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/09301225-geologic-time-scale-earth-moon.html

Age of the Moon

Moon is younger than first thought, Phys.Org, Sept. 25, 2013
http://phys.org/news/2013-09-moon-younger-thought.html
http://www.space.com/22894-moon-age-100-million-years-younger.html

Origin of the moon, 9:00 am on Monday 23 September
2013 – 5:00 pm on Tuesday 24 September 2013, The
Royal Society, London, Audio recordings are now posted.
http://royalsociety.org/events/2013/origin-moon/

Yours,

Paul H.

Charles Burney Jr. and the term 'asteroid'

Charles Burney Jr. and the term 'asteroid'

In “Charles Burney Jr. and the term 'asteroid'” at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com/msg115133.html

Martin wrote:

> this sounds interesting:
>
>Greek scholar invented the term asteroid, researcher reveals
>
>http://www.lodinews.com/ap/nation/article_3c86d500-3070-11e3-9637-10604b9f0f42.html

I keep getting error 404 messages for this URL. Below are
additional URLs for people to look at:

Greek scholar invented the term 'asteroid' Stuff.co.nz, October 10, 2013
http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/9262248/Greek-scholar-invented-the-term-asteroid

Local expert reveals who really coined the word 'asteroid'
by Robert Nolin, Sun Sentinel, October 8, 2013
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-10-08/news/fl-asteroid-word-origin-20131008_1_asteroid-word-planetary-sciences
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2013/10/where-did-the-word-asteroid-really-come-from/

Yours,

Paul H

A dangerous game of "cosmic roulette"?

A dangerous game of "cosmic roulette"?

The "60 Minutes" segment about near Earth asteroids and
the threat that they pose is now online for viewing. It is:

A dangerous game of "cosmic roulette"? October 6, 2013
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50156579n

All about asteroids by 60 Minutes Overtime Staff, October 6, 2013
http://www.cbsnews.com/8334-504803_162-57606239-10391709/all-about-asteroids/

Yours,

Paul H.

New Type of Impact Crater Discovered On Mars

New Type of Impact Crater Discovered On Mars

New Type of Impact Crater Discovered On Mars, Science Daily,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131009095731.htm

Up-Close Look At Mars Reveals New Type Of Impact Crater
RedOrbit-20, October 9, 2013,
http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112970717/new-type-of-impact-crater-found-on-mars-100913/

The Case Of The Curious Crater, October 10, 2013
http://www.redorbit.com/news/video/space_2/1112971969/mars-craters-low-aspect-ratio-layered-ejecta-101013/

Yours,

Paul H.

Chelyabinsk Meteorites Reveal Evidence of Prehistoric Cosmic Collision

Chelyabinsk Meteorites Reveal Evidence of Prehistoric Cosmic Collision

Meteorites from Russian explosion reveal signs of cosmic
crashes by Elizabeth Howell Space.com, NBC News
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/meteorites-russian-explosion-reveal-signs-cosmic-crashes-8C11358914
http://www.space.com/23112-russian-meteor-explosion-meteorites-cosmic-crashes.html

Insights from space rocks left after meteor exploded over
Russia, EarthSky , October 8, 2013‎
http://earthsky.org/space/insights-from-space-rocks-left-after-meteor-exploded-over-russia

Russian meteor was partially formed from hard to spot
'dark asteroid' material, The Telegraph, October 9, 2013
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10366055/Russian-meteor-was-partially-formed-from-hard-to-spot-dark-asteroid-material.html

An earlier article is:
Russian Meteor Explosion: Space Rock Had Near-Misses
Before Impact by C. Moskowitz, SPACE.com, Aug. 26, 2013 ET
http://www.space.com/22536-russia-meteor-explosion-chelyabinsk-near-miss.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Alamo impact, Nevada, Theses (Online)

Alamo impact, Nevada, Theses (Online)

Some online publications about the Alamo
Impact in southeastern Nevada are:

Anderson, J., 2008, Reconstructing the Aftermath
of the Late Devonian Alamo Meteor Impact in
the Pahranagat Range, Southeastern Nevada.
unpublished MS thesis, Department of
Geosciences, Idaho State University, Moscow,
Idaho, May, 2008. 191 pp.
http://geology.isu.edu/thesis/Anderson_Julia_2008.pdf

Retzler, R. J., 2013, Post-Impact Depositional
Environments as a Proxy for Crater. Architecture,
Late Devonian, Alamo Impact Event, Nevada.
unpublished MS thesis, Department of
Geosciences, Idaho State University, Moscow,
Idaho, Summer 2013. 94 pp.
http://geology.isu.edu/thesis/Retzler.Andrew.2013.pdf

Sheffield, J. W. 2011, Reassessing Stratigraphic
Patterns of the Alamo Impact Deposits Using a
Relational Database and GIS Analytical Tools,
Lincoln County, Nevada. unpublished MS
thesis, Department of Geosciences, Idaho State
University, Moscow, Idaho, May 2010,
February 2011. 103 pp.
http://geology.isu.edu/thesis/Sheffield_Joseph_2011.pdf

Thomason, C. J., 2010, Recovery of the carbonate
platform and fauna in the aftermath of the Late
Devonian Alamo Impact, Hiko Hills Range,
Southeastern Nevada. unpublished MS thesis,
Department of Geosciences, Idaho State
University, Moscow, Idaho, May 2010. 257 pp.
http://geology.isu.edu/thesis/Thomason_Carrie_2010_ISU.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

New Research On Libyan Desert Glass

New Research On Libyan Desert Glass

Note: In the below news articles, I am not responsible
for their content. Blame either the reporters or the
original press release for any inaccuracies.

First ever evidence of a comet striking Earth, Physorg.
http://phys.org/news/2013-10-evidence-comet-earth.html

Scientists in Comet Strike Discovery, AllAfrica.com
http://allafrica.com/stories/201310081162.html

Comet Rained ‘Shock Wave of Fire’ on Sahara Desert
By Antony Sguazzin, Bloomberg, October 8, 2013
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-08/comet-rained-shock-wave-of-fire-on-sahara-desert.html

Comet collided with earth 28 million years ago:
researchers, Toronto Sun, October 8, 2103
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/10/08/comet-collided-with-earth-28-million-years-ago-researchers

Yours,

Paul H.

What Did the Continents Look Like Millions of Years Ago?

What Did the Continents Look Like Millions of Years Ago?
An artist-geologist renders the history of the Earth with maps.
by Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley, The Atlantic Sept. 23 2013
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/09/what-did-the-continents-look-like-millions-of-years-ago/279892/

Paleogeographic and Tectonic History of Western North
America: http://cpgeosystems.com/wnampalgeog.html

Western North America Paleogeographic Maps
http://cpgeosystems.com/wnam.html

Paleogeography (Home Page) http://cpgeosystems.com/

Yours,

Paul H.

Taphonomy of Fossil Forests Paper (PDF Version)

Taphonomy of Fossil Forests Paper (PDF Version)

The PDF version of a great paper about fossil forests is
online and can be downloaded for free. The paper is:

DiMichele, W. A., and H. J. Falcon-Lang, 2011, Pennsylvanian
'fossil forests' in growth position (T0 assemblages): origin,
taphonomic bias and palaeoecological insights. Journal of the
Geological Society. vol. 168, no. 2, pp. 585-605.

It can be downloaded from:

http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/handle/10088/15971
http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/15971/1/paleo_2011_DiMichele_Falcon_Lang_T0Assemblages_JGeolSoc.pdf

Downloadable PDF files of more papers about
Carboniferous plant fossils can be found at
http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/handle/10088/2845/simple-search?query=DiMichele ,
http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/handle/10088/2845/simple-search?query=Pennsylvanian ,
and http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/handle/10088/2845/simple-search?query=Falcon-Lang

Yours,

Paul H.

Literature searches with Google Scholar

Literature searches with Google Scholar

I found the below article, which can be
downloaded for free, quite interesting.

DeGraff, J. V., N. DeGraff, and H. C. Romesburg,
2013, Literature searches with Google Scholar:
Knowing what you are and are not getting. GSA
Today. vol. 23, no. 10, pp 44-45.

The links are:

PDF file at
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/23/10/pdf/i1052-5173-23-10-44.pdf

Online text at:
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/23/10/article/i1052-5173-23-10-44.htm
http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/23/10/

My apologies,

Paul H.

Cascade of Events' Caused Cambrian Explosion

Cascade of Events' Caused Cambrian Explosion

Cascade of Events' Caused Sudden Explosion of
Animal Life, Science Daily, September 19, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130919142202.htm

New Approach to Explaining Evolution's Big Bang
In-Depth, New York Times, September 19, 2013
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/science/new-approach-to-explaining-evolutions-big-bang.html

The paper is:
M. Paul Smith and David A. T. Harper. Causes of the
Cambrian Explosion. Science, 20 September 2013:
1355-1356 DOI: 10.1126/science.1239450
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/341/6152/1355

Related articles are:
Cambrian explosion was indeed marked by lightning-
fast evolution, NBCNews.com-by Tia Ghose
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/341/6152/1355

and an earlier paper about the Cambrian Explosion:
Peters, S. E., and R. R. Gaines. Formation of the ‘Great
Unconformity’ as a trigger for the Cambrian explosion.
Nature. vol. 484, no. 7394pp. 363-366.

Abstract is at:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v484/n7394/full/nature10969.html

PDF file is at
http://211.144.68.84:9998/91keshi/Public/File/34/484-7394/pdf/nature10969.pdf

While Googling, I accidentally found the above paper is cited by:
Koschwanez, K. H., K. R Foster, and A. W Murray, 2013,
Improved use of a public good selects for the evolution of
undifferentiated multicellularity. eLife 2013;2:e00367.
http://labs.mcb.harvard.edu/murray/publications/Koschwanez_2013_23577233.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Extraterrestrial Spinels

Extraterrestrial Spinels

Meteorite Minerals Hint at Earth Extinctions, Climate
Change by Jeremy Hsu, Astrobiology Magazine
http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/5678/meteorite-minerals-hint-at-earth-extinctions-climate-change

Meteorite minerals offer clues to Earth extinctions,
climate change by Jeremy Hsu Space.com, NBC News
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/meteorite-minerals-offer-clues-earth-extinctions-climate-change-8C11167396

Yours,

Paul H.

Guidebook to Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta

Guidebook to Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta

Below is a guidebook to Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta.

Koster, E. H., 1983, Field Trip Guidebook - Sedimentology
of the Upper Cretaceous Judith River (Belly River)
Formation, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Open File Report
no. 1983-12. Alberta Research Council; Alberta Geological
Survey.

http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/abstracts/OFR_1983_12.html
http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/OFR/PDF/OFR_1983_12.PDF

Other publications about Alberta geology can be searched for at:
http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/publications/

Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur_Provincial_Park
http://albertaparks.ca/dinosaur.aspx

Yours,

Paul H.

Guide to the Geology of Sudbury, Ontario, Impact Structure

Guide to the Geology of Sudbury, Ontario, Impact Structure

The below field trip guidebook should be of interest
to many of the people on the meteorite mailing list.

Rousell, D. H., and G. H. Brown, 2009, Guide to the
Geology of Sudbury, Ontario. Open File Report no. 6243,
Ontario Geological Survey, Toronto, Ontario. 200 pp.
and geological map.

61 MB PDF file at
http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/pub/data/imaging/ofr6243//OFR6243.pdf

Related publications are:

Pye, E. G., A. J. Naldrett, and P. E. Giblin, eds., The
Geology and ore deposits of the Sudbury Structure.
Special Volume 1, Ontario Geological Survey,
Toronto, Ontario. 603 pp with additional geological
and geophysical maps, charts, plates, and reprints.

113 MB PDF file at
http://www.geologyontario.mndmf.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/pub/data/imaging/SV01/SV01.pdf

Rousell, D. H., 1998, Bedrock Geology of the Regional
Municipality of Sudbury. Map Series no P3187, Ontario
Geological Survey, Toronto, Ontario.

PDF file at
http://www.geologyontario.mndmf.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/pub/data/imaging/P3187/P3187.pdf

More publications can be found using the below web pages.

Geology Ontario - Publications PDF Search
http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/

Geology Ontario - Publications Search
http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/

Yours,

Paul H.

Paper About Using Exterrestrial Impacts to Explain Mass Extinctions

Paper About Using Extraterrestrial Impacts to Explain Mass Extinctions

Below is a recent paper about the evaluation of extraterrestrial
impacts in mass extinctions, which I found both thoughtful and
an interesting read.

Racki, G., 2011, The Alvarez impact theory of mass extinction;
limits to its applicability and the “great expectations syndrome”
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 57, no. 4, pp. 681–702.
http://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app20110058.html
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.4202/app.2011.0058

PDF file at:
http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app57/app20110058.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.