Researchers Trace Mercury's Origins to Rare Meteorite

Researchers Trace Mercury's Origins to Rare Meteorite

Researchers trace Mercury's origins to rare meteorite
by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 27, 2016
http://phys.org/news/2016-06-mercury-rare-meteorite.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160627132939.htm

the paper is:

Namur, O., M. Collinet, B. Charlier, T. L. Grove, F. Holtz,
and C. McCammon, 2016, Melting processes and mantle
sources of lavas on Mercury. Earth and Planetary Science
Letters. vol. 439, pp. 117–128
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X16000522
and https://goo.gl/E0BYUa

Yours,

Paul H.

Lunar Lava Tubes Could Protect Astronauts

Lunar Lava Tubes Could Protect Astronauts

Lunar Shelter: Moon Caves Could Protect Astronauts
By Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com
http://www.space.com/32795-moon-lava-tubes-protect-astronauts.html

Scientists May Have Spotted Buried Lava Tubes on
the Moon by Nadia Drake , No Place Like Home (Blog)
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/25/scientists-may-have-spotted-buried-lava-tubes-on-the-moon/

Marius Hills Pit - Lava Tube Skylight?
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera
NAC M114328462R [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University]
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/posts/202

The Marius Hills pit is a possible skylight in a lava
tube in an ancient volcanic region of the Moon called
the Marius Hills. This LROC image is the highest
resolution image of the pit to date. Image width is
500 meters, pixel width is 0.5 meters,
NAC M114328462R [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University]
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/uploads/LROCiotw/M114328462R_thumb.png

Theoretical study suggests huge lava tubes could exist
on moon, University of Perdue,
http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2015/Q1/theoretical-study-suggests-huge-lava-tubes-could-exist-on-moon.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Tridymite Discovered On Mars

Tridymite Discovered On Mars

NASA scientists discover unexpected mineral on Mars
NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, June 22, 2016
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160622170422.htm

http://phys.org/news/2016-06-curiosity-rover-evidence-ancient-explosive.html


Richard V. Morris, David T. Vaniman, David F. Blake, Ralf  Gellert, Steve J. Chipera, Elizabeth B. Rampe, Douglas W. Ming, Shaunna M. Morrison, Robert T. Downs, Allan H.
Treiman, Albert S. Yen, John P. Grotzinger, Cherie N.Achilles, Thomas F. Bristow, Joy A. Crisp, David J. Des Marais, Jack D. Farmer, Kim V. Fendrich, Jens Frydenvang, Trevor G. Graff, John-Michael Morookian, Edward M.Stolper, Susanne P. Schwenzer. 

Silicic volcanism on Mars evidenced by tridymite in high-SiO2 sedimentary rock at Gale crater.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2016; 201607098 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607098113
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/06/07/1607098113

yours,
Paul H.

Late Pleistocene Patagonian Megafaunal Extinctions

Late Pleistocene Patagonian Megafaunal Extinctions

Megafauna mystery: What killed off the mastodons,
mammoths, and giant sloths? An Ice Age whodunit:
Scientists are gathering clues about what caused a
die off in giant prehistoric critters.
By Eva Botkin-Kowacki, June 17, 2016
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0617/Megafauna-mystery-What-killed-off-the-mastodons-mammoths-and-giant-sloths

Rising temperatures and humans were a deadly
combo for ancient South American megafauna
by Lizzie Wade, Science Magazine, June 17, 2016
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/06/rising-temperatures-and-humans-were-deadly-combo-ancient-south-american-megafauna

The paper is:

Metcalf, J. L., C. Turney, and many others, 2016,
Synergistic roles of climate warming and human
occupation in Patagonian megafaunal extinctions
during the Last Deglaciation. Science Advances
17 Jun 2016: Vol. 2, no. 6, e1501682
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/6/e1501682
http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/advances/2/6/e1501682.full.pdf

Another paper is:

Barnosky, A. D., P.L. Koch, R. S. Feranec, S. L. Wing,
and A. B. Shabel. 2004. Assessing the Causes of Late
Pleistocene Extinctions on the Continents.
Science. V. 306, pp. 70-75. https://goo.gl/kIEEnV

More papers at http://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/barnosky/publications.html

Yours,

Paul H.

New Elements Named - Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine and Oganesson

New Elements Named - Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine and Oganesson

Four new element names proposed for periodic table
Welcome Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine and Oganesson.
By Richard Van Noorden, Nature News, June 8, 2016
http://www.nature.com/news/four-new-element-names-proposed-for-periodic-table-1.20069

New elements on the periodic table are named
By Ashley Strickland, CNN, June 9, 2016
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/08/health/periodic-table-new-elements-names/

Discovery of Elements 113 and 115
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
https://pls.llnl.gov/research-and-development/nuclear-science/project-highlights/livermorium/elements-113-and-115

Yours,

Paul H.

France Launches Meteor-spotting Network

France Launches Meteor-spotting Network

France launches massive meteor-spotting network: Tracking space
rocks that reach Earth will give insight into the early Solar System.
by Traci Watson, Nature news, June 10, 2016,
http://www.nature.com/news/france-launches-massive-meteor-spotting-network-1.20070

Yours,

Paul H.

The Dunning–Kruger Effect

The Dunning–Kruger Effect

The Dunning–Kruger effect is sometimes encountered
in discussing meteorites on this list.

Dunning–Kruger effect
https://goo.gl/J3fcrz and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect

Dunning, D., K. Johnson, J. Ehrlinger and J. Kruger,
2003, Why People Fail to Recognize Their Own
Incompetence. Current Directions in Psychological
Science. vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 83-87.
http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/12/3/83.abstract
and https://goo.gl/BEffpS

Kruger, J., and D. Dunning, 1999, Unskilled and
unaware of it: how difficulties in recognizing
one's own incompetence lead to inflated self-
assessments. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology vol. 77, no.6, pp. 1121-1134.
https://goo.gl/YWxCIU and https://goo.gl/sJMp8a

Yours,
Paul H

Rapid and Severe Cretaceous–Paleogene Extinction in Antarctic

Rapid and Severe Cretaceous–Paleogene Extinction in Antarctic

How the event that killed off the dinosaurs wiped out
life in Antarctica, The Conversation, June 2, 2016
http://theconversation.com/how-the-event-that-killed-off-the-dinosaurs-wiped-out-life-in-antarctica-60265?

Fossils Suggest Antarctic Creatures Were Affected By
Dinosaur-Killing Extinction Event. Contrary to previous
beliefs, a new study suggests that Antarctic creatures
weren't safe from the dinosaur-killing extinction
event at the end of the Cretaceous Period
Headlines & Global News-May 31, 2016
http://www.hngn.com/articles/199935/20160531/fossils-suggest-antarctic-creatures-were-affected-dinosaur-killing-extinction-event.htm

Fossils Suggest Antarctic Creatures Were Affected By
Dinosaur-Killing Extinction Event. University of Leeds.
http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/south-polar-regions-end-cretaceous-extinction-03898.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160526091956.htm

Witts, J. D., R. J. Whittle, P. B. Wignall, J. A. Crame,
J. E. Francis, R. J. Newton, and V. C. Bowman, 2016,
Macrofossil evidence for a rapid and severe
Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction in Antarctica.
Nature Communications. Vol. 7, Article number: 11738
doi:10.1038/ncomms11738
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2016/160526/ncomms11738/full/ncomms11738.html

PDF file at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301658453_Macrofossil_evidence_for_a_rapid_and_severe_Cretaceous-Paleogene_mass_extinction_in_Antarctica

Yours,

Paul H.

Radiation Might Destroy Ancient Martian Organics

Radiation Might Destroy Ancient Martian Organics

Alien Life? Radiation May Erase Mars, Europa Fossils
By Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com, May 24, 2016
http://www.space.com/32962-alien-fossils-mars-europa-radiation.html

A couple of abstracts are:

Pavlov, A. A., J. Eigenbrode, D. Glavin, and M. Floyd, 2014,
Rapid Degradation of the Organic Molecules in Martian
Surface Rocks Due to Exposure to Cosmic Rays. Severe
Implications to the "Extinct" Life on Mars. 45th Lunar
and Planetary Science Conference (2014). abstract #2830
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2014/pdf/2830.pdf

Pavlov, A. A., D. Glavin, J. Dworkin, H. McLain, and J.
Eigenbrode, 2016, Rapid Degradation of the Organic
Molecules in Martian Subsurface Rocks Due to Exposure
to Cosmic Rays. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science
Conference (2016) abstract no. 2577
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/2577.pdf
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/authorindex.cfm?r=l-r#P

Yours,

Paul H.

Explanation for Origin of Nature's Heaviest Elements

Explanation for Origin of Nature's Heaviest Elements

Galactic 'Gold Mine' Explains the Origin of Nature's Heaviest Elements:
A unique galaxy loaded with hard-to-produce, heavy elements sheds
light on stellar histories and galactic evolution. MIT Kavli Institute for
Astrophysics and Space Research, May 19, 2016
http://www.kavlifoundation.org/science-spotlights/cosmic-heavy-metals
http://phys.org/news/2016-05-galactic-gold-nature-heaviest-elements.html

3 Questions: The origin of the cosmos’ heaviest elements: Unique galaxy
offers clues to the extreme conditions that yield the heavies of the
periodic table.
MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, March 21, 2016
http://news.mit.edu/2016/3-q-galaxy-origin-cosmos-heaviest-elements-0321

The paper is:

Alexander, P. J., A. Frebel, A. Chiti, and J. D. Simon, 2016, R-process
enrichment from a single event in an ancient dwarf galaxy
Nature. vol. 531, pp. 610–613 (31 March 2016) doi:10.1038/nature17425
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27001693

Also, there is:

Copious r-process enrichment from a single event in an ancient dwarf
galaxy by Alexander P. Ji, Anna Frebel, Anirudh Chiti, Joshua D. Simon
http://arxiv.org/abs/1512.01558

Yours,

Paul H.

Evidence of Precambrian Asteroid Impacts Found in Australia

Evidence of Precambrian Asteroid Impacts Found in Australia

Clues to ancient giant asteroid found in Australia
Australian National University, May 16, 2016
http://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/clues-to-ancient-giant-asteroid-found-in-western-australia

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160516095132.htm

http://www.astronomy.com/news/2016/05/clues-to-ancient-giant-asteroid-found-in-western-australia

Earth Hit by 15-Mile-Wide Earth Hit by 15-Mile-Wide
Asteroid 3.5 Billion Years Ago, Evidence Indicates, May 17, 2016
http://www.sci-news.com/geology/earth-hit-asteroid-3-5-billion-years-ago-03871.html

Glikson, A., A. Hickman, N. J. Evans, C. L. Kirkland, J.-W. Park, R. Rapp, and S. Romano., 2016, A new ∼3.46Ga asteroid impact ejecta unit at Marble Bar, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia: A petrological, microprobe and laser ablation ICPMS study. Precambrian Research; 279: 103 DOI: 10.1016/j.precamres.2016.04.003
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301249834_A_new_346_Ga_asteroid_impact_ejecta_unit_at_Marble_Bar_Pilbara_Craton_Western_Australia_A_petrological_microprobe_and_laser_ablation_ICPMS_study

Yours,

Paul H.

Ancient Tsunami on Mars

Ancient Tsunami on Mars

Ancient tsunami evidence on Mars reveals life potential,
By Blaine Friedlander, Cornell Chronicle, May 19, 2016
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2016/05/ancient-tsunami-evidence-mars-reveals-life-potential
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160519101756.htm

There Were Mega-Tsunamis on Mars. Billions of years ago, huge waves devastated the Martian landscape, make Earth's tsunamis look tame by comparison. Popular Mechanics
http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/a20941/there-were-mega-tsunamis-on-mars/

Mars may have been carved up by massive ancient tsunamis
By Rachel Feltman, The Washington Post, May 19, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/05/19/mars-may-have-been-carved-up-by-ancient-tsunamis/

Rodriguez, J. A. P., A. G. Fairén, K. L. Tanaka, M. Zarroca, R. Linares, T. Platz, G. Komatsu, H. Miyamoto, J. S. Kargel, J. Yan, V. Gulick, K. Higuchi, V. R. Baker and N. Glines, 2016, Tsunami Waves Extensively Resurfaced the Shorelines of an Early Martian Ocean. Scientific Reports, 2016
DOI: 10.1038/srep25106
http://www.nature.com/articles/srep25106

Yours,

Paul H.

Cosmic dust reveals Earth's ancient atmosphere

Cosmic dust reveals Earth's ancient atmosphere

Cosmic dust reveals Earth's ancient atmosphere
Monash University, May 11, 2016
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/cosmic-dust-reveals-earths-ancient-atmosphere-20160510-goryca.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160511154214.htm
http://www.livescience.com/54716-space-dust-reveals-clues-ancient-earth-atmosphere.html

“Using the oldest fossil micrometeorites -- space dust –
ever found, new research has made a surprising
discovery about the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere
2.7 billion years ago.”

The paper is:

Tomkins, A. G., L. Bowlt, M. Genge, S. A. Wilson, H. E. A.
Brand, and J. L. Wykes, 2016, Ancient micrometeorites
suggestive of an oxygen-rich Archaean upper atmosphere.
Nature, 2016; 533 (7602): 235 DOI: 10.1038/nature17678
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v533/n7602/full/nature17678.html

Off-topic, but a break from the daily gloom and doom.

World's Oldest Cat Anointed by Guinness
Discovery News, May 11, 2016
http://news.discovery.com/animals/pets/worlds-oldest-cat-anointed-by-guinness-160511.htm

Cat World Records
https://youtu.be/25oPIJlOliA

Yours,

Paul H.

Permian - Triassic Mayhem: Earth's Largest Mass Extinction

Permian - Triassic Mayhem: Earth's Largest Mass Extinction

Permian - Triassic Mayhem: Earth's Largest Mass Extinction
Beniot Beauchamp, Ph.D. - University of Calgary
Royal Tyrrell Museum Speaker Series 2013
Permian - Triassic Mayhem: Lead-up, Catastrophe and
Aftermath of the Earths Largest Mass Extinction viewed
from Arctic Canada, Febrary 11, 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8rynQqg9x8

Some papers are:

Beauchamp, B., Henderson, C.M., Grasby, S.E., Gates, L.T.,
Beatty, T.W., Utting, J., and James, N.P., 2009, Late Permian
sedimentation in the Sverdrup Basin, Cana- dian Arctic:
The Lindström and Black Stripe Forma- tions: Bulletin of
Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 57, p. 167–191,
doi:10.2113/gscpgbull.57.2.167.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250084443_Late_Permian_Sedimentation_in_the_Sverdrup_Basin_Canadian_Arctic_The_Lindstrom_and_Black_Stripe_Formations
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Benoit_Beauchamp

Grasby, S.E., Sanei, H., and Beauchamp, B., 2011, Catastrophic
dispersion of coal fly ash into oceans during the latest Permian
extinction: Nature Geoscience, v. 4, p. 104–107, doi:10.1038/ngeo1069.
Volume 153 / Special Issue 02 / March 2016, pp 285-297
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49120396_Catastrophic_dispersion_of_coal_fly_ash_into_oceans_during_the_latest_Permian_extinction

Grasby, S. E., B. Beauchamp, D. P. G. Bond, P. B. Wignall, and
H. Sanei, 2016, Mercury anomalies associated with three
extinction events (Capitanian Crisis, Latest Permian Extinction
and the Smithian/Spathian Extinction) in NW Pangea.
Geological Magazine. vol. 153, no. 2, pp. 285-297.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282628853_Mercury_anomalies_associated_with_three_extinction_events_Capitanian_Crisis_Latest_Permian_Extinction_and_the_SmithianSpathian_Extinction_in_NW_Pangea
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Benoit_Beauchamp

Beauchamp, B., and Baud, A., 2002, Growth and demise of
Permian biogenic chert along northwest Pangea: Evidence for
end-Permian collapse of thermohaline circulation: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 184, p. 37–63, doi:10.1016/S0031-0182
(02)00245-6.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223364925_Growth_and_demise_of_Permian_biogenic_chert_along_northwest_Pangaea_evidence_for_end-Permian_collapse_of_thermohaline_circulation

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

Yours,
Paul H.

Ames Impact Structure, Oklahoma, Symposium Online As PDF File

Ames Impact Structure, Oklahoma, Symposium Online As PDF File

The symposium is:

Johnson, K. S., and J. A. Campbell, 1997, Ames Structure in Northwest Oklahoma and Similar Features: Origin and Petroleum Production (1995 Symposium). Proceedings of a symposium held March 28-29, 1995, in Norman, Oklahoma. Circular no. 100. Oklahoma Geological Survey,
The University of Oklahoma, Norman. ISSN 0078-4397

It is at:

http://www.ogs.ou.edu/pubsscanned/Circulars/Circular100.pdf
http://digitalprairie.ok.gov/cdm/ref/collection/stgovpub/id/104579

A paper about similar oil and gas reservoirs created
by extraterrestrial impacts is "High-Impact Reservoirs"
at https://goo.gl/cDqakL .

Yours,

Paul H.

ECORD Drilling Reaches Chicxulub Crater

ECORD Drilling Reaches Chicxulub Crater

Scientists hit pay dirt in drilling of dinosaur-killing
impact crater by Eric Hand, Science, May. 3, 2016
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/scientists-hit-pay-dirt-drilling-dinosaur-killing-impact-crater

Geologists Find Clues In Crater Left By Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid
All Things Considered, NPR, May 6, 2016
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/06/476871766/geologists-find-clues-in-crater-left-by-dinosaur-killing-asteroid

What Happened To The Dinosaurs? Here and Now, April 7, 2016
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2016/04/07/mexico-crater-dinosaur-research

Yours,

Paul H

Hadean Detrital Zircons – Impacts Not Plate Tectonics ?

Hadean Detrital Zircons – Impacts Not Plate Tectonics ?

Origin of Earth's oldest crystals
Trinity College Dublin, April 28, 2016
http://www.sciencealert.com/there-s-a-new-theory-about-how-the-earth-s-oldest-crystals-were-formed
http://www.livescience.com/54648-oldest-crystals-formed-in-asteroid-craters.html
http://phys.org/news/2016-05-oldest-crystals-world.html

Kenny, G. G., M. J. Whitehouse, and B. S. Kamber, 2016,
Differentiated impact melt sheets may be a potential
source of Hadean detrital zircon. Geology. First published
online April 28, 2016, doi: 10.1130/G37898.1
http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/early/2016/04/27/G37898.1

Kenny, G. G., M. J. Whitehouse, and B. S. Kamber, 2016,
Differentiated impact melt sheets may be a potential
Source of Hadean detrital zircon population. 47th
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2016).
http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/2473.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.

Weaubleau-Osceola Impact Structure Guidebook PDF File

Weaubleau-Osceola Impact Structure Guidebook PDF File

Evans, K. R., K. L. Mickus, C. W. Rovey II, and G. H. Davis
2003, Field Trip I: The Weaubleau-Osceola Structure:
Evidence of a Mississippian Meteorite Impact in
Southwestern Missouri, pp. 1-30, Association of Missouri
Geologists Field Trip Guidebook 50th Annual Meeting
Springfield, Missouri September 26-27, 2003. Report of
Investigation No. 75 and Guidebook No. 26
Missouri Department of Natural Resources,Rollo, Missouri
http://www.missourigeologists.org/Meeting2003/RI-75(2003AMGguidebook).pdf

Other guidebooks about Missouri geology can be found at:
Association of Missouri Geologists Field Trips and Guidebooks
http://www.missourigeologists.org/FieldtripsandGuidebooks.htm

Yours,

Paul H.

PDF File of Crooked Creek Impact Structure, Missouri, Guidebook

PDF File of Crooked Creek Impact Structure, Missouri, Guidebook

Mulvany, 2004 (Gillman, J., editor), Association of Missouri Geologists Field Trip Guidebook, 51st Annual Meeting, Rolla, Missouri, October 1-2, 2004, 2004, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey and Resource Assessment Division. PDF file at:
http://www.missourigeologists.org/Meeting2004/AMGguidebook2004.pdf

Also, there is:

Kiilsgaard, T. H., Heyl, A. V. and Brock, M. R., 1962, The Crooked Creek disturbance, southeast Missouri. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 450-E, p. E14-E19.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0450e/report.pdf

An informative web page is at:

Crooked Creek Impact Crater, Missouri
http://impactcraters.us/crooked_creek_missouri
http://impactcraters.us/home

Yours,

Paul H.

Dental Disparity Saved Birds From K-Pg Extinction Event

Dental Disparity Saved Birds From K-Pg Extinction Event

Press Releases
New Royal Tyrrell Museum research investigates the pace of the dinosaur extinction, and why birds may have survived
https://royaltyrrellmuseum.wordpress.com/2016/04/21/new-royal-tyrrell-museum-research-investigates-the-pace-of-the-dinosaur-extinction-and-why-birds-may-have-survived/


Bird-like Dinosaurs with Teeth Died Off Abruptly, Beaked Birds Survived. Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum
https://dinomuseum.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Larson-2016-Bird-Dinosaur-Press-Release-PJCDM.pdf


Journal Reference:

Larson, D.W., Brown, C.M., and Evans, D.C. 2016. Dental disparity and ecological stability in bird-like dinosaurs prior to the end- Cretaceous mass extinction. Current Biology 26, 1–9.
http://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)30249-4
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=323286

Paper:
http://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdfExtended/S0960-9822(16)30249-4
Additional data:
http://www.cell.com/cms/attachment/2054006054/2060445977/mmc1.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.