DOCSLIB.ORG

Talking About Life: Conversations on Astrobiology Chris Impey Index More Information

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Talking About Life: Conversations on Astrobiology Chris Impey Index More Information Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-51492-7 - Talking about Life: Conversations on Astrobiology Chris Impey Index More information Index 2001: A Space Odyssey, 206, 369 Ancestor simulation, 345 Artificial intelligence, 330, 331, Anderson, Donald, 115 335, 338, 346 A Brief History of Time, 348 Andretti, Mario, 368 Artificial signal, 309, 313, 318 Abell, George, 255 Animal Asimov, Isaac, 28, 72, 179, 366 Acasta gneiss formation, 83 behavior, 144, 148, 155 Asteroid, 206, 211, 220, 222 Accretion, 204, 245, 249, 250, brain size, 157 Astounding Stories of Super Science, 252 cognition, 145, 156 367 Acetylene, 184 communication, 152 Astrobiology: A Multidisciplinary Acetylene cycle, 184 consciousness, 163 Approach, 190 Agassis, Louis, 179 culture, 160 Astronaut, 42, 43, 56, 57, 372 ALH 84001 meteorite, 26, 27, intelligence, 155 Astronomer Royal, 365 51, 91, 94, 112, 127, 180, language, 156 Atacama desert, 174, 175, 238 189, 212, 340, 350 learning, 147, 151 ATP, 108 Allen, David, 294 memory, 150 Augmented reality, 332 Allen, Paul, 313 self-awareness, 156, 163 Avatar, 332 Allen Telescope Array, 311, 312, social behavior, 159 313, 315, 322 transmitted knowledge, Bacteria, 18, 28, 63, 88, 89, 90, Allende meteorite, 221 160 91, 99, 105, 106, 119, 120, Alpha Centauri, 264, 268, 272, Antarctic dry valleys, 103, 127, 128, 129, 131, 139, 273 169 164, 175, 271, 297, 301, Alternative biologies, 173, 195, Antarctica, 176 351, 375, 384 353 Anthropic principle, 60, 334, Bains, William, v, viii, 69 Alvarez hypothesis, 114, 117 337, 343, 354 Barite, 90 Alvin submersible, 104 Anthropic reasoning, 335, 342, Baross, John, v, viii, 73, 102 Amino acid, 64, 126, 139, 211, 344, 364 Bayesian probability theory, 271, 351 Apollo program, 36, 37, 47, 55, 342 Ammonia, 61, 64, 77, 108, 111, 193, 371, 372 Behavioral ecology, 144, 157 184, 192 Archean era, 82, 105 Belief systems, 186 Amoeba, 162 Aristotle, 10, 23, 24 Bell, Alexander Graham, 372 Analog Science Fiction Magazine, Arrhenius, Svente, 351 Bell Burnell, Jocelyn, 311, 367 Arthropod, 135 320 398 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-51492-7 - Talking about Life: Conversations on Astrobiology Chris Impey Index More information Index 399 Benner, Steve, v, viii, 58, 101, Callisto, 201 Computational chemistry, 67 182, 189, 195 Cambrian era, 144 Computational methods, Billingham, John, 306 Cambrian explosion, 112, 244, 245 Binary star, 247, 253 115, 132, 137, 171 Computers, 12, 68, 124, 195, Biochemical unity, 107 Campbell, John, 367 244, 245, 259, 267, 273, Bioengineering, 327 Carbon dioxide, 77 327, 330, 331, 359 Biological landscape, 74 Carbon isotope, 116, 126 Condensation sequence, Biological system, 74 Carbon nanotubes, 372 210 Biomarker, 7, 37, 73, 126, Carr, Bernard, 363 Consolmagno, Guy, vi, viii, 263, 291, 295, 296, 297, Carter, Brandon, 342 217 298 Cassini, Giovanni, 199 Contact, 28, 36, 314, 315, Biomineralization, 138 Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, 320 Biot, Jean-Baptiste, 223 184, 201, 203 Convergence Biotechnology, 61, 70 Catalytic reactions, 107 in biology, 139, 140, 141, Bird song, 153 Catalytic system, 74 144, 159, 307, 341 Black hole, 349 Catling, David, 131 Copernican revolution, 24, Black smoker, 104 Celestial Worlds Discovered, 54 29, 261, 276, 283, 302 Bode’s law, 245, 246, 270 Cephalopod, 141, 143, 144, Copernicus, Nicklaus, 25 Boltzmann brain, 365 145, 149, 150, 335 Coral reef, 144, 149, 153, Boron, 60 Cephalopod Behaviour, 144 238 Boss, Alan, vi, viii, 243 Cetacean, 140, 155, 156, 157 Core accretion, 249, 251, Bostrom, Nick, vi, viii, 337 Chambers, John, 270 252, 270 Bova, Ben, vi, ix, 366, 366, Chaos theory, 76 Coronagraph, 282, 296 370 Charbonneau, David, vi, viii, Cosmic imperative, 352, 353, Bowyer, Stuart, 306 278, 284 354 Boynton, Bill, 234 Chimpanzee, 163, 335 Cosmic parameters, 360 Brain Chlorophyll, 301, 302, 349 Cosmos, 32, 34, 35 capability, 365 Cholesterol, 63, 88, 89, 126 Counterfactuals, 60, 362 energy cost of, 159 Chromatophore, 146 Creationists, 14 structure, 145, 159, 161 Cicero, 384 Crick, Francis, 357 Brenner, Sidney, 357 Clarke, Arthur C., 28, 310, Crisp, David, 294 Briggs, Derek, 138 323, 359, 366, 369, 372 Cryogenic biosphere, 78 Broker, Wally, 190 Cocconi, Giuseppe, 308, Cryovolcanism, 184, 192 Brown, Tim, 287 317 Cultural evolution, 163 Brown dwarf, 306 Cochran, William, 247 Cuttlefish, 152 Brownlee, Donald, 172 Comet Cyanobacteria, 119, 125 Bruno, Giordano, 354 life in, 301 Cyclops report, 306 Buick, Roger, v, viii, 81, 84, Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, 87, 90 294 Dark energy, 52, 362 Burgess Shale formation, Comet Tempel-1, 200 Dark matter, 317 134, 135, 136, 137, 139 Coming of Age in the Milky Way, Darwin, Charles, 16, 17, 135 Butler, Paul, 231, 247, 248, 3, 4 Darwinian evolution, 161, 257, 264, 265, 266, 268, Complex systems, 355 182 273 Complexity, 62, 75, 132, 172, Davies, Paul, vi, viii, 347 Butterfield, Nicholas, 136 344, 355 Davis, Sumner, 230 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-51492-7 - Talking about Life: Conversations on Astrobiology Chris Impey Index More information 400 Index Dawkins, Richard, 35 formation of life, 194 bottleneck, 334, 335, de Duve, Christian, 21 future of life, 11 380 Deep Impact spacecraft, 200, habitability, 190 burst of, 116 203 history of life, 125 chemical, 59 Deinococcus radiodurans, 96, 97 impacts by asteroids, cosmic, 34 Denning, Kathryn, 155 222 cultural, 379 Diatom, 138 moment of inertia, 115 Darwinian, 59, 140 Dick, Steven, v, viii, 22 nitrogen atmosphere, environmental Dickens, Charles, 384 220 influences on, 95 Dinosaurs, 53, 125 oldest rocks, 84 filter, 339, 340 Disk instability, 243, 250, oxygen atmosphere, 119 human, 338 251, 252 plate tectonics, 190 mass extinction, 67 DNA, 18, 20, 33, 52, 59, 60, prebiotic, 63 molecular, 20 63, 64, 65, 74, 95, 96, snowball episode, 117 of brain size, 157, 158 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 111, spectrum of, 299 of complexity, 129, 171 113, 128, 156, 173, 175, tectonics, 108 of eyes, 144, 383 194, 271, 349, 360, 381 Earth: Evolution of a Habitable of intelligence, 53, 132, Dolphin, 155, 156, 159 World, 189 140, 142, 157, 159, Doomsday scenario, 335, Ediacara era, 137 162, 323, 354, 357, 341, 342 Edison, Thomas, 372 365 Doppler method, 290 Electromagnetic radiation, of life, 16 Doppler shift, 255, 256, 257, 153, 325 post-biological, 334, 343, 259, 260, 268, 277, 286, Elephant, 161, 382 346, 359 313 Emergent phenomena, 354 rate of, 330, 339, 340 Doyle, Laurance, 156 Enceladus, 193, 196, 201, 202 technological, 332, 333, Dr. Strangelove, 369 geysers on, 202 380 Dragon’s Egg, 28 water on, 193 ExoMars spacecraft, 175 Dragons of Eden, 189 Encephalization quotient. Exoplanet Drake equation, 291, 344, 359 See Encephalization ratio 47 Ursa Majoris, 259 Drake, Frank, 7, 29, 180, 306, Encephalization ratio, 150, 51 Pegasus, 247, 259, 314, 317, 323, 340, 380, 159, 160, 161, 323 275, 286 384 Enzyme, 20, 62, 63, 76, 111, 55 Cancri, 261, 262 Druyan, Ann, v, 31, 35, 314 328 70 Virginis, 259, 260 Duck Creek formation, 130 Epistemology, 343 architectures, 220 Dyson, Freeman, 7, 189, 350, Ethogram, 152 atmospheres, 133, 275, 357 Eukaryote, 99, 131, 195 280, 288, 295 Europa biosignatures, 283 Earth analog, 226 composition, 281, 287, as a planet, 190 life on, 68, 109, 164, 302 biomass, 302 180, 192, 218, 339 cores, 291 cosmic perspective, 47 ocean, 218 density, 279, 286 early atmosphere, 18 Evolution, 129 detecting Earths, 268 extreme environments, 8 and contingency, 307 detection of, 7, 256, 259, formation of, 14, 82, 191 and diversity, 76 358 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-51492-7 - Talking about Life: Conversations on Astrobiology Chris Impey Index More information Index 401 Dinky, 266 Experimental science, 248 Fieldwork, 83, 95, 113, 124, discovery of, 180, 189, Exponential change, 328 136, 148, 149, 153, 174, 255 Extraterrestrial life 175, 176 diversity, 290 and popular culture, 38, Fine-tuning arguments, 343, Earth-like, 273, 277, 299, 40, 186, 349 344, 359 349 and religion, 227 Fischer, Debra, vi, viii, 262, eccentric orbits, 261, belief in, 186 264, 266 269, 271 civilizations, 310, 334, Focal animal sampling, 149 eclipses, 278, 286 335, 339, 344, 359 Forward, Robert, 28, 360 first discovery of, 231, colonization, 310, 325, Fossil, 86, 100, 115, 124, 129, 246, 285 334, 339, 345 133, 135, 136, 157, 212 Fourpiter, 266 contact with, 227 atomic, 89, 126 Gliese 876, 262 evidence for, 51, 127 body, 86 habitability, 190, 294 first discovery of, 196 molecular, 88 HD 149026, 262 history of idea, 23 trace, 87, 126 HD 209458, 287, 288 impact of discovery, 10, Foster, Jodie, 36, 37, 305, 314 hot Jupiters, 247, 250, 21, 173 Fractionation, 90 269, 275, 289 in an infinite universe, Frost, Robert, 6 imaging, 275 344 Fry, Iris, v, viii, 13 incidence of, 191 intelligent, 10, 307, 314, Fundamentalism, 38 Jupiter analogs, 261 318, 323, 375, 376 Future of Humanity life on moons of, 219 nature of, 380, 381 Institute, 338 mass distribution, 269 probability of, 338, 357, microlensing, 277 384 Gaia hypothesis, 66, 172, multiple-planet systems, sense of humor, 385 180, 190 266, 270 speculation about, 24 Galaxy Quest, 369 pulsar, 279 technology, 310, 323, Galilei, Galileo, 25, 180 rocky cores, 262 324, 325 Gamma ray burst, 311 size, 289 the search for, 349 Ganymede, 201 spectra, 299 world view, 29 Geochemical cycling, 103 super-Earths, 191, 260, Extra-vehicular activity, 45 Geological mapping, 84 261, 276, 283, 295 Extremophile, 64, 95, 96, Goldilocks principle, 8, 341 super-Jupiters, 191, 219, 100, 180, 183, 358 Goldin, Daniel, 180 276, 290 Eye Goldreich, Peter, 198, 247, survival in binary convergent evolution 248 system, 272 of, 162 Gould, Stephen Jay, 15, 132, temperature, 281 162, 307, 375 terrestrial, 268, 277, Fermi paradox.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Asteroid Impact, Not Volcanism, Caused the End-Cretaceous Dinosaur Extinction
    Asteroid impact, not volcanism, caused the end-Cretaceous dinosaur extinction Alfio Alessandro Chiarenzaa,b,1,2, Alexander Farnsworthc,1, Philip D. Mannionb, Daniel J. Luntc, Paul J. Valdesc, Joanna V. Morgana, and Peter A. Allisona aDepartment of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom; bDepartment of Earth Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom; and cSchool of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TH Bristol, United Kingdom Edited by Nils Chr. Stenseth, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, and approved May 21, 2020 (received for review April 1, 2020) The Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction, 66 Ma, included the (17). However, the timing and size of each eruptive event are demise of non-avian dinosaurs. Intense debate has focused on the highly contentious in relation to the mass extinction event (8–10). relative roles of Deccan volcanism and the Chicxulub asteroid im- An asteroid, ∼10 km in diameter, impacted at Chicxulub, in pact as kill mechanisms for this event. Here, we combine fossil- the present-day Gulf of Mexico, 66 Ma (4, 18, 19), leaving a crater occurrence data with paleoclimate and habitat suitability models ∼180 to 200 km in diameter (Fig. 1A). This impactor struck car- to evaluate dinosaur habitability in the wake of various asteroid bonate and sulfate-rich sediments, leading to the ejection and impact and Deccan volcanism scenarios. Asteroid impact models global dispersal of large quantities of dust, ash, sulfur, and other generate a prolonged cold winter that suppresses potential global aerosols into the atmosphere (4, 18–20). These atmospheric dinosaur habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    Introduction Introduction Doing Science Science & Society Our Environmental Heritage The Science of Global Change Summary The materials of science are the material of life itself. Science is part of the reality of living; it is the what, the how, and the why of everything in our experience. It is impossible to understand man without understanding his environment and the forces that have molded him physically and mentally. The aim of science is to discover and illuminate truth. Rachel Carson Whatever knowledge is attainable, must be obtained by scientific methods, and what science cannot discover, mankind cannot know. Bertrand Russell Introduction • Earth science, geology and environmental geology involve the study of the Earth and the processes that shape its surface but have different emphases. • The Earth System is composed of four principal components: atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and the solid Earth. • The science of Earth becomes relevant to society when we examine the interaction between human beings and the planet we share. The Good Earth represents an attempt to introduce students to Earth Science with an emphasis on our interaction with our environment. Consequently, this text includes components from two common undergraduate courses, Earth Science and Environmental Geology. These courses have more elements in common than they have differences. • Geology is the study of the Earth. That includes how the planet was formed, what it is made from, and how it has changed over time. Geologists study the processes that occur on Earth's surface and others taking place within the planet's interior. • Environmental geology views geology through the prism of the human experience.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact Structures and Events – a Nordic Perspective
    107 by Henning Dypvik1, Jüri Plado2, Claus Heinberg3, Eckart Håkansson4, Lauri J. Pesonen5, Birger Schmitz6, and Selen Raiskila5 Impact structures and events – a Nordic perspective 1 Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Blindern, NO 0316 Oslo, Norway. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Geology, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014 Tartu, Estonia. 3 Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change, Roskilde University, P.O. Box 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. 4 Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen, Denmark. 5 Division of Geophysics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. 6 Department of Geology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 12, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden. Impact cratering is one of the fundamental processes in are the main reason that the Nordic countries are generally well- the formation of the Earth and our planetary system, as mapped. reflected, for example in the surfaces of Mars and the Impact craters came into the focus about 20 years ago and the interest among the Nordic communities has increased during recent Moon. The Earth has been covered by a comparable years. The small Kaalijärv structure of Estonia was the first impact number of impact scars, but due to active geological structure to be confirmed in northern Europe (Table 1; Figures 1 and processes, weathering, sea floor spreading etc, the num- 7). First described in 1794 (Rauch), the meteorite origin of the crater ber of preserved and recognized impact craters on the field (presently 9 craters) was proposed much later in 1919 (Kalju- Earth are limited.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Catastrophes in Earth History
    GLOBAL CATASTROPHES IN EARTH HISTORY An Interdisciplinary Conference on Impacts, Volcanism, and Mass Mortality Snowbird, Utah October 20-23, 1988 N89-2 12E7 --?HEW- Sponsored by The Lunar and Planetary Institute and The National Academy of Sciences Abstracts Presented to the Topical Conference Global Catastrophes in Earth History: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Impacts, Volcanism, and Mass Mortality Snowbird, Utah October 20 - 23,1988 Sponsored by Lunar and Planetary Institute and The National Academy of Sciences LPI Contribution No. 673 Compiled in 1988 Lunar and Planetary Institute Material in this volume may be copied without restraint for library, abstract service, educational, or personal research purposes; however, republication of any paper or portion thereof requires the written permission of the authors as well as appropriate acknowledgment of this publication. PREFACE This volume contains abstracts that have been accepted for presentation at the topical conference Global Catastrophes in Earth History: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Impacts, Volcanism and Mass Mortality. The Organizing Committee consisted of Robert Ginsburg, Chairman, University of Miami; Kevin Burke, Lunar and Planetary Institute; Lee M. Hunt, National Research Council; Digby McLaren, University of Ottawa; Thomas Simkin, National Museum of Natural History; Starley L. Thompson, National Center for Atmospheric Research; Karl K. Turekian, Yale University; George W. Wetherill, Carnegie Institution of Washington. Logistics and administrative support were provided by the Projects Ofice at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. This abstract volume was prepared by the Publications Office staff at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. The Lunar and Planetary Institute is operated by the Universities Space Research Association under contract No. NASW-4066 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    [Show full text]
  • The End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction and the Chicxulub Impact
    Wright State University CORE Scholar Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications Earth and Environmental Sciences 5-2016 The End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction and the Chicxulub Impact Rebecca Teed Wright State University - Main Campus, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/ees Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons, Evolution Commons, and the Paleobiology Commons Repository Citation Teed, R. (2016). The End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction and the Chicxulub Impact. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/ees/127 This Open Education Resource (OER) is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Environmental Sciences at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact library- [email protected]. The end-Cretaceous mass extinction and the Chicxulub impact by Rebecca Teed, Wright State University What Do We Know About Massive Meteor Impacts? Meteors crash into Earth’s atmosphere every day, but almost all crumble into dust before they reach the surface. Occasionally, a larger fragment, called a meteorite, makes it all the way to Earth’s surface. There have been cases of people injured and property damaged by meteorites. One of the more spectacular recent atmospheric impacts occurred over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013. The meteor exploded in the air, generating a shockwave that shattered windows all over the city, sending over a thousand people to the hospital. To make matters worse, the impact occurred in February, during very cold weather, and it was hard to heat those homes until the windows could be repaired.
    [Show full text]
  • Asteroid Impact, Not Volcanism, Caused the End-Cretaceous Dinosaur Extinction
    Asteroid impact, not volcanism, caused the end-Cretaceous dinosaur extinction Alfio Alessandro Chiarenzaa,b,1,2, Alexander Farnsworthc,1, Philip D. Mannionb, Daniel J. Luntc, Paul J. Valdesc, Joanna V. Morgana, and Peter A. Allisona aDepartment of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom; bDepartment of Earth Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom; and cSchool of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TH Bristol, United Kingdom Edited by Nils Chr. Stenseth, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, and approved May 21, 2020 (received for review April 1, 2020) The Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction, 66 Ma, included the (17). However, the timing and size of each eruptive event are demise of non-avian dinosaurs. Intense debate has focused on the highly contentious in relation to the mass extinction event (8–10). relative roles of Deccan volcanism and the Chicxulub asteroid im- An asteroid, ∼10 km in diameter, impacted at Chicxulub, in pact as kill mechanisms for this event. Here, we combine fossil- the present-day Gulf of Mexico, 66 Ma (4, 18, 19), leaving a crater occurrence data with paleoclimate and habitat suitability models ∼180 to 200 km in diameter (Fig. 1A). This impactor struck car- to evaluate dinosaur habitability in the wake of various asteroid bonate and sulfate-rich sediments, leading to the ejection and impact and Deccan volcanism scenarios. Asteroid impact models global dispersal of large quantities of dust, ash, sulfur, and other generate a prolonged cold winter that suppresses potential global aerosols into the atmosphere (4, 18–20). These atmospheric dinosaur habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Shock Papers 2008
    Shock Physics Papers 2008 2008, Acarer, M. and Demir, B. "An investigation of mechanical and metallurgical properties of explosive welded aluminum-dual phase steel" Mater. Letts 62 4158-4160 2008, Akbari-Mousavi, S.A.A., Barrett, L.M. and Al-Hassani, S.T.S. "Explosive welding of metal plates" J. Mater. Process. Technol. 202 224-239 2008, Akli, K.U., Hansen, S.B., Kemp, A.J., Freeman, R.R., Beg, F.N., Clark, D.C., Chen, S.D., Hey, D., Hatchett, S.P., Highbarger, K., Giraldez, E., Green, J.S., Gregori, G., Lancaster, K.L., Ma, T., MacKinnon, A.J., Norreys, P., Patel, N., Pasley, J., Shearer, C., Stephens, R.B., Stoeckl, C., Storm, M., Theobald, W., Van Woerkom, L.D., Weber, R. and Key, M.H. "Laser heating of solid matter by light-pressure- driven shocks at ultrarelativistic intensities" Phys. Rev. Letts 100 165002 2008, Alba-Baena, N.G., Salas, W. and Murr, L.E. "Characterization of micro and nano two-phase regimes created by explosive shock-wave consolidation of powder mixtures" Mater. Charact. 59 1152-1160 2008, Alexander, C.S., Chhabildas, L.C., Reinhart, W.D. and Templeton, D.W. "Changes to the shock response of fused quartz due to glass modification" Int. J. Impact Engng 35 1376-1385 2008, Álvarez, U.M., Ramírez, A., Fernández, F., Méndez, A. and Loske, A.M. "The influence of single pulse and tandem shock waves on bacteria" Shock Waves 17 441-447 2008, Amer, E., Gren, P. and Sjödahl, M. "Shock wave generation in laser ablation studied using pulsed digital holographic interferometry" J.
    [Show full text]
  • A Tale of Clusters: No Resolvable Periodicity in the Terrestrial Impact Cratering Record
    Meier & Holm-Alwmark, 2017 – A tale of clusters (accepted for publication in MNRAS) A tale of clusters: No resolvable periodicity in the terrestrial impact cratering record Matthias M. M. Meier1* and Sanna Holm-Alwmark2 1ETH Zurich, Institute of Geochemistry & Petrology, Clausiusstrasse 25, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland 2Department of Geology, Lund University, S olvegatan 12, 22362 Lund, Sweden * E-Mail: [email protected] Accepted 2017 January 23. Received 2017 January 18; in original form 2016 July 09. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society following peer review. The version of record is available at: dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx211 ABSTRACT Rampino & Caldeira (2015) carry out a circular spectral analysis (CSA) of the ter- restrial impact cratering record over the past 260 million years (Ma), and suggest a ~26 Ma periodicity of impact events. For some of the impacts in that analysis, new accurate and high-precision (“robust”; 2SE<2%) 40Ar-39Ar ages have recently been published, resulting in significant age shifts. In a CSA of the updated impact age list, the periodicity is strongly reduced. In a CSA of a list containing only im- pacts with robust ages, we find no significant periodicity for the last 500 Ma. We show that if we relax the assumption of a fully periodic impact record, assuming it to be a mix of a periodic and a random component instead, we should have found a periodic component if it contributes more than ~80% of the impacts in the last 260 Ma.
    [Show full text]
  • Small Spacecraft in Planetary Defence Related Applications
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Institute of Transport Research:Publications Small Spacecraft in Planetary Defence Related Applications – Capabilities, Constraints, Challenges Jan Thimo Grundmann Caroline Lange DLR Institute of Space Systems DLR Institute of Space Systems Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 28359 Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany Germany +49-421-24420-1107 +49-421-24420-1159 [email protected] [email protected] Bernd Dachwald Christian D. Grimm Faculty of Aerospace Engineering DLR Institute of Space Systems FH Aachen University of Applied Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 Sciences 28359 Bremen, Hohenstaufenallee 6 Germany 52064 Aachen, +49-421-24420-1266 Germany [email protected] +49-241-6009-52343 / -52854 [email protected] Aaron Dexter Koch Stephan Ulamec DLR Institute of Space Systems DLR Space Operations and Astronaut Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 Training – MUSC 28359 Bremen, 51147 Cologne, Germany Germany +49-421-24420-1183 +49-2203-601-4567 [email protected] [email protected] Abstract— In this paper we present an overview of the TABLE OF CONTENTS characteristics and peculiarities of small spacecraft missions related to planetary defence applications. We provide a brief 1. INTRODUCTION……………………………….1 overview of small spacecraft missions to small solar system MBRACING ONSTRAINTS bodies. On this background we present recent missions and 2. E C …………………..3 selected projects and related studies at the German Aerospace 3. GETTING SMALL ……………………………..5 Center, DLR, that contribute to planetary defence related 4. GETTING THERE ……………………………10 activities. These range from Earth orbit technology OING HINGS demonstrators to active science missions in interplanetary 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Chicxulub Impact Event Computer Animations and Paper Models by Tau Rho Alpha, John P
    Go Home U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Chicxulub impact event Computer animations and paper models By Tau Rho Alpha, John P. Galloway and Scott W. Starratt Open-file Report 97-442-A This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this program has been used by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy and functioning of the program and related program material, nor shall the fact of distribution constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection therewith. U.S. Geological Survey Menlo Park, CA 94025 Comments encouraged tralpha @ geodata. wr.usgs. go v [email protected] [email protected] (go backward) <~l L^ (go forward) Description of Report This report illustrates, by means of computer animations and two paper models, how dinosaurs may have become extinct as a result of an asteroid impact. By studying the animations and the paper models, students will better understand the mass extinctions that have been part of the Earth's history. Included in the paper and diskette versions of this report are templates for making the two paper models, instructions for their assembly, and a discussion of a possible asteroid impact at Chicxulub, Mexico. In addition, the diskette version includes two animations of an asteroid impact, one view from space and the other from the Earth.
    [Show full text]
  • Lesson Plan Luis Alvarez: Dinosaurs, Pyramids, and Bubble Chambers
    Lesson Plan Luis Alvarez: Dinosaurs, Pyramids, and Bubble Chambers Photograph by Jerome Danburg, courtesy AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Danburg Collection Grade Level(s): 9-12 Subject(s): History, Particle Physics In-Class Time: 60-90 min Prep Time: 10-15 min Materials • Print outs of Seeing Particles Activity or Access to computers • Discussion sheets (In Resources Section below) • Videos/Links: o Pyramid Video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5040093/Hidden- structure-inside-Great-Pyramid-Giza.html o Seeing Particles Activity: http://epweb2.ph.bham.ac.uk/user/watkins/seeweb/BubbleChamber.htm o What Really Killed the Dinosaurs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iNcRJGzzxs Objective In this lesson plan, students will learn about the life of experimental physicist Luis W. Alvarez, as well as his contributions to particle physics. The activities in this guide are meant to highlight Alvarez’ contributions to physics, while the readings are meant to highlight Luiz’ other works in radar systems and extinction theories. Introduction Prepared by the Center for the History of Physics at AIP 1 Luis. W Alvarez was born in 1911 in San Francisco. He was a second-generation immigrant from Cuba, though due to the climate at the time towards immigrants and Cuba, he was not in touch with his Cuban heritage, and preferred to not be called Latino. His father was a physician. [1] He was encouraged by his high school teachers to attend the university of Chicago for college, and received his bachelors, masters and doctorate degree in physics there. [1] As a grad student he worked to build a cosmic ray telescope with Compton to measure the East-West effect of cosmic rays.
    [Show full text]
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley Scientific Journal
    UC Berkeley Berkeley Scientific Journal Title Collision Course: The Threat and Effects of an Asteroid Impact Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/68q7q2f4 Journal Berkeley Scientific Journal, 17(2) ISSN 1097-0967 Author Reddy, Sharath Publication Date 2013 DOI 10.5070/BS3172020099 Undergraduate eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California COLLISION COURSE: THE THREAT AND EFFEctS OF AN ASTEROID IMPAct BSJ SHARATH REDDY Berkeley Scientific Journal • death and dying • fall/Spring year • Volume #17 • iSSue #2 • 1 n the winter of 2012, believers in the Mayan sure waves that felled trees for 30 miles, an lub that formed about 65 million years ago, it actually occurring. Comparing the threat prophecy predicting the cataclysmic destruc- impact which was more powerful than the precisely when the K-Pg (Cretaceous Paleo- of an asteroid impact to the threat of other tion of the Earth on December 21st, 2012 atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima (Phil- gene) extinction occurred. Asteroid impacts geological threats allows us to gain a better Iwere disappointed when life continued on lips, 2008). Villagers living nearly 40 miles are point events, which lead to a longer term understanding of the relative threat an NEO the 22nd. Although that may have been a from the blast epicenter were eyewitnesses effects such as a decrease in temperature and poses. Megatsunamis caused by massive un- “near miss” for the planet’s inhabitants, a to the event, communicating what they saw death of vegetation, which would eventually dersea earthquakes and volcanic supererup- new threat is just upon the horizon: asteroids, to Russian geologists and astronomers.
    [Show full text]