The California Tech [email protected] VOLUME CXV NUMBER 16 PASADENA , CALIFORNIA TE C H .C ALTE C H .EDU FEBRUARY 13, 2012 Caltech scientists join Mars Science Lab team KIMM FESENMAIER of rocks and geomorphic surfaces might be possible to detect the million years ago, but how would spectrometer to get a sense of the Science Writer that we will encounter. Bethany’s isotope helium-3 with SAM’s you ever really know?” Farley says. chemical elements present. The selection ensures that we are spectrometer. Since helium-3 is “The technique that I have is a way science team needs to be able to use With the Mars Science able to integrate her experience produced by the bombardment to say, ‘Yes, this is, in fact, a very those results and their knowledge Laboratory (MSL) well on its way with orbiter-based spectroscopy of surface materials by incoming young surface.’” of mineralogy to quickly decide to Mars, the newest members of its with ground truthing of mineral cosmic rays, measurements of the Farley says his involvement with whether to spend more time and science team have been announced. compositions by Curiosity.” isotope can be used to determine MSL is a major departure from his energy on a particular target or to Two Caltech previous work, as he keep Curiosity moving. professors—Kenneth has not been heavily To give them a leg up, Ehlmann Farley and Bethany involved in the study is analyzing rocks from places Ehlmann—are among of the geology of such as Iceland as well as synthetic 18 researchers who Mars. “Most of what mixtures of minerals in the lab have been selected as I do is technique that are similar to the materials funded participating d e v e l o p m e n t ,” observed from Mars orbit at the scientists on the he says. “So it’s Gale Crater landing site. The rocks mission. They interesting for me can be well characterized in Earth were selected, to see potential laboratories to understand their along with about a application of one mineralogy, the elements they dozen international of those techniques are made of, and how they would scientists, from a pool in another very appear from orbit. She is studying of 149 applicants based different setting.” how they have been changed on their potential In contrast, by different types of interaction contributions to the space missions are with water. She plans to take the scientific objective of Bethany Ehlmann’s samples to Los Alamos National the mission—to use bread and butter. The Laboratory, which partnered with the car-sized Mars assistant professor the French national space agency rover, Curiosity, and of planetary science to build the ChemCam, in order to its suite of scientific at Caltech got her test her samples with a ChemCam- instruments to search first taste of rover like instrument. for evidence of a once operations while “It’s very helpful to have this or presently habitable an undergraduate beforehand understanding of what environment on Mars. This will be the first space how long rocks or other geologic student working on the Mars you might see or what kinds of “The Participating Scientist mission that Farley, the W.M. features have been exposed on the Exploration Rovers mission. analyses you need to run,” Ehlmann program for MSL was extremely Keck Foundation Professor surface of a planet. This could help Then as a graduate student, she says. “If you understand the competitive,” says John Grotzinger, of Geochemistry and chair of scientists date features on Mars was a collaborator on the Mars processes enough that you develop the mission’s project scientist the Division of Geological and such as impact craters, but it could Reconnaissance Orbiter mission quick-look algorithms for detecting and the Fletcher Jones Professor Planetary Sciences at Caltech, also come in handy in terms of and used data from multiple different styles of alteration, it will of Geology at Caltech. “It’s great has been involved with. His work target selection. orbiters to locate hydrated minerals help in the tactical timescale when to have Ken and Bethany join focuses on measuring noble gases Imagine, for example, that the on the surface of the red planet. you only have a few hours to come the science team. Ken will bring in rocks, and that is precisely what science team locates an impact site For MSL, Ehlmann proposed up with a plan for the rover for the unique expertise to the mission he hopes to help the MSL team do on Mars that seems to have been to help improve the team’s ability next day.”In addition to Farley and bearing on the age determination on Mars. created within the last few million to select rocks from a distance for Ehlmann, two researchers from Examining the years. The rocks around that site more extensive study. Curiosity the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, capabilities of one of would be ideal targets for closer is equipped with a laser and a Insoo Jun and Michael Mischna, Curiosity’s science study because any organic matter telescope known collectively as were also selected as participating In this issue instruments, Sample they contain would have been ChemCam, mounted on its mast. scientists. The new group brings Analysis at Mars (SAM), protected from cosmic rays until From a distance of about seven the full science team for MSL to which was designed to they were thrown out onto the meters, the laser can zap a rock more than 300 scientists. They are look for organic matter, surface. “The trouble is, it’s easy to create a plasma, which can busy preparing for the spacecraft’s Farley realized that it to say that an impact happened a be analyzed with the ChemCam August 5 arrival at Mars. NEWS ASCIT Minutes 2 News briefs from around the globe OPINION A response to Helping readers burst out of the Caltech bubble Scholten’s letter 3 !""#$%&$'(&) *++ ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!"!! !#$%&'!()$*+!+,-!#$%.&!+,/'!#--0!1!+$2/3'!'$%+-&!4%$5!6$$&!+$!)(&! $ FEATURE ,-./"01"234$0($105"$ )7!8(5!9(%:-++!67 1!./:0'!+$!4*..!'+$%/-'!(;(/.().-!(+!)(%:-++<3(.+-3,<-&*=:-#' Interview with Prof. ?@AAB Kirschvink 82&9$:$&;"2%<2("#$$$ = !,$*%'!(4+-%!+(0/:6!(!'0/:!3(:3-%!&%*6>!5-5$%7!/52%$;-&!%(&/3(..7!! $! !!!!!! ! ?F8GB 5 !C*&6-!2(:-.!%*.-&!+,(+!)(:!$4!'(5-D'-E!5(%%/(6-!/'!*:3$:'+/+*+/$:(. ><2&$1?'"4$41?--$@?0(4$$!$+A=B !?@A9@B !(4+-%!H%--3-!2(''-&!2.(:!1!'+/..!5(C$%!3$:3-%:'!()$*+!'+()/./+7 ! SPORTS C?4$9205"4$0($,1"205?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$D =AE* Caltech women !!!!!?@AAB! C2""5"$?<4%"20%F$9-?($ !*E+G+++!2-%!6(..$:!(;-%(6-!1!*2!IJ!3-:+'!:(+/$:#/&-!'/:3-!.(+-!G(:*(%7 finish B-ball season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`a``a\! ,++2Y==###<:7+/5-'<3$5=JKIJ=KJ=I]=#$%.&=-*%$2-=6%--0'D2-''/5/'+/3D/:D(:+/D (*'+-%/+7D2%$+-'+'<,+5.[_%^Ib,2! ! THE CALIFORNIA TECH 2 FEBRUARY 13, 2012 NEWS Food with Mannion! ASCIT Minutes Do you like eating food? 1/29/2012 How about free food at nice restaurants? Officer’s present: Chris Hallacy, Margaret Chiu, Laura Ever want to tell the world exactly what you think of Conwill, Diego Caporale, Mario Zubia, Michelle Tang, said food? Laura Santoso Guests: Kathy Garcia The Tech will be beginning a new column to chroni- cle the foodie experiences of new writers every other President’s Report week...The Catch: They’ll be going head-to-head with 1. PFW: Probably won’t do midnight donuts again because the mob scares pre-frosh. Thinking of new Tom Mannion who will be reviewing the same restau- ideas for the carnival. rant. If you have ever thought you were more of a gour- 2. Big I: May bring it back next year if there’s mand than our resident master chef, now’s your chance enough interest. to prove it! 3. Basketball buses: Mannion providing buses for games. Email us for a spot on the list at [email protected] 4. Athletics: Betsy Mitchell will be meeting with the athletics faculty board. Wondering what the Student Athletic Advising Committee (SAAC) is doing. The California Tech Officer’s Reports Caltech 40-58, Pasadena, CA 91125 advertising e-mail: [email protected] Write 1. ARC (Margaret) editorial e-mail: [email protected] a. Option requirements: Option heads are meeting with Melanie Hunt to discuss changes they might Editors-in-Chief Jonathan Schor articles make to their major requirements in response to a Stanford Schor change in core. News Editor Sandhya Chandrasekaran for the b. Couse feedback: working on Omsbuds, trying to get qualitative input by midterms. Sports Editor Amol Kamat c. Option fair: Working on getting professors and Tech students to hold booths. d. Prof of the month: Warren Brown (humanities) is the January prof of the month. e. SFL: Will be 2. IHC (LC) Staff a. New Fleming President: Is now Alan Menezes. Sam Barnett Casey Handmer b. Admissions: Trying to get more house Yang Hu Jonathan Ikpeazu information available to people who are admitted, both Clement Lacroute Rebecca Lawler about the housing system and housing personalities. Mary Nguyen Neha Samdaria c. Bechtel Committee: student appointments are Eugene Vinitsky Caroline Yu being made, up in the air right now.