Tag: geology
Robot cavers in space.
The door to hell.
You’ve almost certainly seen pictures of this geological formation, but this article gives the background.
You’ve almost certainly seen pictures of this geological formation, but this article gives the background.
One businessman’s comment on Barack Obama
One businessman’s comment on Barack Obama.
It starts here and only gets better.
As a small business owner all I can say is that I think the current sentiment in the small business community is that we didn’t sign up for this shit. Y’all can vote for whatever the hell you want but we are not going to be a part of it.
One businessman’s comment on Barack Obama.
It starts here and only gets better.
As a small business owner all I can say is that I think the current sentiment in the small business community is that we didn’t sign up for this shit. Y’all can vote for whatever the hell you want but we are not going to be a part of it.
Quasicrystals from space.
A UCLA scientist is proposing that the largest canyon on Mars was formed by plate tectonics
A UCLA scientist is proposing that Valles Marineris — the largest canyon on Mars and the solar system, was formed by plate tectonics.
“In the beginning, I did not expect plate tectonics, but the more I studied it, the more I realized Mars is so different from what other scientists anticipated,” Yin said. “I saw that the idea that it is just a big crack that opened up is incorrect. It is really a plate boundary, with horizontal motion. That is kind of shocking, but the evidence is quite clear. The shell is broken and is moving horizontally over a long distance. It is very similar to the Earth’s Dead Sea fault system, which has also opened up and is moving horizontally.”
The two plates divided by Mars’ Valles Marineris have moved approximately 93 miles horizontally relative to each other, Yin said. California’s San Andreas Fault, which is over the intersection of two plates, has moved about twice as much — but the Earth is about twice the size of Mars, so Yin said they are comparable.
A UCLA scientist is proposing that Valles Marineris — the largest canyon on Mars and the solar system, was formed by plate tectonics.
“In the beginning, I did not expect plate tectonics, but the more I studied it, the more I realized Mars is so different from what other scientists anticipated,” Yin said. “I saw that the idea that it is just a big crack that opened up is incorrect. It is really a plate boundary, with horizontal motion. That is kind of shocking, but the evidence is quite clear. The shell is broken and is moving horizontally over a long distance. It is very similar to the Earth’s Dead Sea fault system, which has also opened up and is moving horizontally.”
The two plates divided by Mars’ Valles Marineris have moved approximately 93 miles horizontally relative to each other, Yin said. California’s San Andreas Fault, which is over the intersection of two plates, has moved about twice as much — but the Earth is about twice the size of Mars, so Yin said they are comparable.
The landslides of Iapetus: longer and more frequent than anywhere else in the solar system.
The landslides of Iapetus: longer and more frequent than anywhere else in the solar system.
The landslides of Iapetus: longer and more frequent than anywhere else in the solar system.
A new comparison by scientists of polygon-shaped formations on both the Earth and Mars suggests that both were formed underwater, providing further evidence that Mars once had oceans.
A new comparison by scientists of polygon-shaped formations on both the Earth and Mars suggests that both were formed underwater, providing further evidence that Mars once had oceans.
A new comparison by scientists of polygon-shaped formations on both the Earth and Mars suggests that both were formed underwater, providing further evidence that Mars once had oceans.
Scientists find out what makes a stinky rock stink.
Scientists find out what makes a stinky rock stink.
Scientists find out what makes a stinky rock stink.
New data from Martian meteorites suggests that the interior of Mars has about the same amount of water as the Earth.
More water news from space: New data from Martian meteorites suggests that the interior of Mars has about the same amount of water as the Earth.
More water news from space: New data from Martian meteorites suggests that the interior of Mars has about the same amount of water as the Earth.
Geologists think they have finally identified the volcano that in 1258 AD produced the largest eruption in 7,000 years — an event that was completely unnoticed by humanity at the time.
Geologists think they have finally identified the volcano that in 1258 AD produced the largest eruption in 7,000 years — an event that was completely unnoticed by humanity at the time.
Geologists think they have finally identified the volcano that in 1258 AD produced the largest eruption in 7,000 years — an event that was completely unnoticed by humanity at the time.
Making diamonds with only an acetylene torch.
The trial of seven earthquake scientists in Italy on charges of manslaughter for not correctly predicting the earthquake in L’Aquila continued yesterday with each of the defendants testifying.
The trial of seven earthquake scientists in Italy on charges of manslaughter for not correctly predicting the earthquake in L’Aquila continued yesterday with each of the defendants testifying.
The trial will not resume again until the fall.
The trial of seven earthquake scientists in Italy on charges of manslaughter for not correctly predicting the earthquake in L’Aquila continued yesterday with each of the defendants testifying.
The trial will not resume again until the fall.
The Dead Sea is getting a bounce.
The Dead Sea is getting a bounce.
The Dead Sea is getting a bounce.
Twelve amazing confluences from around the world.
Twelve amazing confluences from around the world.
Twelve amazing confluences from around the world.
It appears that the floating debris from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last year is reaching North America sooner than expected.
It appears that the floating debris from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last year is reaching North America sooner than expected.
I got a laugh from the last two sentences of this story. The early arrival of “more than 200 bottles, cans, buoys and floats” from Japan was immediately turned into a crisis that required government intervention.
With debris making landfall sooner than predicted, U.S. lawmakers have started to question whether the government is truly prepared. “Many people said we wouldn’t see any of this impact until 2013 or 2014, and now ships and motorcycles and this various debris is showing up and people want answers,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said.
And if the debris was taking longer to get here? Cantwell would then argue we need to spend more money to track it more precisely. By her standards, no matter what happens, government has got to get bigger.
It appears that the floating debris from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last year is reaching North America sooner than expected.
I got a laugh from the last two sentences of this story. The early arrival of “more than 200 bottles, cans, buoys and floats” from Japan was immediately turned into a crisis that required government intervention.
With debris making landfall sooner than predicted, U.S. lawmakers have started to question whether the government is truly prepared. “Many people said we wouldn’t see any of this impact until 2013 or 2014, and now ships and motorcycles and this various debris is showing up and people want answers,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said.
And if the debris was taking longer to get here? Cantwell would then argue we need to spend more money to track it more precisely. By her standards, no matter what happens, government has got to get bigger.
Spectacular video of a volcano eruption in Japan yesterday.
Sakurajima Volcano, which scientists have on alert since last year, erupted in Japan yesterday. Spectacular video below the fold.
This is not the big eruption that scientists are expecting, only a preliminary.
» Read more
Sakurajima Volcano, which scientists have on alert since last year, erupted in Japan yesterday. Spectacular video below the fold.
This is not the big eruption that scientists are expecting, only a preliminary.
» Read more
Coiling lava on Mars
Coiling lava found on Mars.
Coiling lava found on Mars.
That Mexican volcano near Mexico City is now spewing ash a half mile into the sky.
Uh-oh: That Mexican volcano near Mexico City is now spewing ash a half mile into the sky.
Uh-oh: That Mexican volcano near Mexico City is now spewing ash a half mile into the sky.
Mexico has raised their volcano alert level in response to increased activity of Popocatepetl volcano, southeast of Mexico City.
Mexico has raised its volcano alert level in response to increased activity of Popocatepetl volcano, southeast of Mexico City.
Mexico has raised its volcano alert level in response to increased activity of Popocatepetl volcano, southeast of Mexico City.
New simulations suggest that the magnitude of tsunamis predicted to hit Japan have previously been underestimated.
New simulations suggest that the magnitude of tsunamis predicted to hit Japan have been significantly underestimated.
The difficulty here is that these predicted giant tsunamis are still expected to be very rare events. It is thus unclear what is more practical, to build things at great cost so that they can survive these rare events, or to live with the risk and rebuild each time after disaster strikes.
New simulations suggest that the magnitude of tsunamis predicted to hit Japan have been significantly underestimated.
The difficulty here is that these predicted giant tsunamis are still expected to be very rare events. It is thus unclear what is more practical, to build things at great cost so that they can survive these rare events, or to live with the risk and rebuild each time after disaster strikes.
Last week’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Mexico apparently caused a miniature tsunami in a spring pool near Las Vegas, 1,700 miles away.
Last week’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Mexico apparently caused a miniature tsunami in a spring pool near Las Vegas, 1,700 miles away. With video.
Last week’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Mexico apparently caused a miniature tsunami in a spring pool near Las Vegas, 1,700 miles away. With video.
Indian scientists, using data from their lunar probe Chandrayaan-1, have found evidence for past volcanic activity on the central peak of the crater Tycho.
Indian scientists, using data from their lunar probe Chandrayaan-1, have found evidence for past volcanic activity on the central peak of the crater Tycho.
Indian scientists, using data from their lunar probe Chandrayaan-1, have found evidence for past volcanic activity on the central peak of the crater Tycho.
The world’s biggest atlas: Yours for only $100K.
The world’s biggest atlas: Yours for only $100K.
The world’s biggest atlas: Yours for only $100K.
Another volcano in Iceland shows signs of coming to life.
Another volcano in Iceland shows signs of coming to life.
Another volcano in Iceland shows signs of coming to life.
Is that an elephant on Mars?
New evidence for recent earthquakes on Mars
Scientists have found new evidence for recent earthquakes on Mars.
Scientists have found new evidence for recent earthquakes on Mars.
Making buildings invisible to earthquakes
Making buildings invisible to earthquakes.
Making buildings invisible to earthquakes.
The manslaughter trial of six scientists and one government official continued yesterday in Italy over their reassurances to the public prior to a deadly earthquake in 2009.
The manslaughter trial of six scientists and one government official continued yesterday in Italy over their reassurances to the public prior to a deadly earthquake in 2009.
Guido Bertolaso, former head of the Department of Civil Protection and De Bernardinis’s direct superior, had not been indicted and was originally expected to appear as a witness. But a few weeks ago a wiretap revealed that he had apparently set up the meeting to convey a reassuring message, regardless of the scientists’ opinion. He also seemed to be the source of the “discharge of energy” statement. He thus found himself under investigation and, at the beginning of the hearing, he was officially notified that he too may soon be formally indicted for manslaughter.
Bertolaso was asked by the prosecutor to explain that telephone conversation. He defended himself by saying that by defining the meeting as a “media move”, he was not trying to downplay risks but rather to put some order into the contradictory information that was reaching the citizens in those days. In particular, he referred to Giampaolo Giuliani — a laboratory technician and amateur seismologist who was alarming the population with claims that a major shock was coming — and to a newspaper article that had misquoted some Civil Protection experts and stated that the shocks would soon be over. The meeting, he said, was meant to make clear that both were wrong and that no deterministic prediction could be made. [emphasis mine]
This increasingly appears to be another case of science being corrupted by politics.
The manslaughter trial of six scientists and one government official continued yesterday in Italy over their reassurances to the public prior to a deadly earthquake in 2009.
Guido Bertolaso, former head of the Department of Civil Protection and De Bernardinis’s direct superior, had not been indicted and was originally expected to appear as a witness. But a few weeks ago a wiretap revealed that he had apparently set up the meeting to convey a reassuring message, regardless of the scientists’ opinion. He also seemed to be the source of the “discharge of energy” statement. He thus found himself under investigation and, at the beginning of the hearing, he was officially notified that he too may soon be formally indicted for manslaughter.
Bertolaso was asked by the prosecutor to explain that telephone conversation. He defended himself by saying that by defining the meeting as a “media move”, he was not trying to downplay risks but rather to put some order into the contradictory information that was reaching the citizens in those days. In particular, he referred to Giampaolo Giuliani — a laboratory technician and amateur seismologist who was alarming the population with claims that a major shock was coming — and to a newspaper article that had misquoted some Civil Protection experts and stated that the shocks would soon be over. The meeting, he said, was meant to make clear that both were wrong and that no deterministic prediction could be made. [emphasis mine]
This increasingly appears to be another case of science being corrupted by politics.
Eleven months after the earthquake/tsunami in Japan, a collection of amazing and inspiring before and after pictures.
Eleven months after the earthquake/tsunami in Japan, a collection of incredible and inspiring before and after pictures.
Eleven months after the earthquake/tsunami in Japan, a collection of incredible and inspiring before and after pictures.
The Martian meteorite that was recovered in Morocco in July is now thought to contain pockets of trapped Martian atmosphere.
The Martian meteorite that was recovered in Morocco in July is now thought to contain pockets of trapped Martian atmosphere.
Or at least, the geology says the meteorite should have these pockets. The actual analysis has not yet happened.
The Martian meteorite that was recovered in Morocco in July is now thought to contain pockets of trapped Martian atmosphere.
Or at least, the geology says the meteorite should have these pockets. The actual analysis has not yet happened.