Articles tagged with Isotopes
Two NASA missions aim to discover what transformed Mars from a potentially habitable planet to its current inhospitable state. The Curiosity rover and the MAVEN mission will explore Martian terrain, atmosphere, and geology to uncover clues about the Red Planet's past climate and potential for life.
Researchers from Arizona State University developed a new geochemical technique to study the Earth's largest mass extinction event. The study found that the period of oceanic anoxia was much shorter than previously estimated, occurring at most tens of thousands of years before the extinction event.
Geoscientists Kyle Nichols and Paul Bierman observed vast flooding in Namibia's western mountains and coastal plain. The rivers flowed for weeks, carrying sediment and leaving behind a landscape transformed by heavy rainfall. The researchers are studying the effects of mega-floods on erosion rates and sediment sources.
The University of Miami's Stable Isotope Laboratory has acquired new equipment for analyzing stable isotopes using the 'clumped isotope' technique. This method measures temperature with high accuracy, allowing researchers to study past climates and geological processes.
Researchers at the University of Bristol analyzed ancient rock samples to determine the origin of Earth's precious metals. They found that the planet's accessible reserves of gold and other precious elements are the result of a catastrophic meteorite shower that hit the Earth after its core formation.
A team of scientists, including Carnegie's Richard Carlson, has estimated the age of a lunar rock sample at 4.36 billion years, significantly younger than earlier estimates of 4.568 billion years. This finding supports the idea that the oldest crusts on both Earth and Moon formed around the same time after a giant impact.
Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered that rocks beneath Haiti are over a billion years old and originated from 1,000+ miles away. This finding suggests that the Caribbean tectonic plate has captured ancient continent fragments, which can be transported thousands of miles through the upper mantle.
New research predicts that UK winters will become colder due to low solar activity, with a 10% chance of returning to Maunder minimum conditions within 50 years. This could lead to an average winter temperature below 2.5°C, with implications for national infrastructure planning.
The Genesis mission analysis shows differences in oxygen and nitrogen isotopes between the sun and rocky inner planets, including Earth. These findings suggest that the solar system's formation was more complex than previously thought.
The study found that rocky planets, including Earth, are enriched in 17O and 18O by about 6% relative to 16O. This supports the 'isotopic self-shielding' mechanism, where photolysis of carbon monoxide liberates oxygen atoms that are sequestered into water molecules.
Isoscapes, a mapping technique using isotopes as 'fingerprints,' helps track the geographical origins of illicit goods, human remains, and even luxury items like whiskey and cheese. By analyzing isotope ratios in tissue samples and objects, scientists can pinpoint their origins and aid in investigations.
A study of 191 diabetic patients found that dual isotope SPECT/CT accurately diagnosed osteomyelitis and soft tissue infections, leading to conservative treatment planning and limb salvage in 72% of cases. This imaging method has the potential to reduce unnecessary amputations and improve patient outcomes.
Researchers found that females preferred to disperse from their natal groups, similar to chimpanzees and human groups. The study suggests early hominins' social structure was not like that of gorillas.
Research suggests that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current played a key role in the onset of ancient global cooling, with evidence pointing to its impact around 30 million years ago. This finding is significant as it places the development of the current's shallow circulation in the same interval when the climate began its long-term shif...
Research published in Science finds that early ACC development impacted global climate, causing significant temperature differences between the equator and Antarctica. The study suggests that the ACC's formation led to the modern ocean structure and heat distribution system.
Scientists have discovered new records of shelled amoebas living with methane seeps and ancient trilobites. Additionally, researchers have found evidence of micrometeorites in 240 million-year-old sediments and a deep biosphere community in the Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers analyze carbon isotope ratios in fossil teeth to reveal Paranthropus boisei's diet was 77% C4 plants, similar to grazing animals like warthogs and hippos. The findings contradict the common view of the hominid feeding on nuts and seeds.
A University of Utah study reveals that Paranthropus boisei, a 2.3 million-year-old human relative, had a diet of mainly tropical grasses or sedges, not nuts. The discovery upsets conventional wisdom and has implications for understanding the diets of other early humans and human relatives.
A Purdue University-led team analyzed prehistoric data to find the Earth's recovery from 56 million-year-old high CO2 levels was quicker than models predicted. The study suggests that more than half of added carbon dioxide was pulled from the atmosphere within 30,000 to 40,000 years.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University detected tiny amounts of Iodine 131 from Japan in Cleveland rainwater, with levels estimated as one-tenth that of natural background radiation. The isotope was found in rainwater collected on a campus roof and is being seen worldwide
Tiny single-celled algae and bacteria rebounded quickly after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, consuming oxygen and slowing larger organisms' recovery. This process was driven by volcanic activity and resulting ocean acidification, which fueled explosive algae blooms.
Scientists study silicic calderas and crustal structure in the Iberian Peninsula, finding links to tectonic controls. Researchers also analyze eolian dynamics and sediment mixing in the Gran Desierto dune field using thermal infrared spectroscopy and remote-sensing data.
A study using a 'fingerprinting' technique has identified the main sources of mercury in Bay Area fish, tracing it back to sediments and historic mining sites. The findings suggest that small fish acquire mercury from sediments and pass it along to larger fish, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to protect wildlife.
Researchers found lower MIF mercury isotopes in eggs from northernmost nesting areas with year-round sea ice, while those from southern Alaska without ice reflected greater mass-independent fractionation effects. The study aims to investigate the relationship between ice cover and mercury distribution in the environment.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a new methodology for calculating model ages of continental crust formation. This approach uses the isotope composition of newly formed crust to estimate age, resulting in significantly younger and more consistent dates than previous methods based on mantle isotopes.
Researchers found that the wave of mountain building swept down western North America as far south as Mexico and as far east as Nebraska. The data, from ancient precipitation, suggests a slow-motion wave of mountain-building coursing southward, with elevations up to 14,000 feet.
Researchers expand study of 2008 TC3 meteorite, finding diverse oxygen isotopes that suggest the asteroid's source had a complex formation history. The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the meteorite's origin and potential connections to other celestial bodies.
A new study presents the first geological evidence that the ancestors of C4 grasses emerged millions of years earlier than previously established. Researchers analyzed carbon isotope ratios in individual grains of grass pollen, finding unequivocal evidence for C4 grasses in southwestern Europe by the Early Oligocene.
The Central Appalachians Stable Isotope Facility (CASIF) was established to study environmental changes using stable isotopes. Researchers now have access to a state-of-the-art instrument for analyzing materials such as water, pollen, and soils.
A team of scientists has detected six new isotopes of superheavy elements, including copernicium and rutherfordium. The discovery contributes to a better understanding of the theory of nuclear shell structure and its potential for creating an 'Island of Stability'.
A UT Dallas professor designed a mass spectrometer that analyzed soil samples from Mars, revealing the ratio of carbon dioxide isotopes and their reaction to volcanic activity. This provides a more complete understanding of the current Martian atmosphere and climate history.
Researchers used corals as a proxy to study the shift in the ocean's thermocline, finding it has risen since the mid-1970s. The findings support climate model predictions and suggest a potential impact on global climate and oceanography.
A study published in PNAS reveals that large predatory fish and vascular plants emerged around 400 million years ago, coinciding with a significant increase in oxygen levels. This finding suggests that animals evolved under lower oxygen conditions than previously thought.
Measurements by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander suggest that liquid water has primarily existed at temperatures near freezing on Mars, implying hydrothermal systems similar to Earth's hot springs are rare. The findings provide new light on Mars' history of water and volcanic activity.
Researchers at Rutgers University studied the doubly magic isotope of tin with 50 protons and 82 neutrons, providing insights into its stability and potential formation in supernova explosions. The study's findings may also contribute to developing next-generation nuclear reactors and forensic analysis techniques.
Researchers replaced hydrogen with deuterium in fluorescent probes to increase stability and detect smaller concentrations of reactive oxygen species. The new probes showed improved detection ability and reduced degradation by air and light, making them more accurate for imaging and analysis.
Researchers found that beverage isotopes in hair can serve as chemical fingerprints to pinpoint geographic regions where individuals have been. The study analyzed isotope patterns in bottled water, soda pop, and beer from 33 cities, revealing characteristic 'iso-signatures' for each region.
Scientists Jérôme Chappellaz found a tight link between atmospheric methane and global climate at glacial-interglacial time scales. He attributed the 40% increase in carbon dioxide since the last ice melt to changes in Antarctic oceanic waters
A high-resolution Asian monsoon record was established covering the time range from 16.2 to 7.3 ka BP, revealing key information on past climatic changes and their mechanisms. The study confirms earlier work suggesting that solar insolation and North Atlantic climate affect the Asian Monsoon.
Researchers used nondestructive evaluation techniques to analyze ancient coins minted by King Agrippa I and II. The study revealed that the copper used in the coins likely came from mines previously thought not to have been opened until a century later, suggesting a closer relationship between the Romans and the region.
Researchers from UTK-ORNL-Oslo successfully compute the proton halo state in Fluorine-17 using a many-body problem approach. This breakthrough calculation provides tools to investigate nuclear existence and predict properties for applied fields.
Scientists have developed a new method to directly measure body temperatures of extinct vertebrates, revolutionizing our understanding of ancient environments. The 'clumped-isotope' paleothermometer method analyzes fossilized teeth and bones to determine temperature ranges during the animals' lifetimes.
A Caltech-led team has developed a new method for measuring the body temperatures of extinct vertebrates using rare isotopes in bones, teeth, and eggshells. This technique allows scientists to reconstruct ancient climates and understand how warm-bloodedness emerged in dinosaurs and other species.
Researchers found that water and key volatiles may have been present in Earth's original building blocks, contradicting previous theories. The study suggests a complex accretion process for the planet, with volatile-rich material added in late stages of formation.
Researchers have developed a new method to study the metabolic functions of microbial communities, identifying key species and interactions in complex decomposition processes. The Protein-SIP technique measures carbon flux accurately, revealing food chains within microbial communities.
By studying fossil plant remains, scientists can gain insights into past temperatures and environmental conditions. The researchers found that water availability and plant type significantly impact the exchange of carbon isotopes between plants and the atmosphere.
Scientists analyzed eagle bone and feather remains to determine their diet from 20,000-30,000 years ago. The study found that eagles primarily fed on seabirds before humans introduced sheep, providing a critical understanding for successful reintroduction to the Channel Islands.
Michigan State scientists are developing an electromagnetic trap to capture fleeting matter, aiming to reveal the nature of the universe. The new technology will provide researchers with access to rare isotopes produced in high-speed particle collisions.
New research suggests the Andes rose gradually, not abruptly, due to changes in oxygen isotopes and rainfall patterns. Climate modeling experiments supported this conclusion, indicating that increased precipitation rates caused the ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 to decrease.
The new Multiple Collector Inductively-Coupled Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) will help researchers interpret the Earth system's history and understand connections in weathering-climate systems. It will enable faster data analysis, expand isotopic techniques to new fields, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
Researchers analyzed 15 female loggerheads' shells to discover their surprising dietary and travel habits. The findings suggest the turtles are surprisingly different in their range, diet, or both, with individualistic patterns revealed over a span of 12 years.
A recent study examines sediments from the Chicxulub impact crater, finding evidence supporting K-T mass extinction theories. Another study investigates the formation of dikes in volcanic eruptions, shedding light on magmatic overpressure and eruption hazards.
Researchers found that the current interglacial period has lasted 2.0-2.5 millennia longer than predicted by dominant theory, raising questions about natural climate trends and human impact. The study suggests that orbital changes may still influence climate for another two thousand years or so.
Researchers found that grassland vegetation in both Switzerland and England improved its water storage potential as temperatures rose and CO2 levels increased. However, the effective water-use efficiency remained unchanged in Switzerland due to drier air, while a springtime increase was observed in England.
Researchers in northern Canada analyzed tree rings for accurate past climate information, finding strong correlations between temperature data and carbon and oxygen isotopes. This new method reduces lab costs and allows for more affordable climate change research.
Jaime D. Barnes received the Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award for her pivotal geochemical research, while John T. Leftwich Jr. received the Bromery Award for his illustrious career advancing minority participation in geoscience. The awards honor outstanding contributions to the field.
Researchers found that the Big Freeze was triggered by a sudden freshwater pulse from Lake Agassiz in North America, which diluted the North Atlantic conveyor belt and led to rapid temperature drops. The climate took centuries to recover.
A new Stanford University study suggests the early ocean was much more temperate and life likely diversified and spread across the globe sooner. The researchers analyzed isotope ratios in ancient rocks, finding that the ocean temperature could not have been more than 40C, contradicting previous estimates of at least 55 degrees Celsius.
Physicists from the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information produced a Bose-Einstein condensate of strontium atoms, outperforming competitors in an international race. The breakthrough was achieved using the isotope 84Sr, which has ideal scattering properties for this phenomenon.
The Alps are constantly rising in height, despite being eroded at the same rate, due to climate-driven uplift. Researchers used rare isotopes to prove this phenomenon, showing that mountains erode concurrently with their growth.