Articles tagged with Impact Features
A team of scientists from OIST discovered that crater rays form when small objects create shockwaves in the ground, focusing sand grains along radial streaks. They developed a theoretical model to predict ray patterns and even use it to estimate the diameter of lost meteorites.
Researchers have identified a new meteorite impact structure in Central Finland, measuring 2.6 km in diameter and 275 km north of Helsinki. The discovery is part of the country's growing list of confirmed impact structures, with Finland now ranking among the top countries to find these features.
A study found that a volcano's geometry impacts its sound waves, allowing scientists to better monitor activity and detect changes. Researchers believe listening to Kilauea's infrasound could help forecast potential eruptive hazards.
The discovery of ancient organic molecules in Martian sedimentary rocks increases the chances of finding evidence of habitability and potential life on Mars. The findings suggest that NASA's Curiosity rover may have discovered record-breaking amounts of organic carbon, comparable to those found in meteoritic samples.
New research found life in the crater within a few years of impact, contrary to predictions. A thriving ecosystem developed within 30,000 years, influenced primarily by local factors such as water circulation and ecological niches.
Researchers combined geological mapping and analysis to define possible hazard scenarios at Mount Taranaki volcano. The results indicate that future Plinian eruptions could produce different types of pyroclastic density currents, affecting urban areas up to 18 km away from the crater.
A new study confirms desiccation cracks on Mars provide evidence of drying, revealing the shape of water on the red planet. The research sheds light on Mars' ancient climate and provides context to its lacustrine system.
Researchers used satellite data to identify a major magma supply into a reservoir extending almost two miles from the crater of Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. The findings suggest that volcanoes can be fed magma through nearby underground channels, helping explain how they erupt without warning.
Researchers discovered diamond formation from ankerite through spontaneous iron reduction, suggesting a possible mechanism for abundant diamond creation in Earth's lower mantle. The process occurs without melting at high pressures and temperatures, similar to those found in meteoritic impact zones.
Researchers from Brazil, China, and Italy developed a model to map the phases of coesite formation, a polymorph of silica that occurs under high pressure. The study uses atomic computer simulation to describe the interactions among atoms and the transformations resulting from pressure changes.
A study published in Physical Review E suggests that Martian winds were capable of digging up tens of thousands of cubic kilometers of sediment from the Gale Crater over a billion years. The wind-driven movement of sediment and dust is thought to have played a key role in shaping the Martian landscape.
A team of WSU researchers has observed and recorded the creation of hexagonal diamond in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite under shock compression. The discovery reveals crucial details about how hexagonal diamond is formed, potentially helping planetary scientists estimate impact severity at meteorite craters.
The IODP-ICDP Expedition 364 drilled into the Chicxulub crater off Mexico's coast, uncovering key findings about the impact event. The expedition revealed details about peak-ring crater formation and the recovery of life within 30,000 years after the impact.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that supervolcano magma chambers contain a mixture of liquid and crystalline magma. The chambers may exhibit a sponge-like texture, with a mesh structure of crystallised rock and pores containing molten material.
A team of scientists from five countries analyzed sediment cores to reconstruct the past 1 million years of the Atlantic Rainforest biome in southern Brazil. The research aimed to understand how vegetation responded to climate change, using sediment samples that contained information about plant cover, rainfall, and subsoil communities.
A new study led by Brown University researchers found evidence for large surface ice deposits on Mercury's north pole and smaller-scale deposits scattered around the pole. The research adds significantly to Mercury's ice inventory, potentially doubling it.
The Mars 2020 mission utilizes advanced techniques developed from studying early life on Earth to detect biosignatures in ancient Martian rocks. By mapping elemental and organic composition at high spatial resolution, scientists aim to determine if these features were formed by life.
Researchers propose that Mars' Lyot valley networks were carved by meltwater produced when hot ejecta interacted with an icy surface. The team estimates thousands of cubic kilometers of meltwater were generated, enough to shape the valleys.
Researchers have discovered frozen methane domes on the Arctic Ocean floor that could indicate an increased risk of new methane blow-outs. The domes are stable due to high pressure but can collapse with a small change in water temperature, posing a threat to the environment.
Researchers discovered massive craters in the Arctic sea floor that were formed 12,000 years ago, with methane still leaking profusely. The study found over 600 gas flares releasing methane into the water column, with similar processes ongoing under ice sheets today.
Scientists using LRO data identified bright areas near south pole craters that are cold enough for frost to be present. The analysis combined surface temperatures with light reflection information.
Scientists have discovered 'halos' on Mars, indicating that liquid water lingered longer on the planet than previously believed. The findings suggest that substantial groundwater was present in Gale crater's past, expanding the window for when life might have existed on Mars.
Scientists have discovered 'halos' on Mars that indicate the planet had liquid water much longer than previously believed. The finding reveals substantial amounts of groundwater were present for a longer period than thought, further expanding the window for when life might have existed on Mars.
Scientists have developed a new technique to date ancient meteorite strikes using tiny crystal fragments. By analyzing the atomic nanostructure of these crystals, researchers can determine the age of impact and gain insight into the beginnings of life on Earth.
Research by Brown University geologists reveals that ancient Mars impacts generated tornado-like wind vortices that scoured the surface, exposing blockier surfaces beneath. The winds, which reached speeds of up to 500 miles per hour, were responsible for creating bright streaks on the Martian surface.
A 250-kilometer-diameter basin in the Falkland Islands exhibits traits of a large impact crater, including decreased gravity strength and increased magnetic field strength. The structure is estimated to be approximately 270-250 million years old, potentially correlating with the largest mass extinction event.
A new study led by Georgia Tech reveals that massive landslides on Ceres are indicative of hidden ice, suggesting up to 50% of the upper layers may be composed of ice. The research uses data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft to identify three types of landslides, offering insights into Ceres' composition and structure.
New research from Brown University suggests that lunar volcano Ina is actually around 3.5 billion years old, not within the past 100 million years as previously thought. The feature's youthful appearance was attributed to its porous surface, created by magmatic foam, which hides regolith buildup and skews crater counts.
Researchers refuted the theory that asteroids hit Earth every 26 million years, as previously suggested by US researchers. Instead, they found that impact craters formed over a wide range of ages and were not clustered in time.
Scientists conclude that the organics are most likely native to Ceres, originating from its interior. The discovery has broad implications for astrobiology and suggests that Ceres contains key ingredients for life.
Researchers have discovered a mysterious crater on the King Baudoin ice shelf, revealing hidden meltwater lakes and confirming that East Antarctica is also vulnerable to climate change. The findings suggest that the region's ice shelves are extremely sensitive to warming temperatures.
Scientists studying the Chicxulub crater have shown how large asteroid impacts deform rocks in a way that may produce habitats for early life. The research suggests that asteroid impacts could have created niches for life on Earth.
A recent drilling expedition at Chicxulub crater revealed how it collapsed to form a complex crater structure, confirming one prominent theory of peak ring formation. The findings provide insights into deep subsurface processes and challenge an alternative hypothesis on the origin of peak rings.
A University of Texas at Austin-led study identifies funnel-shaped depressions on Mars with characteristics suitable for microbial life, including water, heat, and nutrients. The discoveries were made in the Hellas basin crater, where researchers believe volcanic or impact events may have created an environment conducive to life.
Two studies based on GRAIL data provide clearer pictures of the Orientale impact basin, one of the largest and youngest craters on the Moon. The studies reveal that the transient crater has a smaller diameter than previously thought and estimate a minimum amount of material redistributed from the lunar crust during the impact.
Scientists used GRAIL data to create a computer model that recreated the rings' formation, revealing new details about the interior structure of Orientale. The team estimates that about 816,000 cubic miles of rock was blasted away during the collision.
Researchers found that the moon's uppermost surface materials are completely turned over in approximately 80,000 years, much faster than previously estimated. This discovery has significant implications for future human exploration and development of the Moon.
Mount Etna's unusual crater formation is attributed to eastern flank instability, causing new stresses and pressures on the volcano's structure. This makes it a prime subject for study, with recent research monitoring its behavior over ten years to predict future eruptions.
Researchers find that Ahuna Mons, a volcano on Ceres, is built from ice and was formed through cryovolcanism. The discovery confirms that Ceres' interior has kept warm enough for liquid water or brines to exist in recent geological time.
Studies reveal new insights into Ceres' surface features, including craters, cryovolcanos, and water ice exposure. The findings suggest recent geological activity and propose possible explanations for the formation of Ahuna Mons and water ice on the dwarf planet's surface.
Phobos' unique orbit and weak interior structure make it prone to tidal stresses that cause fracturing and linear grooves. Researchers found anomalous grooves are caused by impacts, with debris recaptured and falling back onto the surface in a linear chain.
A new study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that mineral veins on Mars were formed by the evaporation of ancient lakes. The research, conducted by scientists from The Open University and University of Leicester, found that the fluids present in Martian Yellowknife Bay were habitable by Earth standards.
New research from North Carolina State University reveals that Mercury's crust-forming volcanism stopped around 3.5 billion years ago, likely due to the planet's small mantle size and rapid cooling. This finding provides insight into Mercury's geological evolution and challenges previous theories about planetary formation.
Researchers used electron backscatter diffraction to unravel the transformations involved in creating granular zircon. The results show that making granular zircon first involves forming twins and transforming into reidite under extreme pressure and temperature conditions.
A SwRI-led study found that Ceres' surface lacks large impact craters, contrary to predictions. The team suggests a deep subsurface ice-rich layer or cryolava may have erased the craters over time.
The Dawn spacecraft's findings suggest that Ceres' large impact basins were erased due to its peculiar composition and internal evolution. The team proposes that a significant population of large craters was obliterated beyond recognition, likely resulting from the planet's icy crust and geological activity.
Researchers discovered microscopic crystals telling of unimaginable pressures and temperatures when a 12-kilometer asteroid formed Meteor Crater. The zircons endured temperatures of 2,000 degrees Celsius, revealing an unusual realm for geology where extreme pressure and temperature occur briefly.
A new study estimates that the asteroid that formed the Moon's Imbrium Basin was likely a protoplanet-sized object, two times larger in diameter and 10 times more massive than previous estimates. The research also sheds light on the geological features surrounding the basin, which help explain some of its puzzling characteristics.
Scientists with NASA's Dawn mission have identified permanently shadowed regions on the dwarf planet Ceres, which are likely cold enough to trap water ice for a billion years. The regions, occupying about 695 square miles of the northern hemisphere, may be colder than those on Mercury or the moon.
Evolutionary biologists confirm sympatric speciation in cichlid fish in Apoyo and Xiloá lakes through genetic analysis, ruling out third model. The study used 20,000 characteristics to document parallel evolution of four to five species over 1,000 years.
Scientists at SwRI discovered two geologically young craters, one 16 million and the other between 75-420 million years old, in the Moon's darkest regions. The discovery was made possible by a new technique using the Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project instrument aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Researchers propose that large meteorite and comet impacts into the sea created structures with favourable conditions for life. Water interacting with impact-heated rock enabled synthesis of complex organic molecules, and the enclosed crater provided a microhabitat for life to flourish.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin found that the oldest zircon crystals likely formed in massive asteroid impact craters rather than through plate tectonics. The discovery sheds new light on Earth's early history and suggests a more violent bombardment by asteroids in its nascent years.
Researchers found that wind carved massive mounds of more than a mile high on Mars over billions of years. The study linked the formation of these mounds to climate change on Mars, with sedimentary rocks forming at the base and wind-deposited sediments creating the mound's shape.
Researchers create glass nanoengraving mechanism using femtosecond laser and glass microspheres, achieving resolution below 100 nanometers. The method enables quick and cheap creation of sensors and microchips with complex patterns.
New study finds a cyclical pattern between impact craters and extinction events every 26 million years, suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship. This cosmic cycle is linked to periodic motion of the sun and planets, affecting life on Earth over the past 260 million years.
A new paper published in Science reveals that Mars had a more massive atmosphere billions of years ago and a wet climate, with long-lived lakes filling Gale Crater. The discovery contradicts existing climate models and sheds light on the planet's ancient past, similar to the resolution of Earth's continental drift puzzle.
New data from Curiosity rover finds ancient lakes in Gale crater were stable for 100-10,000 years, providing insights into Mars' past water patterns and climate. The study suggests that the lakes could have supported life for extended periods, raising hopes for finding signs of life on the Red Planet.
Scientists used computer simulation to discover that asteroids can deliver more water to the lunar surface than the cumulative fall of comets over a billion year period. The study found that asteroids contain a significant proportion of water, effectively protected in their crystal lattice of minerals, and can release it when heated.
Scientists found regions on the far side of the moon with fractured and porous upper crusts, altered by small asteroid impacts. The research suggests that these impacts increased porosity in some areas, while decreasing it elsewhere.