Recognizing existing materials that can act as proxies for Earth's building blocks, and understanding the accretionary pathway taken during Earth's growth, persist as outstanding issues in need of resolution. In Mahan, Siebert, Blanchard, Badro, et al. (20 ...
Planetesimal were the first planetary objects to form in the solar system, which later grew to make the proto-planets. Most of these bodies were differentiated as a result of internal heating. Several differentiated bodies have, then, been accreted followi ...
Seismic tomography models reveal two large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) that identify large-scale variations in temperature and composition in the deep mantle. Other characteristics include elevated density, elevated bulk sound speed, and sharp bo ...
The unique achondrite NWA 7325 is an unusual olivine gabbro composed chiefly of calcic plagioclase (An(85-93)), diopsidic pyroxene (En(50.1-54.0) Wo(44.8-49.3) Fs(0.6-1.3)), and forsteritic olivine (Fo(97)). It is Al and Mg-rich and Fe and Na-poor and disp ...
Earth's core is essentially composed of a light-element bearing iron-nickel alloy (Birch 1964). The nickel content in the core has negligible effects on physical properties such as density and compressibility (e.g., Lin et al. 2003; Kantor et al. 2007; Mar ...
In recent years, evidence has emerged that solid water can contain substantial amounts of guest species, such as small gas molecules-in gas hydrate structures-or ions-in salty ice structures-and that these 'filled' ice structures can be stable under pressu ...
We introduce TacTiles, light (1.8g), low-power (130 mV), and small form -factor (1cm(3)) electromagnetic actuators that can form a flexible haptic array to provide localized tactile feedback. Our novel hardware design uses a custom 8 -layer PCB, dampening ...
Thulium is a heavy rare earth element (REE) whose geochemical behavior is intermediate between Er and Yb, and that is not expected to be decoupled from these elements during accretion of planetary bodies and geological processes. However, irregularities in ...
Seismic imaging of the internal Earth has emphasized the inhomogeneity of its mantle. This interface layer of nearly 3000 km surrounding the central metallic core conducts heat released from the latter, which played a significant role in shaping the actual ...
Identifying extant materials that act as compositional proxies for Earth is key to understanding its accretion. Copper and sulfur are both moderately volatile elements; however, they display different geochemical behavior (e.g., phase affinities). Thus, in ...