arizona state university – Page 2 – Shamskm: A site to exchange knowledge and solutions

First Geologic Map of Jupiter’s Moon Io Details an Otherworldly Volcanic Surface

By Guest PostMarch 21, 2012Scienceapollo moon, arizona state university, david a williams, david williams, europa, galileo, galileo orbiter, ganymede, geologic map, image mosaic, io, jovian satellite, jupiter, ken herkenhoff, ken tanaka, marcia mcnutt, mars, moon, NASA, solar system, spacecraft, usgs, volcanic activity, voyager 1

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – More than 400 years after its discovery by Galileo, the innermost large moon of Jupiter – Io – can finally rest on its geologic laurels. A group of scientists led by Dr. David A. Williams of Arizona State University has produced the first global geologic map of the Jovian satellite. The map, which was published by the U. S. Geological Survey, technically illustrates the geologic character of some of the most unique and active volcanoes ever documented in the solar system.

Since its discovery in January 1610, Io has been the focus of repeated observation, first by Earth-based telescopes, and later by fly-by and orbiting spacecraft. These studies depict an otherworldly celestial body whose gravitational relationships with Jupiter and sister moons Europa and Ganymede cause massive, rapid flexing of its surface and interior. This flexing generates tremendous heat in Io’s interior, which is relieved through surface volcanism, resulting in 25 times more volcanic activity than occurs here on Earth. (more…)

3-D Laser Map Shows Earthquake Zone Before and After

By Guest PostFebruary 10, 2012Science2010 mexicali earthquake, 3d post earthquake image, agricultural fields, arizona state university, austin elliott, borrego fault, China, colorado river, colorado river delta, crust, data, davis, desert floor, earth science, earthquake, earthquake zone, earthscope, fault, fault behavior, fault rupture, fault surface ruptures, floodplain, geologist, greg anderson, indiviso fault, jing liu zeng, john fletcher, ken hudnut, laser pulses, lidar, light detection and ranging, magnitude, mexicali, Mexico, michael oskin, multi fault earthquake, national science foundation, ncalm, off fault deformation, orlando teran, pescadores fault, peter gold, post earthquake topography, pre earthquake, ramon arrowsmith, ridge, rock sample, san andreas, scarp, seismic hazard, seismic wave, united states, university of california

*Geologists learn how earthquakes change the landscape — down to a few inches*

Geologists have a new tool to study how earthquakes change the landscape–down to a few inches. It’s giving scientists insights into how earthquake faults behave.

In this week’s issue of the journal Science, a team of scientists from the United States, Mexico and China reports the most comprehensive before-and-after picture yet of an earthquake zone, using data from the magnitude 7.2 event that struck near Mexicali, Mexico, in April 2010. (more…)

A River Ran Through It

By Guest PostOctober 17, 2010Nature, Sciencealan tessier, arizona state university, climate change, colorado, colorado river delta, downstream, ecosystems, food chain, grand canyon, humans, irrigation, jacques finlay, john sabo, las vegas, los angeles, minneapolis, Mississippi, new york city, Phoenix, river flows, rivers, sea of cortez, small tributaries, storm floods, streams

About the image: A now dry Colorado River delta branches into the Baja/Sonoran Desert near the Sea of Cortez. Image credit: Pete McBride

Rivers and streams supply the lifeblood to ecosystems across the globe, providing water for drinking and irrigation for humans as well as a wide array of life forms from single-celled organisms up to the fish humans eat.

But humans and nature itself are making it tough on rivers to continue in their central role to support fish species, according to new research by a team of scientists including John Sabo, a biologist at Arizona State University.

Globally, rivers and streams are being drained due to human use and climate change. These and other human impacts alter the natural variability of river flows.

Some affected rivers have dried and no longer run, while others have seen increases in the variability of flows due to storm floods. (more…)

NSF Renews Centers for Nanotechnology in Society

By Guest PostOctober 15, 2010Scienceanticipatory governance, arizona state university, atomic, barbara herr harthorn, center for nanotechnology, cns ucsb, david guston, molecular manipulation, molecular scale, myron gutmann, nano enterprise, Nanotechnology, national science foundation, nature-altering science, North America, nsf

*National Science Foundation awards more than $12.5M to study societal impacts of emerging technologies*

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently renewed two important cooperative agreements totaling more than $12.5 million over five years. These awards leverage previous investments for studying the ethical, legal, economic and policy implications of the relatively new, nature-altering science called nanotechnology. (more…)

Smithsonian and Arizona State University Launch Virtual Classroom

By Guest PostSeptember 1, 20101 commentNature, Sciencearizona state university, asu – stri collaboration, eldredge bermingham, jüerge gadau, north american university, ofer shapiro, panama, robert e page jr, smithsonian scientists, smithsonian tropical research institute, tropical biology, vidyo, vidyo technology

This fall, Smithsonian scientists in Panama and Arizona State University life-sciences students and researchers will talk by means of Vidyo—video-conferencing technology that transports virtual learning into the field.

(more…)

Rare Carnivorous Plant on Top 10 List of Newly Discovered Species

By Guest PostJune 17, 2010Naturealastair robinson, arizona state university, biodiversity, botanical journal of the linnean society, botanical journal of the linnean society of london, carl Linnaeus, carnivorous plant, dioscorea orangeana, entomologist, international institute for species exploration, kew botanist, madagascan yam, mike fay, nepenthes attenboroughii, paul wilkin, Philippines, pitcher plants, quentin wheeler, school of life sciences, sir david attenborough, taxon experts, taxonomy, vaughan southgate

Nepenthes attenboroughii, named after Sir David Attenborough, honorary Fellow of the Linnean Society, has been ranked number 1

Each year The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University names the Top 10 new species described in the previous calendar year.