Friday 4 January 2013

NEW TYPE OF METEORITE FROM MARS

A 320g black rock found in a Moroccan desert in 2011 has been shown by scientists at the University of New Mexico to be a new type of meteorite from Mars.
http://bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20900843

The meteorite was probably blasted off Mars about 2 billion years ago, after an asteroid or comet impact on Mars.

It's unlike any of the other Mars meteorites discovered on Earth.

It has a basaltic breccia formation, the scientists report, containing alkali elements like potassium and sodium, and has more water molecules than found in other Mars meteorites.

Interestingly, it's just the sort of rock that is now being researched on the surface of Mars by the Curiosity rover. - but appears to date from an era long ago when surface conditions on Mars were much warmer and wetter.

Tuesday 1 January 2013

TEPCO SUED BY US SAILORS OVER RADIATION EXPOSURE

The Japanese nuclear power company TEPCO, which operated the Fukushima nuclear reactors, has been sued by eight US sailors who allege they were exposed to higher radiation levels at the stricken site than admitted by TEPCO.
http://bbc.co.uk/news/business-20856051

If this allegation is eventually tested in the courts, evidence may emerge about the measured radiation levels at the Fukushima site during the March 2011 nuclear disaster, and the actions of TEPCO at that time.