In this talk I will present a new bombardment model of the Hadean Earth that has been calibrated using existing lunar data and terrestrial highly siderophile elements. We find that the surface of the Hadean Earth was widely reprocessed by impacts through mixing and burial by impact-generated melt. This model may explain the absence of early terrestrial rocks. Furthermore, we will discuss an intriguing orrelation between the age distribution of Hadean zircons and the impact flux, possibly indicating impacts played an important role in Hadean zircon formation. Finally, by tracking the magnitude and timing of early collisions, we find that existing oceans would have repeatedly boiled away into steam atmospheres as a result of large collisions as late as about 4 billion years ago.
UCLA Professor David Paige and Team Selected for Mars 2020 Mission
UCLA’s David Paige along with a team of US and foreign collaborators has been selected to design and run a ground-penetrating radar instrument to be included as part of the payload of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission. The Radar Imager for Mars’ Subsurface Exploration (RIMFAX), was one of seven (out of 58 proposals) carefully-selected instruments that will conduct unprecedented science and exploration technology investigations on the Red Planet.
A unique instrument that has not been taken to Mars previously, the RIMFAX will provide centimeter-scale resolution of the geology and structure of the upper 500 meters of the Martian subsurface. Professor David Paige, the Deputy Principal Investigator of the instrument, said “RIMFAX will aid the Mars 2020 rover in its mission to explore the ancient habitability of Mars, and select promising samples for caching and eventual sample return.”
For more information about the Mars 2020 mission, visit NASA’s mission-specific website: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mars2020/ .
SPINLab Educational Project – Falling droplets in rotating tank
New SpinLab video brings fluid dynamics to life
Professor Jon Aurnou and the UCLA SPINLab have posted a new educational video illustrating the rotational effects on falling droplets in both air and water. The video features music composed by EPSS department administrator Mike Rathjen. Learn more about SPINLab and watch more videos like this one on their website.
2014 Distinguished Alum To Lecture About Asteroids
On October 9th, Dr. Alan Harris will give the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Lecture for the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Department. There will be a reception held at 5:30pm at the Young Hall Patio, followed by the lecture at 6:30pm in Court of Sciences 76. The talk title is “Hunting for Killer Asteroids, the Past, Present and Future of Near-Earth Asteroid Surveys”. Dr. Harris, who earned his PhD from UCLA in 1975, has spent the majority of his career studying the impact hazards of near-Earth asteroids.
Learn more about the lecture and Dr. Harris here.
High school students experience science at UCLA during outreach visit
On June 27th, a group of 40 high school students visited UCLA from the Moreno Valley College Upward Bound Math and Science Program. They toured the newly renovated UCLA Meteorite Gallery and spoke to a student panel about physics and astronomy. This visit was sponsored by AstronomyLive! and iPLEX. Upward Bound coordinator Micki Clowney said of the experience: “The students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Everything from the tour of the gallery to the student panel to the mini tour to the Bruin Bear was memorable. The students really enjoyed speaking to the undergraduate and graduate students to learn about their experiences. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!”
TwentyWonder Charity Event Mixes Art, Science, and Quirkiness
On June 28, 2014, iPLEX planetary scientists sponsored several activities at the TwentyWonder charity event held in Echo Park in Los Angeles. The 21+ event, part smorgasbord for the mind and part roller derby, included a variety of exhibits ranging from comedians to musicians to scientists. iPLEX volunteers brought an inflatable planetarium and ran shows throughout the evening and also set up a gravity well demo. Proceeds from TwentyWonder went to benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA) – to find out how to donate, visit their website.
Invite UCLA volunteers to your school
Are you an educator or youth group leader interested in sharing the excitement of astronomy and planetary science with your students? Submit a request to have volunteers visit your school or apply to bring your class to UCLA. Our outreach events include hands-on activities for all ages ranging from building bottle rockets to gazing through solar telescopes.
Our list of outreach activities details the hands-on science demos that can be brought to your classroom. For more specific information about any of these activities and how to apply, visit our request an outreach event page or contact iplex@epss.ucla.edu .
Outreach visits are sponsored by a collaboration between the UCLA Institute for Planets and Exoplanets, AstronomyLive!, the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.
Exploring Your Universe 2014 Date Announced!
This year’s Exploring Your Universe (EYU) event at UCLA will be held on Sunday, November 16th, 2014. Exploring Your Universe is an annual event held on the UCLA campus that includes science exhibitions, hands-on activities, demonstrations and experiments. The event is free to the public and promises an exciting time and a great learning experience for kids and adults alike.
To read more about previous years’ EYU events and other iPLEX outreach events, please visit our outreach page and stay tuned for more updates!
Join iPLEX for TwentyWonder fundraising event on Saturday
Join iPLEX and participate in the Downs Sydrome Association of Los Angeles’ (DSALA) annual event, TwentyWonder, a charity event that brings an incredible assortment of artists, scientists, designers, musicians, comedians, actors, athletes, and circus performers to the Derby Doll Factory for one unforgettable night! iPLEX will host an informational hands-on comet and asteroid booth where participants can interact with scientists from NASA and UCLA who study these objects on a daily basis. The event is hosted by the Los Angeles Derby Dolls, Southern California’s premiere all-female, banked track roller derby league, will host TwentyWonder 2013, DSALA’s fourth annual fundraising event, to take place June 28, 2014 at the Doll Factory. For tickets, please visit the official website. NOTE: This event is restricted to ages 21+.
All proceeds from TwentyWonder benefit Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA), an organization providing support services for individuals with Down syndrome and their families through the development and promotion of education, counseling, employment and recreational programs in the greater Los Angeles area.
