Article #1
ARTICLE INFORMATION
A planet 1,200 light-years away is a good prospect for a habitable world, Friday, May 27, 2016, Astronomy Magazine (News and Observing: Astronomy News): www.astronomy.com/news
RESEARCH SUMMARY
According to research conducted by NASA’S Kepler mission in 2013, Kepler-62f has been discovered as a distant planet from Earth but approximately 40 percent larger than Earth. Kepler-62f is considered one of the exoplanets that could be habitable due to the anticipated oceans and rocks. After extensive observations using an existing HNBody computer model among other climate testing models, Kepler-62f has been considered to be in a position to contain liquid surface water. Since Kepler-62f has been, regarded as a ‘habitable place’, extensive research has been conducted and is in the subsequent process of being conducted to ensure that life can exist in this ‘exoplanet.’ However, with the lack of carbon dioxide, life can barely survive in Kepler-62f.
RESEARCH METHOD
RESEARCH RESULTS
As per the discovery, Kepler-62f has been regarded as the 40 percent larger than Earth, which positions it as the closest exoplanet to the planet Earth. Discovery of the planetary system took place in 2013 by NASA Kepler, and they identified that the planet is probably rocky and could also have an ocean. The exoplanet Kepler-62f was additionally identified to be much cooler and smaller compared to the Sun. A collaborative study also discovered by different astronomers observed whether the planet could sustain life and according to their observation, the exoplanet Kepler-62f has an atmospheric composition, and this makes it a habitable planet. Further research, however, contradicts this point because, Shields, an astronomer reasons that without carbon dioxide to keep the temperature of the planet warm, life cannot survive easily on the planet. Using existing computer model and an existing global climate model as well as a generic laboratory model, the astronomers combined their outcomes and concluded that the planet could be habitable provided that rocky particle were present.
FUNDING JUSTIFICATION
An obvious and logical assumption is that life and water have a common association which is closely related. It is rather obvious that life on Earth was initiated in the sea, which provides a clue to where life should be looked for in the first place. This readily sets limits to why the funding should and ought to be provided for this research for further investigation. In addition to these is the fact that planets act as platforms for the development of life in space.
Article #2
ARTICLE INFORMATION
Asteroids ‘dumped water into molten Moon’ 31st may 2016. BBC News (Science & Environment) www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34416880
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Over the years, scientists had argued over the issue about why and when water got trapped in lunar volcanic rocks. An international team comprising of Dr. Barnes together with her colleagues from the US and France related the components of Apollo samples with different types of rocks located in space. The trapped water is locked up with minerals. Previously, research revealed that part of the water deposits have the same molecular signature to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites that sporadically visit the earth from the asteroid belt. Research conducted by this team, however, reveals that comets made a contribution to a tiny fraction of the sub-surface water. They, however, believed that rich asteroids made most of the contribution.
RESEARCH METHOD
Dr. Barnes modelled different scenarios to discover what could have produced the chemistry of the water present in the moon as it is known. The team runs the tests by surveying all published results about the components of lunar rock samples and various potential contributors. The survey moved from studying earth rocks to comets. The researchers compared facts and figures from different scientists. Stating the facts and trying to come up with a conclusion of their results. The team used a quantitative approach in conducting their research; this is by deciphering the kind of objects that would have been affecting the moon.
RESEARCH RESULTS
The team came up with the results that comets probably made a contribution to a little portion of the sub-surface water. The team concluded that the water was mostly rich in asteroids with a recipe much like carbonaceous chondrite. Today, these rocks contribute less than 5 percent of the Earth impact. The impacts reflect back to the primeval asteroid. This conclusion was made because comets seem to have “heavier” water. Comet water is made up of deuterium, an isotope that is heavy because of hydrogen. The water is heavier than the Moon, the Earth or asteroids. These asteroids do not differentiate into a core, a mantle and a crust like the Earth and the Moon. They are however made up of a lot of water and various organic molecules. Dr. Barnes suggested that within its first 200 million years, such rocks thrashed the molten moon about five billion years ago.
FUNDING JUSTIFICATION
This research requires government funding since from this the society can understand the environment and the components of rocks. The moon is important to human beings; itis, therefore, important to understand the present elements in the moon. It is important since different scientists can discuss and come up with different conclusions. This specific research requires more funding so as to come up with a uniform conclusion.
Article #3
ARTICLE INFORMATION
Just What Sustains the Earth’s Magnetic Field Anyways? June3, 2016. Astrobiology Magazine. www.astrobio.net
RESEARCH SUMMARY
How the magnetic field of the earth was created and sustained has always remained a mystery. The magnetic of the earth field is generated by the movement of liquidated iron in the planet’s exterior core. This phenomenon is referred to as geodynamo. This study was directed by a team managed byGoncharovof Carnegie. It explains how heat in the innermost core is conducted by a solid and the liquid of the external core. The energy produced is enough to sustain the magnetic field. Earth originated from rocky materials that surrounded the sun initially. With time, the most-dense stuff, iron sank inwards establishing the layers that exist today. The materials exist at tremendously high temperatures and extreme pressures. This trend changes as it moves to the surface. It brings light to the history of this crucial geological occurrence.
RESEARCH METHOD
The crew used a lab-based mimicry. They used an instrument called a laser-heat anvil diamond cell to imitate the conditions of the planetary core and learn how heat is conducted by iron under these conditions. The anvil diamond cell compresses some little material in the middle of the two diamonds; this exerts an extreme pressure of the World in the laboratory. The laser ensures the materialsare heated to the required temperatures. The team took the iron sample with varying temperatures and different pressures that possibly would be present inside planets. They varied from the magnitude from earth to Mercury, this was 345000 to 1.4 million intervals the usual pressure of the atmosphere and in the scope of very high temperatures and studied how to release heat.
RESEARCH RESULTS
The magnetic field of the Earth guards us against dangerous cosmic radiations. The scientists discovered that the iron’s ability to conduct heat corresponded with the lesser end of the last approximations of thermal transmission in the core of the Earth. The scientists used between 0.18 and 0.44 kilowatts per every 100 centimeter per degree celcius to conduct such measurements. This reveals that the dynamism required to withstand the geodynamo has always been in existence quite early in Earth’s history. The team noticed the pressing need for direct thermal conductivity measurements of core materials under important conditions to the core. They came to a conclusion that the motion of the liquid iron in the planet’s core generates the magnetic field.
FUNDING JUSTIFICATION
Research reveals that the shape of the Earth is spherical and that most of the Earth is made up of water bodies. Individuals however always wonder how they manage to move up and about in a spherical object. Understanding what sustains the earth’s magnetic field enables them to understand how this is possible. It also enables the society to appreciate the importance of the Earth’s magnetic field. This research is significant as it enables the society to understand how they survive. Funding this research will enable scientists to learn more about the Earth. Additional funds to the research will enable the scientists to explain more about core heat conductivity. They will be able to tackle how non-iron materials that rode along when the iron sinks will affect the thermal processes inside the planet.
Works Cited
Schirber, Michael. "How Vital Is a Planet's Magnetic Field? New Debate Rises." Space.com (2011).
Rauch, K. P., and D. P. Hamilton. "The HNBody package for symplectic integration of nearly-Keplerian systems" Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society Vol. 34 2002
Overbye, Dennis. "Reaching for the Stars Across 4.37 Light-Years." New York times (2016).
