New study helps pinpoint when Earth’s tectonic plates began
Dec 11, 2020 Rocks tell story of planet’s transition from alien landscape to continents, oceans and life
Every year, earthquakes shake the ground and volcanoes erupt around the edges of tectonic plates the massive pieces of Earth’s crust that slide slowly across the planet, creating and destroying mountains and oceans on the scale of eons. But the question of when this plate subduction actually began has been a hotly contested debate in earth sciences.
A new study from scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and the University of Chicago sheds light on this burning question. According to findings published Dec. 9 in the journal
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Members of the Sea Shepherd’s Conservation Society said Thursday they believe they found a new species of beaked whale during an expedition near the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
Researchers sailed in mid-November with hopes of identifying the source of an acoustic signal associated with another species, known as Perrin’s beaked whale.
Dr Jay Barlow, a retired adjunct professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said that two beaked whales found on Tuesday looked and sounded different from the 23 other known species.
The crew was about 100 miles north of San Benito Island when they made the discovery.
“We wanted to find Perrin’s beaked whale. What we ended up finding was another beaked whales species. It was clear it was a beaked whale. They surfaced very close to the boat, and then they came to us,” Dr Barlow said.
Researchers looking for an elusive species of beaked whale say they think they've found another new, previously unknown species off Mexico's western Pacific coast.
Meet the 9 astronauts on NASA s Artemis team who have a chance to be the first woman to walk on the moon By Sophie Lewis Astronauts selected for NASA moon program
Nine women are among the 18 astronauts who will train for NASA s upcoming Artemis missions, with the goal of sending humans back to the moon and, eventually, to Mars. The space agency is aiming for a 2024 moon landing and this time, it won t just be men making the trip.
The group of astronauts announced Wednesday are among the most diverse teams NASA has ever put together: nine men, including four with spaceflight experience, and nine women, including five spaceflight veterans.