scholarly journals Mars: new insights and unresolved questions

Author(s):  
Hitesh G. Changela ◽  
Elias Chatzitheodoridis ◽  
Andre Antunes ◽  
David Beaty ◽  
Kristian Bouw ◽  
...  

Abstract Mars exploration motivates the search for extraterrestrial life, the development of space technologies, and the design of human missions and habitations. Here, we seek new insights and pose unresolved questions relating to the natural history of Mars, habitability, robotic and human exploration, planetary protection, and the impacts on human society. Key observations and findings include: – high escape rates of early Mars' atmosphere, including loss of water, impact present-day habitability; – putative fossils on Mars will likely be ambiguous biomarkers for life; – microbial contamination resulting from human habitation is unavoidable; and – based on Mars' current planetary protection category, robotic payload(s) should characterize the local martian environment for any life-forms prior to human habitation. Some of the outstanding questions are: – which interpretation of the hemispheric dichotomy of the planet is correct; – to what degree did deep-penetrating faults transport subsurface liquids to Mars' surface; – in what abundance are carbonates formed by atmospheric processes; – what properties of martian meteorites could be used to constrain their source locations; – the origin(s) of organic macromolecules; – was/is Mars inhabited; – how can missions designed to uncover microbial activity in the subsurface eliminate potential false positives caused by microbial contaminants from Earth; – how can we ensure that humans and microbes form a stable and benign biosphere; and – should humans relate to putative extraterrestrial life from a biocentric viewpoint (preservation of all biology), or anthropocentric viewpoint of expanding habitation of space? Studies of Mars' evolution can shed light on the habitability of extrasolar planets. In addition, Mars exploration can drive future policy developments and confirm (or put into question) the feasibility and/or extent of human habitability of space.

1994 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 431-434
Author(s):  
M. Minarovjech ◽  
M. Rybanský

AbstractThis paper deals with a possibility to use the ground-based method of observation in order to solve basic problems connected with the solar corona research. Namely:1.heating of the solar corona2.course of the global cycle in the corona3.rotation of the solar corona and development of active regions.There is stressed a possibility of high-time resolution of the coronal line photometer at Lomnický Peak coronal station, and use of the latter to obtain crucial observations.


1994 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 279-282
Author(s):  
A. Antalová

AbstractThe occurrence of LDE-type flares in the last three cycles has been investigated. The Fourier analysis spectrum was calculated for the time series of the LDE-type flare occurrence during the 20-th, the 21-st and the rising part of the 22-nd cycle. LDE-type flares (Long Duration Events in SXR) are associated with the interplanetary protons (SEP and STIP as well), energized coronal archs and radio type IV emission. Generally, in all the cycles considered, LDE-type flares mainly originated during a 6-year interval of the respective cycle (2 years before and 4 years after the sunspot cycle maximum). The following significant periodicities were found:• in the 20-th cycle: 1.4, 2.1, 2.9, 4.0, 10.7 and 54.2 of month,• in the 21-st cycle: 1.2, 1.6, 2.8, 4.9, 7.8 and 44.5 of month,• in the 22-nd cycle, till March 1992: 1.4, 1.8, 2.4, 7.2, 8.7, 11.8 and 29.1 of month,• in all interval (1969-1992):a)the longer periodicities: 232.1, 121.1 (the dominant at 10.1 of year), 80.7, 61.9 and 25.6 of month,b)the shorter periodicities: 4.7, 5.0, 6.8, 7.9, 9.1, 15.8 and 20.4 of month.Fourier analysis of the LDE-type flare index (FI) yields significant peaks at 2.3 - 2.9 months and 4.2 - 4.9 months. These short periodicities correspond remarkably in the all three last solar cycles. The larger periodicities are different in respective cycles.


1977 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 69-74

The discussion was separated into 3 different topics according to the separation made by the reviewer between the different periods of waves observed in the sun :1) global modes (long period oscillations) with predominantly radial harmonic motion.2) modes with large coherent - wave systems but not necessarily global excitation (300 s oscillation).3) locally excited - short period waves.


1979 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 357-372
Author(s):  
Z. Švestka

The following subjects were discussed:(1)Filament activation(2)Post-flare loops.(3)Surges and sprays.(4)Coronal transients.(5)Disk vs. limb observations.(6)Solar cycle variations of prominence occurrence.(7)Active prominences patrol service.Of all these items, (1) and (2) were discussed in most detail and we also pay most attention to them in this report. Items (3) and (4) did not bring anything new when compared with the earlier invited presentations given by RUST and ZIRIN and therefore, we omit them.


Author(s):  
H.P. Rohr

Today, in image analysis the broadest possible rationalization and economization have become desirable. Basically, there are two approaches for image analysis: The image analysis through the so-called scanning methods which are usually performed without the human eye and the systems of optical semiautomatic analysis completely relying on the human eye.The new MOP AM 01 opto-manual system (fig.) represents one of the very promising approaches in this field. The instrument consists of an electronic counting and storing unit, which incorporates a microprocessor and a keyboard for choice of measuring parameters, well designed for easy use.Using the MOP AM 01 there are three possibilities of image analysis:the manual point counting,the opto-manual point counting andthe measurement of absolute areas and/or length (size distribution analysis included).To determine a point density for the calculation of the corresponding volume density the intercepts lying within the structure are scanned with the light pen.


Author(s):  
V. R. Matricardi ◽  
G. G. Hausner ◽  
D. F. Parsons

In order to observe room temperature hydrated specimens in an electron microscope, the following conditions should be satisfied: The specimen should be surrounded by water vapor as close as possible to the equilibrium vapor pressure corresponding to the temperature of the specimen.The specimen grid should be inserted, focused and photo graphed in the shortest possible time in order to minimize dehydration.The full area of the specimen grid should be visible in order to minimize the number of changes of specimen required.There should be no pressure gradient across the grid so that specimens can be straddled across holes.Leakage of water vapor to the column should be minimized.


Author(s):  
R. A. Turner ◽  
A. E. Rodin ◽  
D. K. Roberts

There have been many reports which establish a relationship between the pineal and sexual structures, including gonadal hypertrophy after pinealectomy, and gonadal atrophy after injection of pineal homogenates or of melatonin. In order to further delineate this relationship the pineals from 5 groups of female rats were studied by electron microscopy:ControlsPregnant ratsAfter 4 weekly injections of 0.1 mg. estradiol benzoate.After 8 daily injections of 150 mcgm. melatonin (pineal hormone).After 8 daily injections of 3 mg. serotonin (melatonin precursor).No ultrastructural differences were evident between the control, and the pregnancy and melatonin groups. However, the estradiol injected animals exhibited a marked increase in the amount and size of rough endoplasmic reticulum within the pineal cells.


Author(s):  
S. Laoussadi ◽  
A. Kahan ◽  
G. Aubouy ◽  
F. Delbarre

Several patients with Fabry's, Gaucher's diseases and hyperlipoproteinemia type II and with arthropatic manifestations were observed.As no histological explanation for these symptoms was available,an ultrastructural study of synovial tissue was done to establish an anatomoclinical relation.Material and Methods :synovial membrane samples were obtained by needle biopsies of the knee from three patients with arthropatic manifestations of each disease.They were fixed in 5% glutaraldehyde, postfixed in 1% osmium tetraoxyde and embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections coloured by uranyl acetate and lead citrate were observed with an Elmiskop I Siemens electron microscope.Two important phenomena were observed in synovial tissue:Specific patterns of each lipid storage disease,which are now well known.In all the three metabolic diseases, hydroxyapatite-like crystals were found. They are characterized by their intramitochondrial localization, without any relation with cristae,an anarchic disposition and a mean size of 550 A.Crystals may be found also free in the cytoplasm of synoviocytes Some micrographs suggest an evolution in four steps :a. mitochondria with only a few microcrystalsb. mitochondria stuffed with these structuresc. disruption of mitochondria membranesd. microcrystals appear free in the cytoplasm


Author(s):  
C. K. Wu

The precipitation phenomenon in Al-Zn-Mg alloy is quite interesting and complicated and can be described in the following categories:(i) heterogeneous nucleation at grain boundaries;(ii) precipitate-free-zones (PFZ) adjacent to the grain boundaries;(iii) homogeneous nucleation of snherical G.P. zones, n' and n phases inside the grains. The spherical G.P. zones are coherent with the matrix, whereas the n' and n phases are incoherent. It is noticed that n' and n phases exhibit plate-like morpholoay with several orientation relationship with the matrix. The high resolution lattice imaging techninue of TEM is then applied to study precipitates in this alloy system. It reveals the characteristics of lattice structures of each phase and the orientation relationships with the matrix.


Author(s):  
S.J.B. Reed

Characteristic fluorescenceThe theory of characteristic fluorescence corrections was first developed by Castaing. The same approach, with an improved expression for the relative primary x-ray intensities of the exciting and excited elements, was used by Reed, who also introduced some simplifications, which may be summarized as follows (with reference to K-K fluorescence, i.e. K radiation of element ‘B’ exciting K radiation of ‘A’):1.The exciting radiation is assumed to be monochromatic, consisting of the Kα line only (neglecting the Kβ line).2.Various parameters are lumped together in a single tabulated function J(A), which is assumed to be independent of B.3.For calculating the absorption of the emerging fluorescent radiation, the depth distribution of the primary radiation B is represented by a simple exponential.These approximations may no longer be justifiable given the much greater computing power now available. For example, the contribution of the Kβ line can easily be calculated separately.


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