Earth And Heaven, 1750-1800: Enlightenment Ideas About The Relevance To Geology Of Extraterrestrial Operations And Events

1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Celestial Mechanics ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Geological Investigation ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of ◽  
Geological Science ◽  
The Ideal

A conceptual and methodological tension can be discerned among Enlightenment advocates of earth science, as regards extraterrestrial events and processes. True to the fundamental traditions of Theories of the Earth, many scientific thinkers exhibited clear recognition of the Earth's planetary status, as a member of a celestial family. To some this legitimated integration of a geological perspective into that of cosmology and astronomy. In extreme instances it even entailed an ideal of establishing earth science by deduction from principles of celestial mechanics. However, this integrative aspect of Theories of the Earth ran counter to another important element in the geological thinking of this era, one which asserted the overriding value of empirical investigation. In the minds of many empirical-minded champions of a natural history of the Earth, a true geology could only be built up through inductive discovery focussed exclusively on accessible terrestrial phenomena. Sometimes explicitly, often by merely tacit exclusion of extraterrestrial considerations, much geological investigation before 1800 tended to identify the integrity of the emerging science with the distinctively Earth-bound nature of the objects of study. The ideal of an autonomous geological science thus tended to be intertwined with a concept of terrestrial autonomy.

scholarly journals In-Situ Cosmogenic 14C: Production and Examples of its Unique Applications in Studies of Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Processes

Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2B) ◽  
pp. 731-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Lal ◽  
A J T Jull
Keyword(s):  
Half Life ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Radioactive Isotopes ◽  
Earth’S Atmosphere ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
History Of ◽  
Earth's Atmosphere

Nuclear interactions of cosmic rays produce a number of stable and radioactive isotopes on the earth (Lai and Peters 1967). Two of these, 14C and 10Be, find applications as tracers in a wide variety of earth science problems by virtue of their special combination of attributes: 1) their source functions, 2) their half-lives, and 3) their chemical properties. The radioisotope, 14C (half-life = 5730 yr) produced in the earth's atmosphere was the first to be discovered (Anderson et al. 1947; Libby 1952). The next longer-lived isotope, also produced in the earth's atmosphere, 10Be (half-life = 1.5 myr) was discovered independently by two groups within a decade (Arnold 1956; Goel et al. 1957; Lal 1991a). Both the isotopes are produced efficiently in the earth's atmosphere, and also in solids on the earth's surface. Independently and jointly they serve as useful tracers for characterizing the evolutionary history of a wide range of materials and artifacts. Here, we specifically focus on the production of 14C in terrestrial solids, designated as in-situ-produced 14C (to differentiate it from atmospheric 14C, initially produced in the atmosphere). We also illustrate the application to several earth science problems. This is a relatively new area of investigations, using 14C as a tracer, which was made possible by the development of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The availability of the in-situ 14C variety has enormously enhanced the overall scope of 14C as a tracer (singly or together with in-situ-produced 10Be), which eminently qualifies it as a unique tracer for studying earth sciences.

Dead-Ends and New Directions

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-347
Author(s):  
Jean Francesco A.L. Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Scientific Theory ◽  
Good Science ◽  
Orthodox Christian ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Earth ◽  
New Directions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Evolutionary Science ◽  
Doctrine Of Creation

Abstract The aim of this article is to investigate how Abraham Kuyper and some late neo-Calvinists have addressed the doctrine of creation in light of the challenges posed by evolutionary scientific theory. I argue that most neo-Calvinists today, particularly scholars from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), continue Kuyper’s legacy by holding the core principles of a creationist worldview. Yet, they have taken a new direction by explaining the natural history of the earth in evolutionary terms. In my analysis, Kuyper’s heirs at the VU today offer judicious parameters to guide Christians in conversation with evolutionary science, precisely because of their high appreciation of good science and awareness of the nonnegotiable elements that make up the orthodox Christian narrative.

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIOSPHERE AS A KEY TO SOLVE ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS (TO THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF A.N. TYURYUKANOV)

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-136
Author(s):  
Valeriy SNAKIN
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Natural Scientist ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Ecological Problems ◽  
90Th Anniversary ◽  
History Of ◽  
Landscape Geochemistry ◽  
Nature Development

Anatolij Nikiforovich Tyuryukanov (1931-2001), Dr.Sci (Biol.), professor was a remarkable Russian natural scientist, who made a signifi contribution to soil science and the theory of the biosphere. Investigation of Tyuryukanov’s works shows both evolution of the author’s scientifi interests and development of natural history in Russia in 20th century. He formulated the biosphere natural history principle founded on a new fundamental category of sciences foundation in 20th century. Th principle is based on genetic soil science, biogeocenology, landscape geochemistry and main branches of the Earth biosphere and vitasphere study. Interesting and sometimes unexpected assertions of A.N. Tyuryukanovs provide food for thought about both further studies of nature, development of biosphere study and refl on the human and biosphere relationships.

scholarly journals II. Observations on Granite

1794 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Hutton
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
The State ◽  
Hard Materials ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fluid Matter

Since reading the paper upon the theory of the earth, I have been employed in examining many parts of this country, in order to enquire into the natural history of granite. In this undertaking, I have succeeded beyond my most flattering expectations; and I am now to communicate to this Society the result of my observations.In the paper just referred to, it was maintained, from many different arguments, that all the solid strata of the earth had been consolidated by means of subterraneous heat, softening the hard materials of those bodies; and that in many places, those consolidated strata had been broken and invaded by huge masses of fluid matter similar to lava, but, for the most part, perfectly distinguishable from it. Granite also was considered there as a body which had been certainly consolidated by heat; and which had, at least in some parts, been in the state of perfect fusion, and certain specimens were produced, from which I drew an argument in support of this conclusion.

scholarly journals V. An account of books. I. An essay toward a natural history of the earth, and terrestrial bodies, especially minerals: As also of the sea, rivers, and springs. With an account of the universal deluge, and of the effects that it had upon the earth. By John Woodward, M. D. Professor of Physick in Gresham College, and Fellow of the Royal Society. Printed for Ric. Wilkin at the King's Head in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1695. Octavo. 2. An account of a paper, entituled, archibaldi pitcarnii, M. D. disser

1695 ◽  
Vol 19 (217) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
Great Weight ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of

V. An account of books. I. An essay toward a natural history of the earth, and terrestrial bodies, especially minerals: As also of the sea, rivers, and springs. With an account of the universal deluge, and of the effects that it had upon the earth. By John Woodward, M. D. Professor of Physick in Gresham College, and Fellow of the Royal Society. Printed for Ric. Wilkin at the King's Head in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1695. Octavo. 2. An account of a paper, entituled, archibaldi pitcarnii, M. D. dissertatio de Febribus, &c. The Author of this Book having with great Industry, and no less Success, made Enquiry into many considerable Parts of Nature, hath thought fit here to set forth an Account of several of his Observations, and of certain Conclusions which he hath drawn from them, whereof many are indeed of great weight and moment, but all in a compendious manner, as intending this Discourse only as a Prœlude to one-much larger, and to comply with the Importunities of some Persons of Worth, who .requested a brief Account of these things from him, for their present Satisfaction, until his Affairs should permit the compleating of his Greater Work, which he promiseth, with a further Proof both of these, and of others not yet proposed.

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Oral History Project: A Preliminary Report

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Levin ◽  
Ronald Doel
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Technological Change ◽  
Oral History ◽  
Environmental History ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Institutional History ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1999. As part of" the effort to preserve the history of this important earth science research institute, senior Lamont administrators conceived an ambitious oral history project. Now complete, these oral histories present a useful resource for those studying the history of the earth sciences, environmental history, social and institutional history, disciplinary development, technological change, internationalism in the sciences, and patronage. This article summarizes certain preliminary conclusions reached during the course of this project.

History of the Earth Sciences at Southeast Missouri State University

1985 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-71
Author(s):  
Louis Unfer
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Science Department ◽  
State University ◽  
Mining Geology ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Southeast Missouri ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Science Major

The history of Southeast Missouri State University parallels that of other teacher education institutions. It started as Southeast Missouri Normal School in 1873 and reached university status in 1972. A department of Geology and Geography was established in 1909, becoming the Geography Department in 1915. In 1924, the sciences were combined into the Science Department. In 1960, this became the Division of Science and Mathematics and the Department of Earth Sciences was formed. An earth science major began in 1937, with separate geology and geography majors established in 1958. Recently the Department has developed more specialized, job-oriented programs in mining geology and in cartography. Since 1983 the Department has also operated a field camp, headquartered on the campus of Dixie College, St. George, Utah.

scholarly journals IV. On the Existence of Pre-Cambrian Life-eras

1865 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 13-16
Author(s):  
George E. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
The Moon ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of ◽  
Geological Science ◽  
Articles Of Faith ◽  
The Mind

There has been no lack, in the history of geological science, of suggestions as to how our knowledge may be advanced upon those obscure questions which yet ask for solution, both in the physical and palæontological departments of the study. Sometimes, by a surprising intellectual endeavour, we have been carried up to the moon, and asked to discover where its missing waters are, without which our useful satellite appears to be a sort of ‘house to let,’—the idea having got into the mind which originated the enquiry, that the earth had appropriated the said waters for the necessities of a supposed cataclysmal epoch. Also, we have been taken down, by speculative thinkers, at divers times, to depths beneath our terraqueous surface, and asked to pin some fundamental articles of faith upon schemes which show all existing there to be either fire, or water, or a zone of meterorite-mineral, or one of soild steel, or that, nothing existing there, the interior of our planet is a vacuum.

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