Julie Chittenden, a space center graduate student, and Dr. Derek Sears, the director of the space center and a faculty member in the department of Chemistry/Biochemistry, have recently published a paper in Geophysical Research Letters on the stability of concentrated brines on Mars based on experiments performed in the W. M. Keck Laboratory for Space Simulation.  In addition to increasing the range of temperatures over which liquid water would be stable on Mars, these solutions would have evaporation rates a factor of ~30 lower than water at the freezing point.  This would mean that liquid would be stable on much of Mars for most of the year.  Concentrated brines are found on Earth wherever a landlocked body of water exists and might also be expected on Mars.

Dr. Daniel Kennefick, a member of the space center and a faculty member in the department of Physics, recently published an article in the September 2005 issue of Physics Today.  The article, entitled “Einstein Versus the Physical Review,” examined the exchange between Einstein and a major physics publication in his time.

The intent of the article was to show Einstein at a time of annoyance and frustration, which shows the more human side of the scientist.  Einstein’s frustration was in response to a paper titled “Do Gravitational Waves Exist?” that he had submitted to the Physical Review in 1936.  Einstein’s paper stated that they do not, and was returned to him with a critical review.  The paper was subsequently published elsewhere. 

Dr. Tim Kral, an associate director of the space canter and a faculty member in the department of Biological Sciences has found methane-producing microorganisms in arid desert soils.  This finding strengthens the possibility that such microorganisms can exist under Martian conditions.  On Earth, methanogens can be found anywhere from hot springs to the deep ocean to the intestinal tract of humans and animals.  Since they do not require oxygen to survive, this makes them potentially viable residents of Mars, an atmosphere which is predominantly composed of carbon dioxide.

The quarterly magazine Meteorite, produced by Joel Schiff and his colleagues in Auckland, New Zealand, since 1995, has moved to the space center.  The journal was created to satisfy a growing need for amateurs, collectors, dealers, educators and researchers interested in meteorites to have a forum for communication.  The magazine has satisfied that need very successfully.  Meteorite has earned the trust and loyalty of a large world-wide following of subscribers and advertisers.

Under the new arrangements, Larry and Nancy Lebofsky, of the University of Arizona, will be joint Editor and Hazel Sears will be the Managing Editor.  Derek Sears, as director of the space center, will be the Publisher.  Dr. Lebofsky’s background is in planetary sciences, specializing in asteroids.  He and Nancy have spent over 15 years in education and public outreach with a particular emphasis in stressing the role of amateurs in science and the need for communication between researchers, amateurs and professionals in other fields.

Dr. Diann Thomas (n’ee Schneider) graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2000 with a Ph.D. in chemistry.  She did her research with Dr. Derek Sears, and recently wrote to us to let us know how she is doing.  Dr. Thomas is the Chemistry Laboratory Supervisor at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.  She coordinates the undergraduate curriculum and teaches various laboratory classes at Missouri State.  Her research focuses on meteorites and women’s studies.  Dr. Thomas is professionally affiliated with the American Chemical Society and The Meteoritical Society.  She has a husband, Andrew and two children named Donovan and Avery.