Tissint -Soil Science Martian Style

Dr Sasha Verchovsky and “Finesse”. Dr Verchovsky works in the Open University’s Department of Physical Sciences and made extensive measurements of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in Tissint using a high-sensitivity and high-precision mass spectrometer called “Finesse”. Dr Verchovsky’s analyses were able to show that Tissint contains traces of Martian atmosphere, as well as soil-like material…

Essential Maintenance

  While science is fun, most of the time, it does have its routine side. Scientific equipment has to be maintained and repaired, and when it gets too long in the tooth needs to be rebuilt or replaced. So, for the last few months we have been upgrading our laser fluorination line. Our lab specialises…

The Meteorite from Lake House – Journey’s End?

Professor Colin Pillinger and “the meteorite from Lake House” now on display to the general public at the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum. (image: Andy Tindle) Last Tuesday, a small group from the Open University headed down to the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum for a rather special event. A unique British meteorite was finally…

Farewell, My Lovely

Asteroid 4 Vesta and the NASA Dawn spacecraft, an artist’s impression (image: NASA) The NASA Dawn spacecraft will leave the asteroid 4 Vesta on September 4 and head off to study the dwarf planet Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt. But don’t hold your breath, the journey to Ceres will take approximately two-and-a…