Showing posts with label silicate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silicate. Show all posts

Monday, May 21, 2007

Spirit Finds Evidence of Ancient Water on Mars


The Mars Rover Spirit has found plenty of silica in a patch of soil it had sampled and analyzed. Pictured is the spot in Gusev crater where it took the sample. Scientists say that only flowing water could have deposited that much silica in the soil. Leading researcher, Steve Squyres of Cornell University, says it is a remarkable discovery which makes one wonder what else is out there.

This is not the first time that Spirit had found evidence of water in the crater. The sulfur-rich soil, water-altered minerals, and explosive volcanism also point to water in the past. The researchers hope that evidence of water on Mars will also lead to traces of life.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Real Kryptonite Unearthed in Serbia


Scientists exploring in Serbia have discovered a new mineral which they say is composed of the same chemistry that were written in the display for a kryptonite meteorite in the movie Superman Returns. The composition is sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide. Dr. Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum says "I was amazed to discover that same scientific name written on a case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns."

Unlike the fictional kryptonite, which is green and glows, the real one is powdery white and nonradioactive. It also won't be called Kryptonite. It will be called Jadarite.

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