Nature At Its Most Devastating: The Science Of Earthquakes

Earthquakes are often amazingly impressive events. If they are large enough, they can disrupt local habitats and even alter Earth"s rotation. Just a few centuries ago, we could only explain volcanic and seismic activities as the acts of gods who were punishing their creations. For example, ancient Greeks believed that Poseidon was the "Earth-Shaker," a being who would topple their cities if they didn"t worship and appease him. Unfortunately for them, Greece sits in one the most earthquake prone areas of the world, situated in a boundary region between 3 tectonic plates (their God must have often appeared to be displeased). Similarly, the Romans believed the Italian island of Volcano was the vent above the forge of the god Vulcan.

Centuries later, even with all our technological advances, we haven"t come to a complete understanding of the various phenomena that make up Mother Nature. Nevertheless, today, scientists have a very reliable and accurate understanding of the mechanics behind these (often devastating) seismic events.

To learn about these fantastic events, see:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/nature-at-its-most-devastating-the-science-of-earthquakes/

In this image:
Smoke engulfs San Francisco as fires erupt after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
aia A.L. Murat – Corbis

Nature At Its Most Devastating: The Science Of Earthquakes

Earthquakes are often amazingly impressive events. If they are large enough, they can disrupt local habitats and even alter Earth"s rotation. Just a few centuries ago, we could only explain volcanic and seismic activities as the acts of gods who were punishing their creations. For example, ancient Greeks believed that Poseidon was the "Earth-Shaker," a being who would topple their cities if they didn"t worship and appease him. Unfortunately for them, Greece sits in one the most earthquake prone areas of the world, situated in a boundary region between 3 tectonic plates (their God must have often appeared to be displeased). Similarly, the Romans believed the Italian island of Volcano was the vent above the forge of the god Vulcan.

Centuries later, even with all our technological advances, we haven"t come to a complete understanding of the various phenomena that make up Mother Nature. Nevertheless, today, scientists have a very reliable and accurate understanding of the mechanics behind these (often devastating) seismic events.

To learn about these fantastic events, see:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/nature-at-its-most-devastating-the-science-of-earthquakes/

In this image:
Smoke engulfs San Francisco as fires erupt after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
aia A.L. Murat – Corbis

The Benefits of Colonizing Space: Space Habitats and The O"Neill Cylinder

Many argue that the world is in a state of crisis and that the human race is the cause. As a species, we are approaching an important turning point in our history, and if we make the wrong decisions we might be facing a future of deprivation, over population, hunger, and instability. Ultimately, many believe that we will eventually be forced to colonize space. Last year, the 100 Starship Symposium set on course a project to design and build an economical and practical spacecraft for interstellar travel.

But with the very immediate worries about over population, it might not be a good idea to wait for interstellar travel and the colonization of other worlds. Fortunately, there are also many suggestions in place for large space structures designed as places for people to live in their millions, much like a city is on Earth. Of course, building a space habitat comes with thousands of challenges, including: construction in space, recreating a livable atmosphere, recycling waste, producing artificial gravity, transporting food and materials to the habitat, and convincing people such a venture is worth it.

Learn about the benefits of space colonization, and what these habitats may look like, at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/space-habitats-and-the-oneill-cylinder/

Image:
NASA Ames Research Center space colony

Magma intrusions: What happens beneath your feet

When you consider plate tectonics we often think of hot magma bubbling up from the Earth’s mantle, and we remember the vast assortment of pictures that we"ve seen--images featuring hundreds of active volcanoes spewing forth smoke and lava, and the devastation that always follows. Gargantuan explosions that blow-off the caps of mountains and lava flooded landscapes dominate our imaginations. So it may surprise you to know that the vast majority of the molten rock that rises up into the Earth’s lithosphere never reaches the surface. Instead, it cools and solidifies to form coarser-grained igneous rocks beneath the ground.

So much of the landscape that we travel through every day is the product of tectonic activity that we almost take for granted the immense forces that formed it! Try think twice next time you’re walking along the road, you have no idea what is going on beneath your feet…

But if you want to find out what processes formed the ground you walk on (and what made that hill behind your apartment), take a look at this:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/magma-intrusions-what-happens-beneath-your-feet/

Estimations: Your Breath and Julius Caesar"s

Not all of physics consists of pin-point accurate mathematics. In certain situations, using assumptions and rough values to come to a workable value is very important. Other times, we may not have the time to run through a very precise set of calculations, and we need a quick estimation. Now please be aware that estimations and educated guesses are NOT the same thing.

An educated guess is throwing out a (seemingly) random number using some vague thought process based on prior knowledge. In an estimation, you use generalised values and rounded figures to work out your final answer. This will, of course, make the final solution fundamentally inaccurate, but it won’t be totally unreliable - and that is why estimations are incredibly useful. One of the most popular estimations involves choosing a famous historical figure and calculating how many molecules you’re breathing in -- right now -- that were in their last breath.

So let’s have a go with Julius Ceasar...
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/estimating-how-many-molecules-you-breathe-that-were-from-julius-caesars-last-breath/

Image: Andrew Bossi via WikiMedia

Hot Spots and Olympus Mons:

All around us, the forces of nature are at work, constantly shaping and reshaping the entirety of our landscape. Said changes dictate our daily lives, yet it has only been in the last couple of centuries that man has advanced enough to begin to ‘control’ nature (in the loosest sense of the word). We have built sprawling urban conurbations; designed drugs to cure diseases and we"ve even developed methods of taming the largest, fastest moving rivers on the planet. However, there is one force of nature that we (currently) have no control over, and it’s the greatest force on planet Earth – plate tectonics.



So.. what do they do? As it turns out, plate tectonics are responsible for the shape of our local environment. In fact, they have been re-sculpting the whole surface of the Earth in a continuous cycle for eons now. We see the effects all across the planet; from the majesty of the various mountain ranges, to the devastation of earthquakes and tsunamis. Continental drift has the power to shift climates, split up landmasses and isolate species; therefore it must play an important role in evolution and our own history. Therefore, it stands to reason that their full impact needs to be discerned to better plan for the future (and for our survival)

So.. how do they tie into Olympus Mons; the most spectacular volcano in our solar system? Find out: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/hot-spots-and-olympus-mons/

Larger Image: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/forces-of-nature2.jpg

Supernovae may Drive Evolution on Earth:

On Earth, we have an almost incomprehensible array of life. It comes in millions of different forms (the best estimate puts the figure at 8.7 million species, not counting bacteria). What"s more, these organisms are only an addition to the species that have long been extinct. What causes such diversity?

The answer seems rather simple -- seemingly random genetic mutations drive evolution. These mutations are the raw materials of genetic variation; without them, evolution could not occur. But what actually drives these random mutations? Well, this is where things get a little complicated; however, new light has been shed on one possible factor – supernovae.

Learn more at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/supernovae-may-drive-evolution-on-earth/

Image source:
NASA

Antimatter Gravitational Fields: Are we on the Cusp of "Anti-gravity Technology"?

Up until now, the prospect of anti-gravity technology has been strictly confined to science fiction stories and films alike. However, CERN physicists are set to begin an experiment that may well revolutionise our understanding of how the universe works (CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research - the acronym comes from the original French spelling). They will be investigating the idea that antimatter may generate a gravitational field that repels that produced by ordinary matter.

Learn about the amazing anti-gravity technology at:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/antimatter-gravitational-fields-are-we-on-the-cusp-of-anti-gravity-technology/

Image source:
NASA

Why Don"t Moons Have Their Own Satellites?

Have you ever wondered why moons don"t have other moon"s in orbit around them? The question is rather common, but the answer is rather complex -- especially when you initially attempt to visualize the mechanics of such a system.

Technically speaking, everything is in orbit around something else. The Earth, Sun, and all the planets orbit around the center of mass of the solar system. More generally, Earth orbits the Sun; the Moon orbits the Earth; our entire solar system orbits around Sagittarius A* (the supermassive black hole in the center of our galaxy); our galaxy completes one full rotation every 230 million years (interesting aside, Sagittarius A* might have 10,000 additional black holes in orbit around it).

And in theory, it"s possible that our Moon once had a satellite of its own; however, for such a body to remain in orbit, it would need to have to very specific characteristics for its size, mass, speed, and orbital distance. It would be difficult for an orbiting body to fit these exact parameters, but it is possible. As such, it is appropriate to ask why moons don’t have their own moons. After all, we’ve observed large asteroids with satellites. Why then don"t moons have satellites of their own?

To find out, see:
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/why-dont-moons-have-their-own-satellites/

Image source:
http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2001-000009.html