Since the formation of Earth approximately 4.5 billion years ago, the convection and release of hot magma in its mantle layer has famously led to some of the deadliest eruptions in history. But what if the same explosions occurred when a geological feature and nearby chemical compounds became too cold?
NAU Astronomy & Planetary Science In the News
Crater of Mars named of impact cratering scientist, Dr. Nadine Barlow
USGS Post of Oct. 20, 2024.
On September 27, 2024, the name Barlow was officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for a prominent, ~87 km-diameter crater located in the northern portion of Sinai Planum (11.65°S, 270.09°E) on Mars. The name approval commemorates Dr. Nadine Barlow (1958–2020), Northern Arizona University professor and noted leader in the field of Mars crater studies.
Read more about it here: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/astrogeology-science-center/news/crater-mars-named-after-impact-cratering-scientist-dr
Read more Mary Lara is the 2025 recipient of the Carolyn Warner Legacy Award
Mary Lara is the 2025 recipient of the Carolyn Warner Legacy Award given by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®) in partnership with the Warner family.
Flagstaff community members advance in wildfire detection contest.
Snuffed, a team composed of firefighters, engineers, ecologists and wildland activists based in Flagstaff, has advanced in the XPRIZE Wildfire competition to the semifinals. XPRIZE will host the event in April 2025.
The XPRIZE Wildfire competition began in April 2023 and aims to assist in creating new technologies that can rapidly detect wildfires before they become destructive.
At this stage in the project, the team comprises eight members, four of which are affiliated with NAU. A larger team of 25 researchers… Read more
Congratulations to Dr. Anna Engle
Congratulations to Dr. Anna Engle, who successfully defended their doctoral dissertation entitled, Experimental Studies Involving Mixtures of Methane, Ethane, Propane, and Nitrogen with Implications for Titan. under the supervision of Stephen Tegler (NAU) and Will Grundy (Lowell Observatory).
Nasa funding research on melting Swedish glaciers to understand climate change on Mars
While in Tarfala, Sweden, Alicia Rutledge spoke to Radio Sweden about our ongoing planetary analog research at the glaciers of arctic Sweden.