Space / Cosmology

Space science, broadly defined as the study of the universe and our relationship to it, is the province of multiple disciplines. Understanding the formation and evolution of the solar system is equally the task of the chemist who measures isotope effects in meteorites, the astronomer who observes planetary atmospheres or interstellar dust, and the theoretical physicist who studies gravitational collapse to form a planet and then its subsequent thermal and mechanical evolution. The McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences is a consortium of Washington University faculty, research staff and students from the departments of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The Center exists to encourage collaborative research efforts among scientists working on space science problems and projects that span traditional departmental lines. The "Mac Center," as it is called, fosters this type of endeavor through the sponsorship of cooperative research and through formal activities such as the Visiting Scientist Program.

Faculty Experts:

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W. Robert Binns Research Professor of Physics in Arts & Sciences W. Robert Binns' research is primarily in cosmic ray astrophysics. He and the Washington University cosmic ray group have developed scintillating optical fibers coupled to image intensified CCD cameras or multi-anode photomultiplier tubes to obtain images of charged particle tracks. He is principal ... Expertise: cosmic ray astrophysics, Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer, CRIS, Trans-lron Galactic Element Recorder, TIGER, scintillating fiber hodoscope, isotopic abundances, … Direct contact: (314) 935-6247 / wrb@wuphys.wustl.edu

Martin H. Israel Professor of physics in Arts & Sciences Israel Download Israel has been involved in some of the world's most successful studies of the composition of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), highly energized atomic nuclei that shoot through space at nearly the speed of light and originate from outside our solar system. Israel and his colleagues in the Department of ... Expertise: cosmic rays, cosmic-ray astrophysics, balloon- and satellite-borne instruments, Heavy Nuclei Experiment, High Energy Astronomy Observatory spacecraft, cosmic-ray elements, Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder experiment, … Direct contact: (314) 935-6263 / mhi@wustl.edu

James H. Buckley Professor of Physics in Arts & Sciences James Buckley specializes in astrophysical research in high-energy phenomena. His research interests include the origin of cosmic rays, gamma-ray and multiwavelength observations of active galaxies and experimental cosmology. Expertise: Gamma-Ray, Multiwavelength Observations of Active Galaxies, Experimental Cosmology, Dark Matter Search, Origin of Cosmic Rays, Optical Astronomy, Optical Transients from AGNs and GRBs, … Direct contact: 314-935-7607 / buckley@wustl.edu

Alexander Meshik Research professor of physics in Arts & Sciences Meshik is the lead author of a study in the Oct. 19, 2007, issue of Science on the analysis of solar wind noble gases (neon and argon) from NASA's Genesis Mission. Meshik and colleagues will next study the solar wind samples for xenon and krypton. Meshik also analyzed the isotopic structure of noble ... Expertise: Geochemistry, Geochronology, Nuclear Chemistry, Xenon, Krypton, solar wind, noble gases, … Direct contact: 314-935-5049 / am@wustl.edu

Ramanath Cowsik Professor of Physics in Arts and Sciences Ramanath Cowsik Download Ramanath Cowsik's research interests are in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and non-accelerator particle physics. His scientific contributions include establishing the highest observatory in the world in Hanle, Ladakh, in the Himalayas at an altitude of 15,000 ft. for astronomy in ... Expertise: astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, non-accelerator particle physics, high-energy astrophysics, dark matter, neutrinos, … Direct contact: (314) 935-4493 / cowsik@wuphys.wustl.edu

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News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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Extremely high energy Pinpointing origin of gamma rays from a supermassive black hole July 2, 2009 -- Download An international collaboration of 390 scientists reports the discovery of an outburst of very-high-energy gamma radiation from the giant radio galaxy Messier 87 (M 87), accompanied by a strong rise of the radio flux measured from the direct vicinity of its supermassive black hole. The combined results give first experimental evidence that particles are accelerated to extremely high energies in the immediate vicinity of a supermassive black hole and then emit the observed gamma rays. The gamma rays have energies a trillion times higher than the energy of visible light. Washington University in St. Louis physicists helped coordinate this cooperative project, the results of which appear in the July 2 Science Express, the advance online publication of the journal Science.

Transformed speculative field into 'precision science' World-renowned cosmologist to discuss the Big Bang in McDonnell Center lecture series April 2, 2009 -- Peebles Download P. James E. Peebles, Ph.D., one of the world's foremost theoretical cosmologists who played a central role in understanding the evolution and structure of the universe, will deliver two talks April 15-16 as part of the McDonnell Distinguished Lecture Series, sponsored by Washington University's McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences.

Can't hold a Super-TIGER down Origin of galactic cosmic rays focus of NASA grant Feb. 23, 2009 -- Courtesy photo W. Robert Binns and TIGER prelaunch in Antarctica Astrophysicists at Washington University in St. Louis have received a five-year, $3,225,740 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to design and build Super-TIGER — a Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder — and then fly it aboard a high-altitude balloon over Antarctica to collect rare atomic particles called galactic cosmic rays. Super-TIGER's first flight in search of the origin of cosmic rays is planned for December 2012.

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Related News Clips:

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Show More Space / Cosmology Clips

U.S. Astronauts Might Hitch Rides on Chinese Spacecraft Space.com April 17, 2009 -- The U.S. and China are exploring new ways to bridge U.S. moon exploration plans with China. Includes comments from WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson.

What lies in store for the Mars rovers? MSNBC.com and 1 others March 31, 2009 -- Their 90-day warranty expired awhile ago, but NASA's twin Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity are still trundling along the Martian surface en route to their next destinations more than five years after landing on the red planet. But just how long they can keep going is anyone's guess. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments.

40-year Mystery Revisited: Newtonian System Mimics 'Baldness' of Rotating Black Holes ScienceDaily.com and 4 others Feb. 24, 2009 -- WUSTL physics professor Clifford Will explains his research on an old mystery that will have implications for gravitational-wave astronomy. His article appeared in the Feb. 12 issue of Physical Review Letters.

Diamonds show comet struck North America, scientists say Los Angeles Times and 1 others Jan. 2, 2009 -- A discovery of microscopic diamonds a few feet beneath the surface of North America reveals that a comet caused a cataclysm of fire, flood and devastation nearly 13,000 years ago, scientists said. Includes comments by WUSTL physicist Tyrone Daulton.

Lander data sheds light on Mars polar water MSNBC.com and 1 others Dec. 16, 2008 -- Data from the now-defunct NASA Phoenix Mars Lander is shedding light on the current water cycle on Mars, particularly how water moves between the surface and the atmosphere in the northern polar region. It has a very active weather environment. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson, who is the lead scientist for Phoenix's robotic arm, comments.

Phoenix probe sheds new light on Mars weather Toronto Star (Canada) and 21 others Dec. 16, 2008 -- NASA is still unable to say for sure whether its Phoenix lander has found a place where life could have existed on Mars. In addition to analyzing ice and soil samples for organic material, a process that is still under way, the Phoenix science team collected daily weather reports, information considered critical to learning if the planet could have supported water long enough for life to evolve. Includes comments by WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson, who served as the lead scientist for the lander's robotic arm.

NASA says Phoenix Mars mission has ended Associated Press and 112 others Nov. 11, 2008 -- NASA declared an end to the Phoenix mission on Monday, some five months after the spacecraft became the first to land in Mars' arctic plains and taste water on another planet. "It's always a sad situation to not be able to communicate with it, but it lived beyond its warranty," said mission scientist and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson.

NASA sends 'please wake up' call to Phoenix lander USA Today Nov. 4, 2008 -- NASA engineers still hope to rouse a slumbering Phoenix lander and wring the last science out of the mission to Mars' North Pole. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor and mission scientist Ray Arvidson comments.

NASA's Phoenix Mission Faces Survival Challenges ScienceDaily.com and 15 others Oct. 29, 2008 -- In a race against time and the elements, engineers with NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission hope to extend the lander's survival by gradually shutting down some of its instruments and heaters. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson, who is the robotic arm's co-investigator, comments.

NASA's Phoenix Lander Weathers Martian Dust Storm ScienceDaily.com and 6 others Oct. 15, 2008 -- The Phoenix Lander successfully weather a regional dust storm that temporarily lowered its solar power. The team is back investigating the Red Planet's northern plains, and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson, comments on the storm.

Phoenix's Water May Be Gumming Up the Works Science Magazine Aug. 8, 2008 -- The Phoenix mission's most dramatic achievement so far has been touching martian water ice. Mission investigators are now trying to decode the mysteries of alien dirt. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson, mission robotic arm co-investigator, comments.

Living on Mars time: Scientists suffer perpetual jet lag USA Today and 1 others July 29, 2008 -- Mars Lander mission controllers have been living on its schedule, or rather the exact opposite of it. When the spacecraft is sleeping during the Martian night, the scientists are up analyzing data; when the spacecraft rises at the beginning of the day on Mars, they retire and let Phoenix do its work.Mars' day is 40 minutes longer than Earth's, and the start of the Martian day is always changing with respect to Earth time, as a result of their respective orbital motions. Reserachers essentially change three time zones every two days, as a result. Phoenix robotic arm co-investigator and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments.

Tasting ice Science News Web edition July 21, 2008 -- Phoenix Mars Lander is ready to analyze ice if instruments work properly. "The team is totally focused on getting a rasped-up icy sample to TEGA," says mission specialist and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson. He says collecting the desired icy sample is like trying to sample the sidewalk in front of his house. "The soil is that hard," he says.

NASA: Robotic arm gives Martian soil a zap Computerworld (MA) and 5 others July 15, 2008 -- As NASA scientists prepare to give a faulty instrument on the Mars Lander another try, they've also been using an electric fork and an atomic force microscope to get more clues about the makeup of Martian soil. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson, a co-investigator for the Mars Lander's robotic arm team, comments.

NASA waiting on first chemical analysis of Martian soil Computerworld (MA) and 1 others June 26, 2008 -- NASA scientists are eagerly awaiting the first test results to come down from a wet chemistry lab on the Phoenix Mars Lander that yesterday analyzed its first bit of Martian soil. Includes comments by WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson on the work of the lander's robotic arm.

NASA's Phoenix Lander finds ice on Mars Telegraph.co.uk (UK) June 23, 2008 -- The Mars Phoenix Lander has found ice on the surface of the Red Planet raising hopes of finding evidence of life forms. The proof came in a series of pictures sent back by Phoenix of a trench it dug with its robotic arm at the arctic circle of Mars, showing dice-sized chunks of white material that are seen to melt away over the course of several days. WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments. He is the lead scientist for Phoenix's Robotic Arm.

Ice on Mars! Now you see it, now you don't MSNBC.MSN.com June 20, 2008 -- The scientists behind NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission now know that they had their first close-up look at Martian ice — because it has vanished from the picture. NASA scientist and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments.

Mars lander loses day of work after data glitch Associated Press and 56 others June 19, 2008 -- The Phoenix lander stopped digging soil near Mars' north pole as engineers on Earth worked to fix a glitch that caused the loss of a day's worth of photos. NASA scientist and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments.

Phoenix Probes Martian Soil -- No Ice Yet but Lots of Resolution Scientific American online June 17, 2008 -- NASA announced that the first soil sample baked in the Phoenix Mars Lander shows no signs of water. NASA scientist and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments on the robotic arm.

Mars lander may have found ice at polygon's edge New Scientist (UK) June 17, 2008 -- The Phoenix lander's robotic arm has uncovered a patch of what may be ice on the border of a polygon-shaped section of soil in Mars's northern plains. NASA scientist and WUSTL earth and planetary sciences professor Ray Arvidson comments. He is the lead scientist for the robotic arm's activities.

More news:

Astrobiology grant
University scientists experiment on origins of organic compounds
Aug. 22, 2003 -- Bruce Fegley, Ph.D., and his colleagues in the Planetary Chemistry Laboratory here will conduct experiments on the origin of organic compounds in the solar nebula, the cloud of gas and dust from which the sun, Earth and other objects in the solar system formed. Fegley's group will use the experimental results and other data to model how impacts by comets and asteroids may have supplied organic materials to Earth during its early history.

Mars mission bolstered by Arvidson, colleagues
July 11, 2003 -- Two robotic field geologists are hurtling toward Mars on separate launch vehicles to provide answers to questions on the planet's climate and water history. Sixteen people at the University, from undergraduate students to full professors, are fully involved in the mission. They helped NASA determine the landing sites for the rovers — Spirit and Opportunity — and will assist in the analysis of the data collected.

New way to study history of the universe
March 2003 - For the first time, scientists have identified and analyzed single grains of silicate stardust in the laboratory. This breakthrough, reported in the Feb. 27 issue of Science Express, provides a new way to study the history of the universe. This classic anhydrous porous "fluffy" interplanetary dust particle (IDP) is the type in which reseachers at Washington University in St. Louis and NASA found stardust. This particle is about 10 micrometers (a micrometer is one milliont of a meter) across; the stardust grain the researchers found is about the size of just one of the little grains that make up the fluffy IDP."Astronomers have been studying stardust through telescopes for decades," said first author Scott Messenger, Ph.D., senior research scientist in the Laboratory for Space Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. "And they have derived models of what it must be like, based on wiggles in their spectral recordings. But they never dreamed it would be possible to look this closely at a grain of stardust that has been floating around in the galaxy."

Weather in outer space? Ask a brown dwarf
July/August 2002 -- Brown dwarfs, which have been described as "failed stars," are celestial bodies more massive than planets like Jupiter but not large enough to sustain the thermonuclear reactions that make a star shine. In the June 1, 2002 issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters, Katharina Lodders, a senior research scientist in the Planetary Chemistry Lab at Washington University in St. Louis -- along with researchers from UCLA, NASA and other institutions -- reported the first evidence for the existence of changing weather patterns on brown dwarfs. They are the first non-planetary objects to exhibit such phenomena.

Pluto mission proposed to launch in 2006
May 3, 2002 -- The last time Pluto was this close to Earth, George Washington was a British officer. Thus, said William B. McKinnon, Ph.D., professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences, there is a real urgency behind the proposed New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. McKinnon is a team member of New Horizons, led by the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in San Antonio and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, with the involvement of many other universities and research institutions. The principal investigator of the collaborative effort is Alan Stern, Ph.D., of the SWRI.