PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Scientists uncover relationship between lavas erupting on sea floor and deep-carbon cycle

2013-05-03
(Press-News.org) Scientists from the Smithsonian and the University of Rhode Island have found unsuspected linkages between the oxidation state of iron in volcanic rocks and variations in the chemistry of the deep Earth. Not only do the trends run counter to predictions from recent decades of study, they belie a role for carbon circulating in the deep Earth. The team's research was published May 2 in Science Express.

Elizabeth Cottrell, lead author and research geologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and Katherine Kelley at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography measured the oxidation state of iron, which is the amount of iron that has a 3+ versus a 2+ electronic charge, in bits of magma that froze to a glass when they hit the freezing waters and crushing pressures of the sea floor. Due to the high precision afforded by the spectroscopic technique they used, the researchers found very subtle variations in the iron-oxidation state that had been overlooked by previous investigations. The variations correlate with what Cottrell described as the "fingerprints" of the deep Earth rocks that melted to produce the lavas—but not in the way previous researchers had predicted. The erupted lavas that have lower concentrations of 3+ iron also have higher concentrations of elements such as barium, thorium, rubidium and lanthanum, that concentrate in the lavas, rather than staying in their deep Earth home. More importantly, the oxidation state of iron also correlates with elements that became enriched in lavas long ago, and now, after billions of years, show elevated ratios of radiogenic isotopes. Because radiogenic isotopic ratios cannot be modified during rock melting and eruption, Cottrell called this "a dead ringer for the source of the melt itself."

Carbon is one of the "geochemical goodies" that tends to become enriched in the lava when rocks melt. "Despite is importance to life on this planet, carbon is a really tricky element to get a handle on in melts from the deep Earth," said Cottrell. "That is because carbon also volatilizes and is lost to the ocean waters such that it can't easily be quantified in the lavas themselves. As humans we are very focused on what we see up here on the surface. Most people probably don't recognize that the vast majority of carbon—the backbone of all life—is located in the deep Earth, below the surface—maybe even 90 percent of it."

The rocks that the team analyzed that were reduced also showed a greater influence of having melted in the presence of carbon than those that were oxidized. "And this makes sense because for every atom of carbon present at depth it has to steal oxygen away from iron as it ascends toward the surface," said Cottrell. This is because carbon is not associated with oxygen at depth, it exists on its own, like in the mineral diamond. But by the time carbon erupts in lava, it is surrounded by oxygen. In this way, concludes Cottrell, "carbon provides both a mechanism to reduce the iron and also a reasonable explanation for why these reduced lavas are enriched in ways we might expect from melting a carbon-bearing rock."



INFORMATION:



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

CWRU School of Medicine researchers discover new target for personalized cancer therapy

2013-05-03
A common cancer pathway causing tumor growth is now being targeted by a number of new cancer drugs and shows promising results. A team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have developed a novel method to disrupt this growth signaling pathway, with findings that suggest a new treatment for breast, colon, melanoma and other cancers. The research team has pinpointed the cancer abnormality to a mutation in a gene called PIK3CA that results in a mutant protein, which may be an early cancer switch. By disrupting the mutated signaling pathway, ...

Tick-borne Lone Star virus identified through new super-fast gene sequencing

2013-05-03
The tick-borne Lone Star virus has been conclusively identified as part of a family of other tick-borne viruses called bunyaviruses, which often cause fever, respiratory problems and bleeding, according to new research led by scientists at UC San Francisco (UCSF). What made the work especially promising, said principal investigator Charles Chiu, MD, PhD, was the speed at which the virus was definitively identified. The team used a new approach to gene sequencing that enabled them to completely reconstruct the virus' previously unknown genome in less than 24 hours – significantly ...

The impact of fiscal cliff negotiations on Pennsylvania estate plans

2013-05-03
The impact of fiscal cliff negotiations on Pennsylvania estate plans Article provided by Katherman, Heim & Perry Visit us at http://www.khpyork.com Estate planning is a complex legal process. One reason this area of law is so complex is the fact that laws surrounding it are constantly changing. Just this year, legal, tax and financial professionals were carefully watching how Congress would choose to handle the estate tax during the fiscal cliff negotiations. Congress' decision would impact estate plans throughout the nation. If Congressional leaders had ...

Second marriages can lead to estate planning challenges

2013-05-03
Second marriages can lead to estate planning challenges Article provided by Katherman, Heim & Perry Visit us at http://www.khpyork.com Those who find love a second time around can face a unique set of challenges when designing an estate plan. These issues can be particularly difficult if children are present from the first marriage. Some of these challenges include: -Who receives assets, the second spouse or children from the first marriage? -Who makes decisions if someone becomes incapacitated? -Are there ways to equalize the distribution of assets ...

Powerball winner owes thousands in child support payments

2013-05-03
Powerball winner owes thousands in child support payments Article provided by O'Connor and Ryan, P.C. Visit us at http://www.oconnorandryan.com A resident of New Jersey recently struck gold, winning $338 million in the Powerball lottery. Before lottery winnings are provided, officials often run a check on the winner for outstanding debts. In this case, the winner had a warrant out for delinquent child support payments. Pedro Quezada, a 44 year-old father of five children ranging in ages from 5 to 23, had a warrant issued in New Jersey for owing almost $30,000 ...

New law forces Arizona courts to hold first child custody hearing sooner

2013-05-03
New law forces Arizona courts to hold first child custody hearing sooner Article provided by Hector A. Montoya Visit us at http://www.thetucsonlawyer.com/ Arizona recently passed into law a measure that will force family law judges to hold an initial hearing more quickly than is currently the case in some situations. After a parent's initial filing, a family judge must now hold the initial hearing within 60 days in most cases. Exceptions may occur if the filing party waives the 60 day requirement, a separate conference or court hearing has already established temporary ...

Even the giants fall: Bankruptcy can impact any business

2013-05-03
Even the giants fall: Bankruptcy can impact any business Article provided by The Lobel Firm, L.L.P. Visit us at http://www.thelobelfirm.com Businesses strive for success, but even some of the largest and most successful have faced financial difficulties. Companies like Macy's and Texaco have had to file for relief through bankruptcy in the past and another large company is now joining this group: Suntech Power. Wuxi Suntech, the main subsidiary of this solar power giant, recently filed for bankruptcy. The massive Chinese company, with a small factory in Arizona, ...

A Heggstad petition can save Californians time and money during probate

2013-05-03
A Heggstad petition can save Californians time and money during probate Article provided by Law Offices of H. Michael Soroy Visit us at http://www.soroy.com Most Californians know that it is important to have a last will and testament and a durable power of attorney. Many also know that creating a trust can save heirs time and money after the death of a family member. The estate planning process can be very confusing and it may be advisable to have a revocable living trust. The main reason for placing one's property into the name of a trust is to avoid probate, ...

Lack of communication may play key role in misdiagnoses

2013-05-03
Lack of communication may play key role in misdiagnoses Article provided by Richard A. Shallcross & Associates, PLLC Visit us at http://www.shallcrosslaw.com Nobody wants to spend a long time at the doctor's office. Yet the quick in-and-out of a routine doctor's visit may play a role in misdiagnoses, a new study found. The study, published online in the Feb. 25 edition of JAMA Internal Medicine, found that eight in 10 misdiagnoses occurred partially due to problems occurring because of the lack of a communication between a doctor and patient or because of ...

Offshore tax compliance issues affecting more in the US

2013-05-03
Offshore tax compliance issues affecting more in the US Article provided by Law Office of Williams & Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.williamslawassociates.com/ As technology advances allow people to be more mobile and interconnected, in a global economy, many find themselves with assets in more than one country. This can create tax problems if people are not careful. The U.S. federal government has focused great attention on stopping U.S. taxpayers from using offshore accounts as a way to circumvent tax obligations. As a result, many taxpayers are finding ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Blocking a cellular switch could prevent lung-scarring disease

Planet formation depends on when it happens: UNLV model shows why

Deep sleep supports memory via brain fluid and neural rhythms

Biochar and iron additives show promise for reviving degraded peatlands and locking away carbon

Cancer cells reactivate embryo-like gene editors to fuel growth

AI analysis of world’s largest heart attack datasets opens way to new treatment strategies

Decoding dangers of Arctic sea ice with seismic, radar method

Counting bites with AI might one day help prevent childhood obesity

Utah chemists discover enzyme that could help build next-generation GLP-1 drugs

Surprising bacteria discovery links Hawaiʻi’s groundwater to the ocean

New grants for schools offer CPR training and resources to make campuses safer

30 NFL players urge fans to join Nation of Lifesavers, learn lifesaving CPR

Study finds humans outweigh climate in depleting Arizona's water supply

Old-school material could power quantum computing, cut data center energy use

Vanderbilt scientist tackles key roadblock for AI in drug discovery

Overheating bat boxes place bats in mortal danger during heatwaves

Study shows medical-legal partnerships aid recovery for patients with violent injuries

Learning the language of lasso peptides to improve peptide engineering

Social conflict among strongest predictors of teen mental health concerns

New framework can improve the planning stage of surgical quality improvement projects

Research shows anger, not fear, shifts political beliefs

Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research awarded to pediatric rheumatologist at Boston Children’s Hospital

UNF chemistry professor awarded NSF Grant to advance laser-based measurement technology

Research shows how Dust Bowl-type drought causes unprecedented productivity loss

Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein

Not for hearing but for symbiosis

Disconnected cerebral hemisphere in epilepsy patients shows sleep-like state during wakefulness

Incentivizing risk to inspire investments in clean innovation for aviation

Stinkbug leg organ contains symbiotic fungi to shield eggs from parasitic wasps

Extreme, multi-year droughts drive cumulative collapse in terrestrial productivity

[Press-News.org] Scientists uncover relationship between lavas erupting on sea floor and deep-carbon cycle