In early writing, words were not separated by spaces, a format known as scriptura continua. Scribes wrote without breaks between words, reflecting the way language was originally spoken. Just as we don’t pause between every word when we speak, early writers didn’t think to insert spaces between words when writing. They were simply transcribing what they heard, with no established rules for word separation or word order. Similarly, young children today often write words together when they begin to write, following a natural inclination to mimic speech.
Scriptio Continua for unknown museum. For a translation of the above gravestone see the end of this post.
Craton margins are dipping discontinuities, wedge-shaped crustal and lithospheric geometries where younger, weaker rocks collide with stronger, older craton rocks.
They can be found in locations with high topography, higher metamorphic grade, and boundaries or transitions in lithospheric geometry found in geophysical data.
There are two types of craton margins, inward dipping and outward dipping.
Craton margins can be structurally complex because they may record multiple episodes of extension and inversion that can reactivate pre-existing structures.
The structures associated with craton margins act as pathways for fluid migration and circulation in the crust, contributing to mineral endowment.
Schematic illustration of the typical craton margin and its constituent parts. Note the variable vertical exaggeration (VE) on the right hand slide.
Rajendra Gupta from the University of Ottawa published a paper in the Astrophysical Journal based on a modified Lambda CDM + TL model which suggests an age of the universe since the Big Bang of 26.7 Gyr as compared with the consensus view of 13.8 Gyr.
Given that zircon age dates from metamorphosed rocks on this planet, can be reliably dated to ~3.8Gyr the age of the universe of 13.8Gyr always seemed to far too young. Far to young to have accounted for the age of our solar system and the heavy elements within it given their likely origin in pre-cursor supernovae. Far too young given the size of the universe and the current distribution of galaxies, even considering a period of early inflation. Far too young given the recent discovery by the Webb Space Telescope that galaxies as young as 300 Myr after the Big Bang with high red-shift appear to have a structure similar to that of the Milky Way.
1000-fold magnification of lenticular microbial cells stained with SYBR Green 1. SYBR Green I (SG) is an extremely sensitive asymmetrical cyanine dye used as a nucleic acid stain in molecular biology. SYBR Green I binds to DNA. The resulting DNA-dye-complex best absorbs 497 nanometer blue light (λmax = 497 nm) and emits green light (λmax = 520 nm). The stain preferentially binds to double-stranded DNA, but will stain single-stranded (ss)DNA with lower performance. SYBR Green can also stain RNA with a lower performance than ssDNA.
Emily J. Judd, Jessica E. Tierney, Daniel J. Lunt, Isabel P. Montañez, Brian T. Huber, Scott L. Wing, Paul J. Valdes, Science.DOI: 10.1126/science.adk3705
An interesting approach to palaeo-temperature modelling – produced by assimilating observational data during the last 485 million years with climate model predictions.
This paper introduces a new statistical estimate of global mean surface temperature (GMST) throughout the Phanerozoic Eon, called PhanDA. PhanDA was generated using a method known as paleoclimate data assimilation, which statistically integrates geological data with climate model simulations. This has produced some obvious differences to previous widely circulated models which only use observational data.
PhanDA reconstructed GMST for the past 485 million years. Black line shows the median, shading corresponds to the ensemble percentile. Blue rectangles show the maximum latitudinal ice extent, and orange dashed lines show the timing of the five major mass extinctions of the Phanerozoic
Purchase: Mitakoodi Traditional Medicinal Plant Uses of the Cloncurry Region can be purchased on-line Most photos are the copyright of Pearly Connelly & Lynley Wallis
The country around Cloncurry comprises the traditional lands of the Mitakoodi People. In this book, Mitakoodi Elder Pearl Connelly teams up with archaeologist Lynley Wallis to provide an overview of the local plants that are used to treat a range of ailments and illnesses. Drawing on available botanical, ethnohistorical and ethnographic accounts, and exploring how other Aboriginal groups also use these same plants, this book provides an excellent introduction to medicinal plant uses in the local region.
Kar Kar details more than 30 native plants that are still used by Aboriginal peoples in Australia and the following is a summary of the introduction and a couple of examples of specific species. If you are heading into the Cloncurry region then get a copy of this wonderful book.
