Understanding Origins at the Open University (UO@OU)
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Physical Sciences
Abstract
Our research project is called Understanding Origins at the Open University; the origins that we wish to study are those of the Solar System, and how it evolved to allow life to arise. We already know a lot about how the Solar System came into being. The Sun and planets formed from a turbulent cloud of dust and gas about 4570 million years ago. The cloud collapsed, and as it flattened to a spinning disk, dust and gas spiralled inwards. The core of the disk became extremely hot, forming the Sun, and the leftover dust and gas formed the planets of our Solar System. Closest to the Sun are the small rocky planets, further away are the outer giant planets of gas and ice, separated by the Asteroid Belt: millions of objects made of rock,metal and organics. Collisions between asteroids cause fragments to be thrown out from the Asteroid Belt; occasionally falling to Earth as meteorites, or causing larger, more devastating impacts. In the outer Solar System, the temperature was sufficiently cold to allow water to solidify to ice. Comets (bodies of ice and dust mixed with organic compounds) are the left-over building blocks of the outer planets. If we know all this about our Solar System, what is there still to learn? We plan to study in detail certain aspects of Solar System history - what was the original dust made from that produced comets? What types of organic compounds were present? How have they been changed by collisions and radiation from the Sun and other stars? How has the ice been altered? We want to know about asteroids - how many small ones are there? what are their shapes, spin rates,and physical structures and how do they evolve?. Answers to these questions will help us understand better the chances of the Earth being hit by one - and maybe help us plan what to do about it. What are asteroids made from? Some asteroids got so hot that they melted and separated into bodies with metal cores and rocky crusts - how do they relate to asteroids that were never molten? Why are some unmelted meteorites rich in metal, whilst others are just rock? All these questions will help us understand the original cloud of gas and dust within which the planets formed, and which also contained the building blocks of life. Could life have got going on any other planets as well as Earth? What about Mars? Its crust was once cut by rivers and glaciers, but is now dry and dusty. The rivers produced minerals that can be seen by from satellites that orbit Mars. We also have rocks from Mars on Earth - chunks broken from the planet by asteroids hitting the surface. We can analyse the constituent minerals and learn about the water that produced some of them. We can also look for signatures of past biological activity has altered the rocks. But how do we start to answer these questions? In our laboratories, we use sensitive equipment to analyse meteorites that have come from the Asteroid Belt and from Mars. We study dust collected from high in the Earth's atmosphere and directly from a comet during a space mission. We do experiments to mimic some of the processes that asteroids and comets have suffered (e.g., being hit in collisions), and we use computers to make models of how asteroids and comets are affected by heat and by the Sun's radiation. We also collect data using instruments mounted on telescopes, and on spacecraft orbiting Mars. We build our own instruments to fly on space missions, and are constantly trying to make them smaller and lighter. We also explore ways in which some of the instruments can be used on Earth, for medical or security purposes. One of the most important benefits of our research is that it helps to train and inspire students to become the next generation of scientists and engineers. We also enjoy telling as many people as possible about the work that we do, and what we have learned from it about our origins.
Organisations
Publications
Montabone L
(2014)
The Mars Analysis Correction Data Assimilation ( MACDA ) Dataset V1.0
in Geoscience Data Journal
Morlok A
(2014)
Dust from collisions: A way to probe the composition of exo-planets?
in Icarus
MORLOK A
(2012)
Chondrules born in plasma? Simulation of gas-grain interaction using plasma arcs with applications to chondrule and cosmic spherule formation
in Meteoritics & Planetary Science
Morlok A.
(2014)
Dust from Planet Formation in Debris Disks: A Comparison with Planetary Materials
in 45th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Morse A
(2012)
The Rosetta campaign to detect an exosphere at Lutetia
in Planetary and Space Science
Mousis O
(2014)
Scientific rationale for Saturn?s in situ exploration
in Planetary and Space Science
Mulholland D
(2016)
The solsticial pause on Mars: 2 modelling and investigation of causes
in Icarus
Murdoch N
(2013)
Granular convection in microgravity.
in Physical review letters
Murdoch N
(2013)
Granular shear flow in varying gravitational environments
in Granular Matter
Murdoch N
(2012)
Numerical simulations of granular dynamics II: Particle dynamics in a shaken granular material
in Icarus
Murdoch N
(2013)
Simulating regoliths in microgravity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Murdoch N
(2013)
Publisher's Note: Granular Convection in Microgravity [Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 , 018307 (2013)]
in Physical Review Letters
Needham A
(2013)
Martian subsurface fluid pathways and 3D mineralogy of the Nakhla meteorite
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Neefs E
(2015)
NOMAD spectrometer on the ExoMars trace gas orbiter mission: part 1--design, manufacturing and testing of the infrared channels.
in Applied optics
Nicoara SC
(2013)
Development and optimization of a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the analysis of thermochemolytic degradation products of phthiocerol dimycocerosate waxes found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
in Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
Olsson-Francis K
(2013)
Cyanobacteria isolated from the high-intertidal zone: a model for studying the physiological prerequisites for survival in low Earth orbit
in International Journal of Astrobiology
Olsson-Francis K
(2012)
The effect of rock composition on cyanobacterial weathering of crystalline basalt and rhyolite.
in Geobiology
Olsson-Francis K
(2015)
A Culture-Independent and Culture-Dependent Study of the Bacterial Community from the Bedrock Soil Interface
in Advances in Microbiology
Paton M
(2012)
Investigating thermal properties of gas-filled planetary regoliths using a thermal probe
in Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
Paton M
(2012)
Microstructural penetrometry of asteroid regolith analogues and Titan's surface
in Icarus
Paulino-Lima IG
(2011)
Survival of Deinococcus radiodurans against laboratory-simulated solar wind charged particles.
in Astrobiology
Pillinger C
(2013)
Light element geochemistry of the Chelyabinsk meteorite
in Geochemistry International
Pillinger C
(2014)
The Danebury Iron Age meteorite-An H5 ordinary chondrite "find" from Hampshire, England
in Meteoritics & Planetary Science
ROSZJAR J
(2011)
Thermal history of Northwest Africa 5073--A coarse-grained Stannern-trend eucrite containing cm-sized pyroxenes and large zircon grains
in Meteoritics & Planetary Science
Rothery D
(2014)
Prolonged eruptive history of a compound volcano on Mercury: Volcanic and tectonic implications
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Rotundi A
(2015)
Cometary science. Dust measurements in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko inbound to the Sun.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Rozitis B
(2012)
The influence of rough surface thermal-infrared beaming on the Yarkovsky and YORP effects The Yarkovsky and YORP effects
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rozitis B
(2013)
The influence of global self-heating on the Yarkovsky and YORP effects
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rozitis B
(2013)
The strength and detectability of the YORP effect in near-Earth asteroids: a statistical approach
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rozitis B
(2013)
A thermophysical analysis of the (1862) Apollo Yarkovsky and YORP effects
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rozitis B
(2011)
Directional characteristics of thermal-infrared beaming from atmosphereless planetary surfaces - a new thermophysical model Characteristics of thermal-infrared beaming
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Russell S. S.
(2014)
The Jbilet Winselwan Carbonaceous Chondrite 1. Mineralogy and Petrology: Strengthening the Link Between CM and CO Meteorites?
in 77th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society
Santos A
(2015)
Petrology of igneous clasts in Northwest Africa 7034: Implications for the petrologic diversity of the martian crust
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Schrader D
(2011)
The formation and alteration of the Renazzo-like carbonaceous chondrites I: Implications of bulk-oxygen isotopic composition
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Schwenzer S
(2013)
Quantifying noble gas contamination during terrestrial alteration in Martian meteorites from Antarctica
in Meteoritics & Planetary Science
Schwenzer S
(2012)
Puncturing Mars: How impact craters interact with the Martian cryosphere
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Schwenzer S. P.
(2015)
Sampling at the Mars Desert Research Station (Utah, USA) - Containers, Sensors and Samples to Understand Desert Weathering
in 46th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Sephton MA
(2015)
Multiple Cosmic Sources for Meteorite Macromolecules?
in Astrobiology
Sheridan S
(2012)
A Carbon Nano Tube electron impact ionisation source for low-power, compact spacecraft mass spectrometers
in Advances in Space Research
Smith A
(2011)
Lunar Net-a proposal in response to an ESA M3 call in 2010 for a medium sized mission
in Experimental Astronomy
Spohn T
(2015)
COMETARY SCIENCE. Thermal and mechanical properties of the near-surface layers of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Srama R
(2012)
SARIM PLUS-sample return of comet 67P/CG and of interstellar matter
in Experimental Astronomy
Srama R
(2011)
The cosmic dust analyser onboard cassini: ten years of discoveries
in CEAS Space Journal
Starkey N
(2013)
A Raman spectroscopic study of organic matter in interplanetary dust particles and meteorites using multiple wavelength laser excitation
in Meteoritics & Planetary Science
Starkey N
(2013)
Insight into the silicate and organic reservoirs of the comet forming region
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Description | We have analysed interplanetary dust particles, tracing their origins back to comets. The research, along with work on meteorites and asteroid modelling, has had direct input to the Rosetta mission. Similarly, work on hydrous alteration of martian meteorites has influenced interpretation of data from martian space missions, and has contributed to a better understanding of how microorganisms interact with rocks, and the traces they leave behind. |
Exploitation Route | We have developed an instrument that is capable of determining the composition (elemental and isotopic) of gases. This has applications in many different fields, including health, security and defence. We have also worked on the effects of radiation on different materials, working in partnership with industry to develop new detectors that are more radiation resistant. Again, the applications of these detectors are manifold. The research is continuing with additional funds from non-RC funds, including medical charities and space agencies. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Security and Diplomacy |
URL | http://www.open.ac.uk/science/physical-science/planetary-space-sciences |
Description | (1) Public engagement Numerous lectures, talks and school visits. PhD students become STEM ambassadors. (2) Instrument development and applications Additional funding from non-RC sources support development of spaceflight instrumentation for application in medical and defence areas |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education,Healthcare |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
Description | STERLIM |
Amount | € 300,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Space Agency |
Sector | Public |
Country | France |
Start | 10/2015 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | Conversation pieces |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The OU was one of the first universities to support the daily news blog The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/uk). The site has the tag-line "Academic rigour, journalistic flair": academic specialists write the articles, which are edited for readability. This is the opposite from most news sites, in which journalists write the articles, relying on specialists to provide a quote. Five of the CoIs on the CG have written 61 articles in the past two years, which have been read a total of 1.5 million times; an additional 4 PDRA and 3 PhD students have written a further 13 articles, attracting 380,000 views. Every article is accompanied by the text 'X receives funding from the STFC'. One of the CoIs (Grady) has a column on the site, which is syndicated to the US and Australian editions of the news site, gaining a wider coverage for the articles. At the current rate of growth of the site, it is anticipated that there is likely to be at least one article per week from CG staff, their PDRA and students, gaining a global coverage for their research. Updated in March 2017: the PI alone has had more than a million reads of her articles |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/uk |
Description | Public Lectures |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The PI, MMG, has given between about 30 public lectures, talks and school visits each year since forever. Following the successful Rosetta mission, she has given around 50 such presentations a year, leading to animated discussions about comets and other extraterrestrial bodies, the value of space exploration as an incentive for studying science and engineering, technological developments and spin outs from space missions and the cost of space exploration when weighed against other calls on the public purse. At almost every lecture, MMG receives additional invitations to give talks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
Description | Royal Society Summer Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Royal Society Summer Exhibition takes place over 7 days in central London. In 2014, we led a consortium of institutions to produce an exhibit about comets and the Rosetta mission, and also were a partner in an exhibition about GAIA. In 2015, we again led a consortium exhibition about Rosetta and comets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2016 |