Tranquillityite \tran-KWIL-uh-tee-ite\, n. A mineral
first identified from rocks collected by Apollo
11 astronauts in the Sea of Tranquillity on the
moon. Tranquillityite has since been found
in other lunar rocks and in lunar meteorites,
and geologists have now discovered the first
occurrence of the mineral on Earth. It appears in six outcrops in Western
Australia dating back just over 1 billion years. Made in part of silicon,
zirconium, titanium and iron, tranquillityite could be a widespread if rare
mineral on Earth, the scientists say. Birger Rasmussen of Curtin University
in Bentley, Australia, and his colleagues describe the discovery in the
January issue of Geology. — Alexandra Witze
ENVIRONMENT
Survival rates of young
fish could suffer from
ocean acidification levels
expected this century.
Read “Acid test points
to coming fish troubles.”
Science Past | JANUARY 13, 1962
MOON RACE WILL INCREASE — The race for the moon
will become more competitive in 1962 in prestige, mili-
tary and scientific aspects. Foremost there is developing
a national will or desire to explore the
moon and put an American landing party
on the natural satellite of the earth. This
is an objective set forth by President
Kennedy last May for an accomplish-
ment of this decade. The U.S. would like
to beat the Russians to it. There is a
major effort to this end by both National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Air Force.
Major space industries are being given large amounts
of public money to work out plans and mechanisms to
get to the moon.
Science Future
February 15
“Matchmaking in the Digital
Age” at the New York Academy
of Sciences looks at the computer algorithms behind online
social sites and what can be
learned from them. See bit.ly/
oVX2oy
February 16
The “Hugs and Hisses” event
at the Denver Museum of
Nature & Science gives an
up-close view of the world of
reptiles. Visit bit.ly/tzHvOB
SCIENCE & THE PUBLIC BLOG
A government panel wants
Science and Nature to withhold data that could be used
to make bird flu more deadly.
See “Researchers, journals
asked to censor data.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: NASA; WORLD CELL RACE; MALERAPASO/IS TOCKPHOTO; WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIE TY, ADAP TED B Y E. FELICIANO
ON THE SCENE BLOG
Tiny competitors raced
(below) as a way to learn
how cells move. Learn more
in “Vying for the title of
World’s Fastest Cell.”
Science Stats | LONG-DIS TANCE TRAVELER
February 18
Get hands-on at the annual
Discover Engineering Family
Day at the National Building
Museum in Washington, D.C.
See www.eweekdcfamilyday.org
HUMANS
A big New World population decline after European
contact left a genetic mark.
See “DNA highlights Native
American die-off.”
A southern elephant seal has been
tracked traveling 18,000 miles in a
year. A satellite transmitter placed by
Wildlife Conservation Society biologists
on the seal, named Jackson, recorded
his location off the coast of Chile when
he surfaced to breathe (blue dots). The
scientists hope to better understand
the seals’ migratory patterns and to
track changes in foraging for ;sh due
to climate change.
For Daily Use
The caffeine in a serving of espresso can
vary by a factor of six, a new study finds,
delivering up to 322 milligrams — more than
six times the published estimate for a cup of
strong coffee. Researchers at the University
of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and
Life Sciences analyzed 20 commercial espressos and now
attribute a wide range of observed chemical differences to
how the drinks were prepared. “Consumers at risk of toxicity,
including pregnant women, children and those with liver
disease may unknowingly ingest excessive caffeine” from a
single espresso, the researchers write online November 30
in Food & Function. — Janet Raloff
