Research Highlight: Not of this World
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 25 July 2012
Scripps researcher James Day found that precious metals like platinum arrived on Earth via asteroid collisions just 2–3 million years after the solar system formed, reshaping our understanding of planetary development.
Keywords: precious metals, asteroid impacts, platinum, Earth formation, Scripps, planetary cores, meteorites
Voyager: Why are clouds made of water? How do they form?
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 14 August 2012
Clouds form when humid air cools and water vapor condenses onto aerosols like dust or sea salt, forming droplets or ice crystals—making water the only Earth substance to exist naturally in all three states.
Keywords: cloud formation, water vapor, condensation, aerosols, climate, ice crystals, Joel Norris
From the Field: Follow the Tonga Trench Expedition
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 29 August 2012
The Tonga Trench Expedition (Aug 31–Sept 6, 2012) explores one of Earth's deepest ocean trenches to study deep-sea microbes and pressure effects, led by Scripps students aboard R/V Revelle.
Keywords: Tonga Trench, deep sea, microbes, Scripps, oceanography, expedition, Revelle
