Small smooth units (‘young’ lavas?) abutting lobate scarps on Mercury

We have identified small units abutting, and so stratigraphy younger than, lobate scarps. This post dates the end of large scale smooth plains formation at the onset of global contraction. This elaborates the history of volcanism on Mercury

Potential Identification of sublimation-driven downslope mass movement on Mercury

We have identified a further example of mass movement, in addition to the previously identified example in the pyroclastic vent NE of Rachmaninoff. Both examples show evidence of hollow sublimation being a cause of the mass movements

1:3M Geological Mapping of the Derain (H-10) Quadrangle of Mercury

We are making a high resolution geological map of the Derain quadrangle of Mercury. This is part of a coordinated project to create a global set of geological maps for BepiColombo

Revised target co-ordinates for the Beagle 2 lander

The revised, IAU 2000 target co-ordinates of the Mars Beagle 2 lander are 11.6oN, 90.75oE

Preliminary Results of 1:3 Million Geological Mapping of the Mercury Quadrangle H-10 (Derain)

MESSENGER heralded a new era in our geological understanding of Mercury as a dynamic planet. Geological mapping of surface features is essential in understanding both local and global geology. To this end, we have started mapping the H-10 (Derain) quadrangle to publish at 1:3 million scale to the same standards as other new MESSENGER mapping. This will allow integration into a global geological map. H-10 quadrangle is in the equatorial band of Mercury, located between 0°–72°E and 22N°–22°S. It was not imaged by Mariner 10; therefore this MESSENGER-based work is the first high resolution geological mapping of the quadrangle. Here we present initial observations from the first stages of mapping

Evolving magmas, explosive eruptions and hydrothermal deposits at Nili Patea Caldera, Syrtis Major, Mars

Nili Patera is a 45 km diameter caldera at the centre of the Syrtis Major Planum volcanic province. Nili Patera is unique amongst martian volcanic terrains in that it is now below the surrounding planum and hosts a diverse range of volcanic landforms and mineralogies. Our work addresses the stratigraphic and structural context of the caldera, based on these important, and well-known, initial observations: • Evidence of effusive and explosive volcanism. • A compositional diversity from olivine-rich basalts to dacite and feldspathic units. • Outcrops with spectral features indicative of hydrothermal silica in sinter mounds. • Asymmetric collapse with a maximum subsidence of 1800 m; dropping the caldera floor below the surrounding volcanic shield. • A 300 m high resurgent dome in the western caldera floor. We present a geological map (figure 1) and stratigraphic history of Nili Patera (figure 2) in which these geological findings are put into a nine-part geological history (figure 3). Additionaly, we consider the implications of the caldera’s evolution for the evolution of Syrtis Major Planum and Highland Patera style volcanoes in general

Inhaled corticosteroids reduce senescence in endothelial progenitor cells from COPD patients

Cellular senescence contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease. Using endothelial-colony-forming-cells (ECFC), we have demonstrated accelerated senescence in smokers and COPD patients compared to non-smokers. Subgroup analysis suggests that ECFC from COPD patients on inhaledcorticosteroids (ICS) (n=14; 8 on ICS) exhibited significantly reduced senescence (Senescence-associated-beta galactosidase activity, p21CIP1), markers of DNA damage response (DDR) and IFN-γ-inducible-protein-10 compared to COPD patients not on ICS. In vitro studies using human-umbilical-vein-endothelial-cells showed a protective effect of ICS on the DDR, senescence and apoptosis caused by oxidative-stress, suggesting a protective molecular mechanism of action of corticosteroids on endothelium