Life Solved

INTERPRETING THE SURFACE OF THE MOON ft. Dr James Darling

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Episode notes

Dr James Darling says that understanding the deep history of planets and satellites in our solar system could help unveil secrets in the history of planet Earth.

He takes John Worsey through his research in planetary geology in this episode of Life Solved.

James explains how scientists are combining data sources and sharing information to put a rocket under space innovation. He also tells how technical advancement and open-source data is fuelling an international surge in tech development.

From challenging long-held beliefs, to developing theories about the possibilities of life on Mars, the University of Portsmouth team have exciting insight into a new era of space exploration, and it’s training its gaze right back here on earth!

Points of Interest:

Dr James Darling, Reader in Earth and Planetary Materials.

https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/james-darling

Understanding the past geology of the moon’s crust:

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/evidence-of-extensive-lunar-crust-formation-in-impact-melt-sheets-4330-myr-ago(35cbdb3b-159a-4c93-9fbe-25f639e55025).html

Secrets of moon rock:

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/preservation-of-primordial-signatures-of-water-in-highlyshocked-ancient-lunar-rocks(6fce0431-9912-4e5f-bc78-9fcb3da90ff7).html

NASA’s Mars Exploration Program:

https://mars.nasa.gov/science/goals/

European Space Agency – What other planets can tell us about earth:

http://www.esa.int

http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/How_Venus_and_Mars_can_teach_us_about_Earth