geophysics
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Vanguard I has spent six decades in orbit, more than any other craft
As of this month, the US satellite Vanguard I has spent 60 years in orbit and it remains the oldest man-made object in space. Vanguard I was the fourth satellite launched into orbit -- following the USSR's Sputnik I and II and the US' Explorer I. But none of the first three remain in orbit today and though Vanguard I can't send signals back to Earth anymore, it's still providing valuable data for researchers.
The Big Picture: digital maps uncover the hidden ruins of Stonehenge
You may already know that Stonehenge is just one part of a larger group of monuments, but digital mapping has made it clear that there's even more to the landscape than meets the eye. The Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project has used a mix of geophysical surveys and remote sensing technology to uncover not just 17 hidden ruins, but more details about locations that have already been explored to death. They've revealed a previously unknown early version of the Durrington Walls, for instance. Archaeologists will have to do some old-fashioned digging to know the full extent of what they found, but it's already evident that England's ancient architecture changed dramatically over the centuries.
Scientists use earth-embedded GPS antennae to improve quake understanding
While GPS can do pretty much everything from provide basic map locations to help us engage in fun activities like geocaching, it had never occurred to us that it could also be used in seismology. Fortunately for folks living in quake country, geophysicists have figured out how to do just that. According to a paper that was just presented at the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco, a joint team from Stanford University and from the University of Indiana have figured out a way to use GPS antennae lodged deep in bedrock that can provide a new model for assessing risk of future earthquakes. Armed with these tools, scientists can now determine how quickly various points on the earth are moving, which allows for a better understanding of how tectonic faults shift. But if anyone's knowledge of earthquakes can be improved, it's certainly ours -- we had no idea they get shaken up occasionally over in Indiana.
