okay so are you ready to be transported out of this world yeah all right well
out of this world yeah all right well
out of this world yeah all right well imagine that you were able to step into
imagine that you were able to step into
imagine that you were able to step into a time machine and go back far far back
a time machine and go back far far back
a time machine and go back far far back in time to a time and place where the
in time to a time and place where the
in time to a time and place where the solar system was not even existing at
solar system was not even existing at
solar system was not even existing at the time place in the galaxy near a
the time place in the galaxy near a
the time place in the galaxy near a massive star that’s about to go
massive star that’s about to go
massive star that’s about to go supernova imagine if this is about five
supernova imagine if this is about five
supernova imagine if this is about five billion years ago so you see the
billion years ago so you see the
billion years ago so you see the supernova going off from a safe distance
supernova going off from a safe distance
supernova going off from a safe distance of course and it releases the energy
of course and it releases the energy
of course and it releases the energy equivalent of something like
equivalent of something like
equivalent of something like quadrillions upon quadrillions of
quadrillions upon quadrillions of
quadrillions upon quadrillions of nuclear bombs and the shock wave that
nuclear bombs and the shock wave that
nuclear bombs and the shock wave that goes out it compresses some of the
goes out it compresses some of the
goes out it compresses some of the interstellar gas and dust that’s nearby
interstellar gas and dust that’s nearby
interstellar gas and dust that’s nearby and it triggers the formation of new
and it triggers the formation of new
and it triggers the formation of new stars one of these new stars is our very
stars one of these new stars is our very
stars one of these new stars is our very own star the Sun and now imagine that
own star the Sun and now imagine that
own star the Sun and now imagine that you’re looking at the swirling cloud of
you’re looking at the swirling cloud of
you’re looking at the swirling cloud of gas and dust around our newborn son and
gas and dust around our newborn son and
gas and dust around our newborn son and you look closely and it’s cooling down
you look closely and it’s cooling down
you look closely and it’s cooling down slowly and you start to form the very
slowly and you start to form the very
slowly and you start to form the very first solids the first millimeter
first solids the first millimeter
first solids the first millimeter centimeter sized solids from this cloud
centimeter sized solids from this cloud
centimeter sized solids from this cloud of gas and dust and these little pebbles
of gas and dust and these little pebbles
of gas and dust and these little pebbles that are forming they collect together
that are forming they collect together
that are forming they collect together they stick together they form these
they stick together they form these
they stick together they form these little rocks and then those stick
little rocks and then those stick
little rocks and then those stick together they form these boulders and
together they form these boulders and
together they form these boulders and the boulder stick together to form
the boulder stick together to form
the boulder stick together to form asteroids and the asteroids accumulate
asteroids and the asteroids accumulate
asteroids and the asteroids accumulate together to form planets like the earth
together to form planets like the earth
together to form planets like the earth so if you were to grab a little bit of
so if you were to grab a little bit of
so if you were to grab a little bit of the earliest pebbles that were forming
the earliest pebbles that were forming
the earliest pebbles that were forming in that environment squish them together
in that environment squish them together
in that environment squish them together put them in a bag and bring them in that
put them in a bag and bring them in that
put them in a bag and bring them in that time machine back to the present day
time machine back to the present day
time machine back to the present day what might that look like this is
what might that look like this is
what might that look like this is exactly what it would look like
exactly what it would look like
exactly what it would look like and this is a meteorite so meteorites
and this is a meteorite so meteorites
and this is a meteorite so meteorites really are the remnants from that
really are the remnants from that
really are the remnants from that earliest phase of the earliest history
earliest phase of the earliest history
earliest phase of the earliest history of our solar system they are in fact our
of our solar system they are in fact our
of our solar system they are in fact our time machine to be able to go back in
time machine to be able to go back in
time machine to be able to go back in time and look at that space and time
time and look at that space and time
time and look at that space and time when our solar system was just starting
when our solar system was just starting
when our solar system was just starting to form I’m going to step back just a
to form I’m going to step back just a
to form I’m going to step back just a little bit and talk about what a
little bit and talk about what a
little bit and talk about what a meteorite really is these are rocky or
meteorite really is these are rocky or
meteorite really is these are rocky or metal rich objects that come from
metal rich objects that come from
metal rich objects that come from elsewhere in our solar system most of
elsewhere in our solar system most of
elsewhere in our solar system most of them have traveled billions of miles in
them have traveled billions of miles in
them have traveled billions of miles in interplanetary space before they’ve
interplanetary space before they’ve
interplanetary space before they’ve fallen on the earth and they’ve survived
fallen on the earth and they’ve survived
fallen on the earth and they’ve survived passage to the Earth’s atmosphere and
passage to the Earth’s atmosphere and
passage to the Earth’s atmosphere and they fall on the surface and can be
they fall on the surface and can be
they fall on the surface and can be recovered
recovered
recovered so that’s meteorites now what my goal is
so that’s meteorites now what my goal is
so that’s meteorites now what my goal is in this talk is to essentially convince
in this talk is to essentially convince
in this talk is to essentially convince you that meteorites are not just some
you that meteorites are not just some
you that meteorites are not just some oddball rare phenomena they are
oddball rare phenomena they are
oddball rare phenomena they are fundamental to our understanding of our
fundamental to our understanding of our
fundamental to our understanding of our past and of our future my work which I’m
past and of our future my work which I’m
past and of our future my work which I’m really passionate about basically
really passionate about basically
really passionate about basically involves figuring out clever ways of
involves figuring out clever ways of
involves figuring out clever ways of decoding the information that’s encoded
decoding the information that’s encoded
decoding the information that’s encoded in the chemical chemicals that make up
in the chemical chemicals that make up
in the chemical chemicals that make up these rocks and we’re doing that in my
these rocks and we’re doing that in my
these rocks and we’re doing that in my laboratory by looking at the different
laboratory by looking at the different
laboratory by looking at the different components that make up these materials
components that make up these materials
components that make up these materials and trying to learn something about when
and trying to learn something about when
and trying to learn something about when they formed and how they formed so what
they formed and how they formed so what
they formed and how they formed so what I’m going to do today there’s so much
I’m going to do today there’s so much
I’m going to do today there’s so much wealth of information that we’ve
wealth of information that we’ve
wealth of information that we’ve garnered from from meteorites that it
garnered from from meteorites that it
garnered from from meteorites that it would be impossible to cover that in the
would be impossible to cover that in the
would be impossible to cover that in the space of 15 minutes here what I’m going
space of 15 minutes here what I’m going
space of 15 minutes here what I’m going to do though is to condense that down to
to do though is to condense that down to
to do though is to condense that down to five essentials five things that anybody
five essentials five things that anybody
five essentials five things that anybody who cares about the future of our planet
who cares about the future of our planet
who cares about the future of our planet anybody who is curious about our past
anybody who is curious about our past
anybody who is curious about our past should know about meteorites so the
should know about meteorites so the
should know about meteorites so the number one thing is that meteorites tell
number one thing is that meteorites tell
number one thing is that meteorites tell us that the age of our solar system is
us that the age of our solar system is
us that the age of our solar system is four point five six seven nine plus
four point five six seven nine plus
four point five six seven nine plus minus point zero
minus point zero
minus point zero 0:03 billion years old how do we know
0:03 billion years old how do we know
0:03 billion years old how do we know that age this is actually measured in my
that age this is actually measured in my
that age this is actually measured in my laboratory using radioactive elements
laboratory using radioactive elements
laboratory using radioactive elements that we use as clocks in these
that we use as clocks in these
that we use as clocks in these meteorites this is almost like figuring
meteorites this is almost like figuring
meteorites this is almost like figuring out the age of a middle-aged man to
out the age of a middle-aged man to
out the age of a middle-aged man to within a day so you can exactly
within a day so you can exactly
within a day so you can exactly precisely determine exactly the day the
precisely determine exactly the day the
precisely determine exactly the day the month the year that this person was born
month the year that this person was born
month the year that this person was born to within a day so this is an extremely
to within a day so this is an extremely
to within a day so this is an extremely precise age but it matters we need to
precise age but it matters we need to
precise age but it matters we need to know exactly what the context is for all
know exactly what the context is for all
know exactly what the context is for all of the events that happened following
of the events that happened following
of the events that happened following the formation of our solar system and
the formation of our solar system and
the formation of our solar system and this is the age that gives up that gives
this is the age that gives up that gives
this is the age that gives up that gives us that context for the timeline of
us that context for the timeline of
us that context for the timeline of everything else that’s happened in our
everything else that’s happened in our
everything else that’s happened in our solar system following the initial
solar system following the initial
solar system following the initial formation like the formation of the
formation like the formation of the
formation like the formation of the planets formation of the earth and the
planets formation of the earth and the
planets formation of the earth and the moon the origin of life in our planet
moon the origin of life in our planet
moon the origin of life in our planet number two there are materials preserved
number two there are materials preserved
number two there are materials preserved in meteorites little tiny dust grains
in meteorites little tiny dust grains
in meteorites little tiny dust grains that are older than our solar system so
that are older than our solar system so
that are older than our solar system so this little vial that you see here
this little vial that you see here
this little vial that you see here that’s got this cloudy material in the
that’s got this cloudy material in the
that’s got this cloudy material in the bottom these have billions upon billions
bottom these have billions upon billions
bottom these have billions upon billions of tiny diamonds that condensed in the
of tiny diamonds that condensed in the
of tiny diamonds that condensed in the atmospheres of other stars before the
atmospheres of other stars before the
atmospheres of other stars before the Sun was even born
Sun was even born
Sun was even born by looking at the chemistry of these
by looking at the chemistry of these
by looking at the chemistry of these little tiny grains we can learn
little tiny grains we can learn
little tiny grains we can learn something about the evolution of the
something about the evolution of the
something about the evolution of the galaxy before the Sun was even born
galaxy before the Sun was even born
galaxy before the Sun was even born very cool so you think that meteorites
very cool so you think that meteorites
very cool so you think that meteorites are rare well think again because you’re
are rare well think again because you’re
are rare well think again because you’re actually standing on a planet that’s a
actually standing on a planet that’s a
actually standing on a planet that’s a huge in collaboration of a ton of
huge in collaboration of a ton of
huge in collaboration of a ton of meteorites or more than a ton of
meteorites or more than a ton of
meteorites or more than a ton of meteorites really meteorites you can
meteorites really meteorites you can
meteorites really meteorites you can think of them as the LEGO building
think of them as the LEGO building
think of them as the LEGO building blocks of planets like the earth and the
blocks of planets like the earth and the
blocks of planets like the earth and the moon this actually is a picture of
moon this actually is a picture of
moon this actually is a picture of actually multiple images that were taken
actually multiple images that were taken
actually multiple images that were taken by a NASA spacecraft called a deep space
by a NASA spacecraft called a deep space
by a NASA spacecraft called a deep space climate Observatory on
climate Observatory on
climate Observatory on of these images there’s some of the best
of these images there’s some of the best
of these images there’s some of the best selfies of our our home planet and you
selfies of our our home planet and you
selfies of our our home planet and you can see the moon moving in front of the
can see the moon moving in front of the
can see the moon moving in front of the earth here and it looks very serene but
earth here and it looks very serene but
earth here and it looks very serene but this is nothing like what our planet
this is nothing like what our planet
this is nothing like what our planet looked like four and a half billion
looked like four and a half billion
looked like four and a half billion years ago when it was just starting to
years ago when it was just starting to
years ago when it was just starting to form after the formation of our solar
form after the formation of our solar
form after the formation of our solar system it was forming by the
system it was forming by the
system it was forming by the agglomeration of giant meteorites coming
agglomeration of giant meteorites coming
agglomeration of giant meteorites coming together to form form our planet and
together to form form our planet and
together to form form our planet and this process was so energetic that the
this process was so energetic that the
this process was so energetic that the entire surface of our planet at the time
entire surface of our planet at the time
entire surface of our planet at the time was covered with an ocean of magma and
was covered with an ocean of magma and
was covered with an ocean of magma and as the earth gradually was cooling down
as the earth gradually was cooling down
as the earth gradually was cooling down there was another huge impact of a
there was another huge impact of a
there was another huge impact of a mars-sized meteorite that crashed into
mars-sized meteorite that crashed into
mars-sized meteorite that crashed into the earth ejected this debris into orbit
the earth ejected this debris into orbit
the earth ejected this debris into orbit around the earth and we think that the
around the earth and we think that the
around the earth and we think that the moon actually formed from a coalescence
moon actually formed from a coalescence
moon actually formed from a coalescence of that debris that was surrounding the
of that debris that was surrounding the
of that debris that was surrounding the earth and so meteorites really are
earth and so meteorites really are
earth and so meteorites really are essential to understanding the origin of
essential to understanding the origin of
essential to understanding the origin of the earth and the moon
the earth and the moon
the earth and the moon number four meteorites likely brought
number four meteorites likely brought
number four meteorites likely brought the raw materials for life to the early
the raw materials for life to the early
the raw materials for life to the early Earth so this is not just organic
Earth so this is not just organic
Earth so this is not just organic compounds like the amino acids that were
compounds like the amino acids that were
compounds like the amino acids that were brought in by some of the types of
brought in by some of the types of
brought in by some of the types of meteorites that we have in our
meteorites that we have in our
meteorites that we have in our collections but also bio essential
collections but also bio essential
collections but also bio essential elements like phosphorus they were
elements like phosphorus they were
elements like phosphorus they were brought in by meteorites and eventually
brought in by meteorites and eventually
brought in by meteorites and eventually led to the type of chemistry that was
led to the type of chemistry that was
led to the type of chemistry that was required to take us from from the
required to take us from from the
required to take us from from the chemistry to life and so the reason why
chemistry to life and so the reason why
chemistry to life and so the reason why you and I are here today it could very
you and I are here today it could very
you and I are here today it could very well be because of the material that was
well be because of the material that was
well be because of the material that was seeded to the early Earth by meteorites
seeded to the early Earth by meteorites
seeded to the early Earth by meteorites and number five meteorites have changed
and number five meteorites have changed
and number five meteorites have changed the course of the evolution of life on
the course of the evolution of life on
the course of the evolution of life on our own planet and as you all will most
our own planet and as you all will most
our own planet and as you all will most of you probably know that 65 million
of you probably know that 65 million
of you probably know that 65 million years ago there was a large bolide
years ago there was a large bolide
years ago there was a large bolide something like ten kilometers or six
something like ten kilometers or six
something like ten kilometers or six miles in diameter that crashed into the
miles in diameter that crashed into the
miles in diameter that crashed into the Yucatan basin and resulted in the
Yucatan basin and resulted in the
Yucatan basin and resulted in the extinction of more than three-quarters
extinction of more than three-quarters
extinction of more than three-quarters of all
of all
of all species on the earth including the
species on the earth including the
species on the earth including the dinosaurs so that particular event that
dinosaurs so that particular event that
dinosaurs so that particular event that extinction event was also important
extinction event was also important
extinction event was also important because that’s what led to the
because that’s what led to the
because that’s what led to the possibility of small warm-blooded
possibility of small warm-blooded
possibility of small warm-blooded mammals to flourish and eventually made
mammals to flourish and eventually made
mammals to flourish and eventually made the way for humans to be able to exist
the way for humans to be able to exist
the way for humans to be able to exist here and that’s the reason why you and I
here and that’s the reason why you and I
here and that’s the reason why you and I are are here in this place in this time
are are here in this place in this time
are are here in this place in this time so that’s that’s amazing right
so that’s that’s amazing right
so that’s that’s amazing right so meteorite five ways in which really
so meteorite five ways in which really
so meteorite five ways in which really they define our past and the course of
they define our past and the course of
they define our past and the course of evolution of life origin evolution of
evolution of life origin evolution of
evolution of life origin evolution of life on our planet what about the future
life on our planet what about the future
life on our planet what about the future well our cosmic neighborhood is teeming
well our cosmic neighborhood is teeming
well our cosmic neighborhood is teeming with asteroids these red yellow and
with asteroids these red yellow and
with asteroids these red yellow and green dots that are shown here in this
green dots that are shown here in this
green dots that are shown here in this visualization they’re showing all of the
visualization they’re showing all of the
visualization they’re showing all of the known media known asteroids at the
known media known asteroids at the
known media known asteroids at the current time and most of these are
current time and most of these are
current time and most of these are larger than about a kilometer there are
larger than about a kilometer there are
larger than about a kilometer there are about hundreds of thousands of other
about hundreds of thousands of other
about hundreds of thousands of other smaller asteroids out there that we’ve
smaller asteroids out there that we’ve
smaller asteroids out there that we’ve not even detected yet so these smaller
not even detected yet so these smaller
not even detected yet so these smaller asteroids are probably not going to
asteroids are probably not going to
asteroids are probably not going to cause the type of global catastrophe
cause the type of global catastrophe
cause the type of global catastrophe that killed off the dinosaurs but
that killed off the dinosaurs but
that killed off the dinosaurs but they’re probably enough to cause a lot
they’re probably enough to cause a lot
they’re probably enough to cause a lot of death and destruction if they were to
of death and destruction if they were to
of death and destruction if they were to hit a large populated area and just to
hit a large populated area and just to
hit a large populated area and just to sort of make that point what many of you
sort of make that point what many of you
sort of make that point what many of you probably been up to meteor crater up in
probably been up to meteor crater up in
probably been up to meteor crater up in northern Arizona and that was actually
northern Arizona and that was actually
northern Arizona and that was actually created by an object that’s about that’s
created by an object that’s about that’s
created by an object that’s about that’s estimated to be about a hundred feet in
estimated to be about a hundred feet in
estimated to be about a hundred feet in diameter and it created a crater that’s
diameter and it created a crater that’s
diameter and it created a crater that’s about a mile wide so this is an event
about a mile wide so this is an event
about a mile wide so this is an event that happened about 50,000 years ago now
that happened about 50,000 years ago now
that happened about 50,000 years ago now and at the time when this happened the
and at the time when this happened the
and at the time when this happened the energy that it deposited was the
energy that it deposited was the
energy that it deposited was the equivalent to something like 150 atom
equivalent to something like 150 atom
equivalent to something like 150 atom bombs and so that you can imagine the
bombs and so that you can imagine the
bombs and so that you can imagine the type of destruction to plant life and
type of destruction to plant life and
type of destruction to plant life and animal life that happened in this part
animal life that happened in this part
animal life that happened in this part of the continent as a result of that
of the continent as a result of that
of the continent as a result of that impact that could be devastating for any
impact that could be devastating for any
impact that could be devastating for any large city if it would have happened
large city if it would have happened
large city if it would have happened today now that event happened fifty
today now that event happened fifty
today now that event happened fifty thousand years ago and the probability
thousand years ago and the probability
thousand years ago and the probability we estimate for an impact
we estimate for an impact
we estimate for an impact is 100 feet or so a diameter to happen
is 100 feet or so a diameter to happen
is 100 feet or so a diameter to happen is it’s estimated to be once every fifty
is it’s estimated to be once every fifty
is it’s estimated to be once every fifty to a hundred thousand years so that’s
to a hundred thousand years so that’s
to a hundred thousand years so that’s something we’re basically do for another
something we’re basically do for another
something we’re basically do for another one
one
one it could happen next month or it could
it could happen next month or it could
it could happen next month or it could happen fifty thousand years from now but
happen fifty thousand years from now but
happen fifty thousand years from now but it’s not a question of if it’s a matter
it’s not a question of if it’s a matter
it’s not a question of if it’s a matter of when there’s going to be a large
of when there’s going to be a large
of when there’s going to be a large asteroid that’s going to be on a
asteroid that’s going to be on a
asteroid that’s going to be on a collision course of the earth
collision course of the earth
collision course of the earth and so what are we going to do about it
and so what are we going to do about it
and so what are we going to do about it so all of the natural hazards that we
so all of the natural hazards that we
so all of the natural hazards that we know about asteroid collision is the one
know about asteroid collision is the one
know about asteroid collision is the one that could essentially wipe out our
that could essentially wipe out our
that could essentially wipe out our species but it’s also the one that is
species but it’s also the one that is
species but it’s also the one that is imminently preventable how are we going
imminently preventable how are we going
imminently preventable how are we going to prevent it well there’s two two ways
to prevent it well there’s two two ways
to prevent it well there’s two two ways that we actually there are two things
that we actually there are two things
that we actually there are two things that we have to do it’s not one or the
that we have to do it’s not one or the
that we have to do it’s not one or the other we have to be studying meteorites
other we have to be studying meteorites
other we have to be studying meteorites we have to be studying asteroids to
we have to be studying asteroids to
we have to be studying asteroids to understand their chemistry their
understand their chemistry their
understand their chemistry their structure we have to be looking at the
structure we have to be looking at the
structure we have to be looking at the how the orbits of these asteroids evolve
how the orbits of these asteroids evolve
how the orbits of these asteroids evolve and all these pieces of information will
and all these pieces of information will
and all these pieces of information will be necessary to develop the strategies
be necessary to develop the strategies
be necessary to develop the strategies to redirect asteroids that might be
to redirect asteroids that might be
to redirect asteroids that might be headed on collision course of the earth
headed on collision course of the earth
headed on collision course of the earth and then of course we have to also
and then of course we have to also
and then of course we have to also inspire the next generation of of
inspire the next generation of of
inspire the next generation of of children of kids to be willing to invest
children of kids to be willing to invest
children of kids to be willing to invest in the future and to be good stewards of
in the future and to be good stewards of
in the future and to be good stewards of our home planet so we are actually doing
our home planet so we are actually doing
our home planet so we are actually doing all of these things we’re studying
all of these things we’re studying
all of these things we’re studying meteorites we’re studying asteroids
meteorites we’re studying asteroids
meteorites we’re studying asteroids trying to understand what we can about
trying to understand what we can about
trying to understand what we can about their composition about the structure
their composition about the structure
their composition about the structure we’re also using space rocks to inspire
we’re also using space rocks to inspire
we’re also using space rocks to inspire kids of all ages and it’s actually kind
kids of all ages and it’s actually kind
kids of all ages and it’s actually kind of a wonderful thing I don’t know if
of a wonderful thing I don’t know if
of a wonderful thing I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced that when you
you’ve ever experienced that when you
you’ve ever experienced that when you see a ten-year-old when they when they
see a ten-year-old when they when they
see a ten-year-old when they when they were totally enthralled with something
were totally enthralled with something
were totally enthralled with something I’ve seen these kids that when you give
I’ve seen these kids that when you give
I’ve seen these kids that when you give them the space rock to hold in their
them the space rock to hold in their
them the space rock to hold in their hand they are completely on inspire just
hand they are completely on inspire just
hand they are completely on inspire just knowing that they’re holding something
knowing that they’re holding something
knowing that they’re holding something in their hand that is older than the
in their hand that is older than the
in their hand that is older than the earth that’s the oldest rock in the
earth that’s the oldest rock in the
earth that’s the oldest rock in the solar system it’s an amazing thing to
solar system it’s an amazing thing to
solar system it’s an amazing thing to watch and I want to be able to use
watch and I want to be able to use
watch and I want to be able to use that same inspiration to excite or spark
that same inspiration to excite or spark
that same inspiration to excite or spark an interest in STEM fields basically
an interest in STEM fields basically
an interest in STEM fields basically science technology engineering maths
science technology engineering maths
science technology engineering maths they’re using space rocks as a vehicle
they’re using space rocks as a vehicle
they’re using space rocks as a vehicle for for inspiring that kind of interest
for for inspiring that kind of interest
for for inspiring that kind of interest how are we going to do that well we’ve
how are we going to do that well we’ve
how are we going to do that well we’ve been doing that locally for many many
been doing that locally for many many
been doing that locally for many many years but what we’d like to do is to
years but what we’d like to do is to
years but what we’d like to do is to extend that globally and we’re doing
extend that globally and we’re doing
extend that globally and we’re doing hoping to do that by taking kids on a
hoping to do that by taking kids on a
hoping to do that by taking kids on a virtual field trip of the solar system
virtual field trip of the solar system
virtual field trip of the solar system and how we’re going to do that is we’re
and how we’re going to do that is we’re
and how we’re going to do that is we’re going to create an immersive virtual
going to create an immersive virtual
going to create an immersive virtual environment and this is something that
environment and this is something that
environment and this is something that the Center for Mirai studies is
the Center for Mirai studies is
the Center for Mirai studies is collaborating with the center for
collaborating with the center for
collaborating with the center for education through exploration here at
education through exploration here at
education through exploration here at ASU and we are developing this immersive
ASU and we are developing this immersive
ASU and we are developing this immersive environment where you’ll be able to walk
environment where you’ll be able to walk
environment where you’ll be able to walk into the bulk of our meteorite
into the bulk of our meteorite
into the bulk of our meteorite collection you’ll be able to go to any
collection you’ll be able to go to any
collection you’ll be able to go to any one of the drawers and open them up and
one of the drawers and open them up and
one of the drawers and open them up and we have the 3d color laser scans of all
we have the 3d color laser scans of all
we have the 3d color laser scans of all of our meteorites that you can basically
of our meteorites that you can basically
of our meteorites that you can basically pick up a meteorite from a drawer and
pick up a meteorite from a drawer and
pick up a meteorite from a drawer and look at it in three dimensions to
look at it in three dimensions to
look at it in three dimensions to experience it as a three dimensional
experience it as a three dimensional
experience it as a three dimensional object they’ll be embedded videos that
object they’ll be embedded videos that
object they’ll be embedded videos that will provide information about the
will provide information about the
will provide information about the samples and what we’re learning from
samples and what we’re learning from
samples and what we’re learning from these types of materials and so we’d
these types of materials and so we’d
these types of materials and so we’d like to be able to make this really
like to be able to make this really
like to be able to make this really exciting for kids to be able to explore
exciting for kids to be able to explore
exciting for kids to be able to explore places in the solar system where they
places in the solar system where they
places in the solar system where they may some someday hope to go perhaps and
may some someday hope to go perhaps and
may some someday hope to go perhaps and maybe they will never be able to go but
maybe they will never be able to go but
maybe they will never be able to go but they will be able to my care as we go
they will be able to my care as we go
they will be able to my care as we go there through looking at these rocks
there through looking at these rocks
there through looking at these rocks they’ll actually get to be geologists
they’ll actually get to be geologists
they’ll actually get to be geologists studying rocks on other worlds they’ll
studying rocks on other worlds they’ll
studying rocks on other worlds they’ll be able to go to places like this
be able to go to places like this
be able to go to places like this primitive asteroid like this asteroid
primitive asteroid like this asteroid
primitive asteroid like this asteroid either kaabah and look by looking at
either kaabah and look by looking at
either kaabah and look by looking at rocks like this one which we think come
rocks like this one which we think come
rocks like this one which we think come from asteroids like this they’ll be able
from asteroids like this they’ll be able
from asteroids like this they’ll be able to visit the asteroid Vesta this is the
to visit the asteroid Vesta this is the
to visit the asteroid Vesta this is the second largest asteroid in the asteroid
second largest asteroid in the asteroid
second largest asteroid in the asteroid belt and we think that this is actually
belt and we think that this is actually
belt and we think that this is actually a small planet which underwent complete
a small planet which underwent complete
a small planet which underwent complete melting early in the history of the
melting early in the history of the
melting early in the history of the solar system such that the all of the
solar system such that the all of the
solar system such that the all of the iron nickel metal sank to the core and
iron nickel metal sank to the core and
iron nickel metal sank to the core and you have a dense mantle on earth
you have a dense mantle on earth
you have a dense mantle on earth lighter crusts just like the structure
lighter crusts just like the structure
lighter crusts just like the structure of the earth and in fact we have
of the earth and in fact we have
of the earth and in fact we have meteorites in our collections that come
meteorites in our collections that come
meteorites in our collections that come from the crust of this very asteroid
from the crust of this very asteroid
from the crust of this very asteroid there’s a large impact Basin in the
there’s a large impact Basin in the
there’s a large impact Basin in the southern part of this asteroid which was
southern part of this asteroid which was
southern part of this asteroid which was studied quite well actually by a nasa
studied quite well actually by a nasa
studied quite well actually by a nasa spacecraft called dawn and we now know
spacecraft called dawn and we now know
spacecraft called dawn and we now know that these types of meteorites that we
that these types of meteorites that we
that these types of meteorites that we have in our collections come from this
have in our collections come from this
have in our collections come from this very asteroid and so we’ll be able to
very asteroid and so we’ll be able to
very asteroid and so we’ll be able to explore the geology of this one asteroid
explore the geology of this one asteroid
explore the geology of this one asteroid by looking at these things and then of
by looking at these things and then of
by looking at these things and then of course there are meteorites that we know
course there are meteorites that we know
course there are meteorites that we know come from the moon and so we’ll be able
come from the moon and so we’ll be able
come from the moon and so we’ll be able to explore the kids we’ll be able to
to explore the kids we’ll be able to
to explore the kids we’ll be able to explore the geology of the moon by
explore the geology of the moon by
explore the geology of the moon by looking at rocks like this one which we
looking at rocks like this one which we
looking at rocks like this one which we believe comes from the Highland part
believe comes from the Highland part
believe comes from the Highland part Harlan Highlands of the moon and then
Harlan Highlands of the moon and then
Harlan Highlands of the moon and then finally there’s not been a sample return
finally there’s not been a sample return
finally there’s not been a sample return or spacecraft that’s gone to Mars and
or spacecraft that’s gone to Mars and
or spacecraft that’s gone to Mars and brought back samples but we’ve got these
brought back samples but we’ve got these
brought back samples but we’ve got these free samples from Mars these are
free samples from Mars these are
free samples from Mars these are meteorites that come from Mars and this
meteorites that come from Mars and this
meteorites that come from Mars and this is an example of one that comes from an
is an example of one that comes from an
is an example of one that comes from an area on Mars that had volcanism
area on Mars that had volcanism
area on Mars that had volcanism happening on it about 200 million years
happening on it about 200 million years
happening on it about 200 million years ago so this is a relatively young rock
ago so this is a relatively young rock
ago so this is a relatively young rock that’s coming from the surface of Mars
that’s coming from the surface of Mars
that’s coming from the surface of Mars you’ll be able to do geology by looking
you’ll be able to do geology by looking
you’ll be able to do geology by looking at these these samples and trying to
at these these samples and trying to
at these these samples and trying to understand the history of that planet
understand the history of that planet
understand the history of that planet through these rocks and so the goal
through these rocks and so the goal
through these rocks and so the goal really for us is to try to make it
really for us is to try to make it
really for us is to try to make it really exciting for kids to study the
really exciting for kids to study the
really exciting for kids to study the space rocks to basically learn something
space rocks to basically learn something
space rocks to basically learn something about places where these rocks come from
about places where these rocks come from
about places where these rocks come from to explore the solar system through them
to explore the solar system through them
to explore the solar system through them to be inspired by by looking at these by
to be inspired by by looking at these by
to be inspired by by looking at these by trying to understand the environments
trying to understand the environments
trying to understand the environments where they form and we want to inspire
where they form and we want to inspire
where they form and we want to inspire them to be curious about not just the
them to be curious about not just the
them to be curious about not just the planet that they live on but the solar
planet that they live on but the solar
planet that they live on but the solar system and the universe that they
system and the universe that they
system and the universe that they inhabit and to recognize that for the
inhabit and to recognize that for the
inhabit and to recognize that for the first time in the history of this planet
first time in the history of this planet
first time in the history of this planet there’s a species that inhabits our
there’s a species that inhabits our
there’s a species that inhabits our planet of us human beings that have the
planet of us human beings that have the
planet of us human beings that have the capacity to actually do something about
capacity to actually do something about
capacity to actually do something about an asteroid that might be on a collision
an asteroid that might be on a collision
an asteroid that might be on a collision course of the earth so I believe that we
course of the earth so I believe that we
course of the earth so I believe that we can use space rocks as a means of
can use space rocks as a means of
can use space rocks as a means of inspiring kids to recognize that the
inspiring kids to recognize that the
inspiring kids to recognize that the future is what we can what we choose to
future is what we can what we choose to
future is what we can what we choose to make it thank you
make it thank you
make it thank you [Applause]
”
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