New Horizons in Experimental Astrophysics: Exoplanets and the Cosmic Dawn

Six years ago, the US astrophysics community decided to focus on three big ideas for the future of the field: the birth of the first stars, the nature of exoplanets, and the physics probed by extreme objects.  In this talk, I will outline two revolutionary new experiments underway at ASU, HERA and SPARCS, that are pushing deep into the first two questions and uniting two seemingly disconnected fields.  HERA is a massive new radio interferometer -now taking shape in the remote Karoo desert of South

A New Approach to Characterizing Evidence of Parent Body Alteration in Carbonaceous Chondrite Meteorites

Primitive meteorites contain a record of processes that are key to understanding the formation and early history of our Solar System. They are remnants of the materials that formed the planets and as such, knowledge of their number, physical properties, compositions, and the spatial distribution of these characteristics at all scales provides important constraints on models of planetary formation.

Schrödinger's Alarming Phenomenon

The big bang is a laboratory to explore the properties of particles that cannot be explored at terrestrial laboratories.

Melting Conditions, Melting Processes, and Mantle Sources of Mercury's Surface Lavas

The MESSENGER spacecraft obtained x-ray fluorescence spectra of the surface lavas on Mercury. We used these data to calculate the absolute element abundances of Mercury’s lavas, recreated synthetic analogs of the lavas and subjected them to high pressure - high temperature melting experiments in the laboratory. We selected the end members of compositional variation observed among the surface lavas. These correspond to the oldest lavas and the youngest lavas present on the surface.

Deserts in a Changing World: Ecological Responses and Feedbacks to Climate Change

"Desert. noun. Land that is uninhabited or not fit for crops. Synonyms: barren, desolation, no-man's-land, waste"  - Merriam-Webster

The interdisciplinary work of ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration brings together the brightest minds in astronomy and astrophysics, cosmology, geosciences, planetary sciences, exploration systems engineering and science education. Graduate students can earn Master’s degrees in astrophysics and geological sciences.  PhD degrees can be earned in astrophysics, exploration systems design, and geological sciences.  

At the School of Earth and Space Exploration, our students acquire the tools and knowledge to answer the largest scientific questions in the fields of Earth and environmental studies, Earth and space exploration, astrobiology and biogeosciences, astrophysics, exploration systems design, and geological sciences. Our dynamic and engaging atmosphere gives you the resources you need to succeed in academics and beyond in your professional life.

All graduate student questions regarding advising, please contact:

Rebecca (Becca) Dial
Academic Success Advising Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (480) 965-2213
Office: ISTB4 7th Floor (School of Earth and Space Exploration main office)