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David Rothery

David Rothery

Professor of Planetary Geosciences, The Open University

I became Professor of Planetary Geosciences at the Open University in November 2013, having been a Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences since 1994. Before that I was a Lecturer here. I am now in the Department of Physical Sciences, but until 2011 was in the former Department of Earth Sciences. During 1999-2004 I was Director of Teaching and Geosciences Programme Director. I have also been Leader of the IAVCEI Commission on Remote Sensing, and in 2005 I was appointed to the PPARC Solar System Advisory Panel and the BepiColombo Oversight Committee.

In May 2006 I was appointed UK Lead Scientist (now lead Co-Investigator) on MIXS (Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer), which is the only UK Principal Investigator instrument on BepiColombo, the European Space Agency mission to Mercury to be launched in 2017. I chair ESA's Mercury Surface and Composition Working Group. I was also a member of the Science Advisory Panel for C1XS, the X-ray spectrometer on Chandrayaan-1 (launched 22 Oct 2008).
In 2006-7 I served on the ESSC/ESF Ad Hoc Group on Definition of a science-driven European scenario for space exploration.

My research interests centre on the study of volcanic activity by means of remote sensing, and volcanology and geoscience in general on other planets. My landmark book 'Planet Mercury: From Pale Pink Dot to Dynamic World' was published by Springer-Praxis on 14 Dec 2014. I also wrote 'Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunami, A complete introduction' (new edition 2015) and 'Geology, A complete introduction' (new edition 2015) for Hodder's 'Teach Yourself' series, and 'A Very Short Introduction to Planets', Oxford University Press (2010). A companion volume 'A Very Short Introduction to Moons' was published in November 2015.

Is some of the body that collided with Earth to form the Moon still recognisable inside our planet?

Nov 13, 2023 12:23 pm UTC| Science

Scientists have dated the birth of the Solar System to about 4.57 billion years ago. About 60 million years later a giant impact collision between the infant Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia created the...

Space Science Series

An element essential to life discovered on one of Saturn's moons, raising hopes of finding alien microbes

Jun 15, 2023 03:51 am UTC| Science

Enceladus is the tiny moon of Saturn that seems to have it all. Its icy surface is intricately carved by ongoing geological processes. Its icy shell overlies an internal, liquid ocean. There, chemically charged warm water...

Space Science Series

Asteroid sharing Earth’s orbit discovered – could it help future space missions?

Feb 04, 2022 02:24 am UTC| Science

Research has shown that the Earth trails an asteroid barely a kilometre across in its orbit about the Sun only the second such body to have ever been spotted. It goes round the Sun on average two months ahead of the...

Mars colony: how to make breathable air and fuel from brine – new research

Dec 01, 2020 09:06 am UTC| Science

NASA is planning to land a crew on the Moon by 2024, and then onward to Mars, possibly in the 2030s. One day, we will have permanently crewed bases on both worlds. Unlike the initial short-stay visits, long-term bases will...

How geological maps made the Apollo moon landings worthwhile

Jul 22, 2019 13:33 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science

I still remember a cartoon in a newspaper in July 1969, just before the first Apollo moon landing. It showed the ground crew reminding the astronauts as they boarded their rocket, Dont forget to bring back some rock! This...

China goes where no one has gone before – the moon's far side

Jan 04, 2019 16:05 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science

In a spectacular few days for solar system exploration during which NASA whizzed the New Horizons spacecraft past the Kuiper Belt object 2009 MU69 (somewhat controversially nicknamed Ultima Thule) and eased OSIRIS-REx...

Europe's set to blast off to Mercury – here's the rocket science

Oct 20, 2018 15:30 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science

The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch its BepiColombo mission to the planet Mercury from its spaceport near the equator in Kourou, French Guyana, on October 20. My involvement in the mission means that I will be...

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Economy

S&P 500, Nasdaq Hit Record Highs as AI Stocks Rally and Strong Jobs Data Boost Confidence

The SP 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh record highs on Friday as investors poured into AI-related stocks and welcomed stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data, reinforcing confidence in the resilience of the American economy....

Dollar Slips as Strong U.S. Jobs Data Reduces Fed Rate Cut Expectations

The U.S. dollar weakened on Friday after stronger-than-expected April jobs data reduced speculation about potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Investor sentiment also improved after President Donald Trump stated...

European Stocks Fall as US-Iran Conflict Rekindles Energy Supply Fears

European stock markets closed lower on Friday as renewed military tensions between the United States and Iran rattled investor confidence and intensified concerns about global energy supplies. The escalating conflict...

Gold Prices Rise as Weaker Dollar and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Safe-Haven Demand

Gold prices climbed on Friday and were set for a strong weekly gain as the U.S. dollar weakened following the latest U.S. jobs report. Investors also turned to safe-haven assets amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and...

Oil Prices Rise Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Uncertainty

Global oil prices climbed Friday as escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continued to disrupt energy markets, despite U.S. President Donald Trump insisting that the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran remains...

Politics

Trump Reportedly Approves Plan to Remove FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Amid Growing Controversies

President Donald Trump has reportedly approved a plan to remove U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary, according to sources familiar with discussions inside the White House. While officials say...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

US Revises UN Resolution on Iran Strait of Hormuz Attacks Amid Russia-China Opposition

The United States has revised its proposed United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Iran to stop attacks and mining activities in the Strait of Hormuz, but diplomats say the changes are unlikely to prevent...

Judge Delays SEC Settlement With Elon Musk Over Twitter Stock Disclosure Case

A federal judge has declined to immediately approve a proposed $1.5 million settlement between Elon Musk and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) tied to Musks 2022 Twitter stock purchase disclosures. The...

U.S., South Korea Launch Shipbuilding Partnership Initiative

The United States Department of Commerce and South Koreas Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the global shipbuilding...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

AI-Driven Inflation Raises U.S. Consumer Prices, Goldman Sachs Says

Artificial intelligence is starting to increase U.S. consumer prices through rising costs in electronics, software, and electricity, according to a new Goldman Sachs report. The investment bank said AI-related inflation...

Broadcom Eyes $35 Billion AI Chip Financing Deal With Apollo and Blackstone

Broadcom Inc. is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management and Blackstone Inc. to secure around $35 billion in financing for its expanding artificial intelligence chip business, according to a Bloomberg...

Dell Stock Hits Record High After Trump Endorsement, AI Server Demand Fuels Rally

Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE: DELL) surged to an all-time high on Friday after receiving a public endorsement from President Donald Trump during a White House event. The president encouraged Americans to go out and buy...

TikTok Nears $400 Million Settlement With Trump Administration Over Child Privacy Lawsuit

TikTok and the Trump administration are reportedly close to reaching a $400 million settlement tied to allegations that the popular video-sharing platform violated U.S. child privacy laws. According to ABC News, the...

Trump Invites Top CEOs Including Nvidia, Apple, Boeing to China Summit With Xi Jinping

The Trump administration has reportedly invited executives from some of Americas largest corporations to join President Donald Trump on his upcoming trip to China next week, according to a Semafor report. The visit is...
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