Comparative Earth History and Late Permian Mass Extinction

The repeated association during the late Neoproterozoic Era of large carbon-isotopic excursions, continental glaciation, and stratigraphically anomalous carbonate precipitation provides a framework for interpreting the reprise of these conditions on the Late Permian Earth. A paleoceanographic model that was developed to explain these stratigraphically linked phenomena suggests that the overturn of anoxic deep oceans during the Late Permian introduced high concentrations of carbon dioxide into surficial environments. The predicted physiological and climatic consequences for marine and terrestrial organisms are in good accord with the observed timing and selectivity of Late Permian mass extinction.     

Rubidium and lithium: opposite effects on amine-mediated excitement

In mice the activation caused by morphine was antagonized by previous treatment with lithium and was potentiated by previous treatment with rubidium. Other antimanic drugs antagonized the morphine activation as well. The effect of rubidium was similar to that of the antidepressant drugs imipramine and pargyline. Rubidium may merit clinical evaluation as an antidepressant agent in man.     

Planetary contamination I: the problem and the agreements

The sterility requirements for landed spacecraft tentatively adopted in the COSPAR resolution of 1964 are so severe as to pose a major obstacle to planetary exploration. This by itself would not justify modification of the re quirements, since preservation of the biological integrity of Mars is essential for proper exploration of the planet. However, when the physical and biological assumptions underlying the COSPAR recommendations are com pared with actual conditions on Mars, as established by recent observations, it becomes apparent that the COSPAR as sumptions are unrealistic in important respects. Specifically, the belief that eolian erosion on Mars can effect the release of spores trapped in the interior of solids in periods of time that are short compared with the time scale of the unmanned space program is unsup ported by either observation or theory. On the contrary, the analysis suggests that rates of eolian erosion on Mars are very low. Similarly, present knowledge of the Martian environment opposes the view that terrestrial microorganisms would readily contaminate the planet. The combination of dryness, lack of oxygen, and high ultraviolet flux makes the surface of Mars peculiarly unsuit able for the multiplication of terrestrial organisms. Recent studies give little sup port to the proposal that significant areas of geothermal activity exist on Mars. These various findings suggest that the COSPAR-recommended constraints could be substantially relaxed without compromising to any significant degree the biological condition of Mars. In particular, a distinction needs to be made between microorganisms trapped in solids and those on exposed sur faces of landed spacecraft. Surface sterility is an unconditional require ment, in the sense that it is imposed by considerations unrelated to the nature of the Martian environment. Sterilization of the interior of solids to the extreme level recommended by COSPAR, however, is based on the as sumption that entrapped organisms con stitute a substantial hazard to the ecology of Mars. This assumption now seems unjustified, and the need for a high degree of interior sterility is doubt ful. Current spacecraft-sterilization pol icies should be revised accordingly.     

Magnetotactic bacteria at the geomagnetic equator

Magnetotactic bacteria are present in fresh water and marine sediments of Fortaleza, Brazil, situated close to the geomagnetic equator. Both South-seeking and North-seeking bacteria are present in roughly equal numbers in the same samples. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that the vertical component of the geomagnetic field selects the predominant polarity type among magnetotactic bacteria in natural environments.     

STUDIES ON THE FATE OF PLASMA PROTHROMBIN

The level of the plasma prothrombin in the circulating blood is decreased during its passage through the pulmonary capillaries. In 85 per cent. of samples, plasma prothrombin has been found to be less in the blood of the left ventricle than in that from the right ventricle. This difference averaged 10.6 per cent. and ranged from 4 to 19 per cent. In no instance was the level in the right ventricle lower than that in the left. In samples of blood taken from the arterial and venous supply of the head, liver, spleen, intestine, kidney and hind limbs, no significant difference in plasma prothrombin levels was found. A possible explanation of this role of the lung in the loss of plasma prothrombin is thought to be the production of blood platelets in this organ, as demonstrated by Howell and Donahue. Platelets, as they undergo disintegration, initiate the first stage of the clotting process by releasing thromboplastin, which, in the presence of calcium, changes prothrombin to thrombin.