Computed Tomography (CT) scanning: A look inside the core

As part of the core characterisation program core was scanned for computed tomography (CT) using a Rotating X-ray Computed Tomography (RXCT) core scanner hosted by the Core Scanning Facility (CSF) at the British Geological Survey (BGS). Full 3D CT scans have never been done on such a large scale within the CSF, as it is

Stimulating curiosity and exceptional experiences

Everybody remembers the first contact with the International Ocean Discovery Program – or the previous programs DSDP, ODP or IODP, if it is in the repository, at sea or at the occasion of one of the program´s training formats. Most participating scientists did not only find international collaborators and identify a specific research field that

Hyperspectral scanning – Maps of Light

The ECORD Science Operator is testing a new piece of equipment during the onshore science party of IODP Expedition 389.  We always photograph all cores with a high-resolution camera, similar to the one many of us have used at some point. This time, we also take images with a hyperspectral camera that records infrared light

Dating the Cores

One of the most unique and innovative aspects of IODP Expedition 389 is the opportunity to collect data from extremely old corals. “The coral samples we’re getting from this expedition are fascinating because they span the last half million years,” says Ana Prohaska, a microbiologist and paleogenetic specialist. “In my work with ancient DNA, we’ve

Scientist Spotlight: Logan Brenner

Logan Brenner is a paleoclimatologist interested in reconstructing past oceanic conditions using the geochemistry of stony corals. After receiving her B.A. from Skidmore College, she earned her Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science from Columbia University and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Since 2019, Brenner has been a faculty member at Barnard College in the Department

First Impressions of MARUM

By Pankaj Khanna I first came across MARUM at the University of Bremen 12 years ago. At the time, I was in the process of researching graduate schools in marine geoscience. I ended up attending Rice University to work on drowned coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Back in 2012, I never could have

Welcome to the Onshore Science Party

After much anticipation and planning, we are excited to officially begin the onshore phase of Expedition 389. We have 30 scientists from 11 different countries gathered here at MARUM in Bremen, Germany. While some of us are jetlagged, the eagerness to begin our work is palpable. Discussions of CT scanning, microbiolites, coral characteristics, and core

Party-Preparations

Preparations for the onshore expedition phase, also called Onshore Science Party or short OSP started well before a date was set or even the offshore phase of the expedition started. The OSP is held at the IODP Bremen Core Repository (BCR), MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences of the University of Bremen, so the