UnderstandEarth.com
Science About the True Nature of Earth and Universe
 "The purpose of science is to
discover the true nature of Earth and Universe and to share that
knowledge with people everywhere. That's what I do."
--
J. Marvin Herndon, Ph.D.Humans tend to be creatures of habit, plodding along through time, eagerly looking toward the future, but rarely looking with question at circumstances from the past which have set them on their present course. Much of astrophysics and geophysics has been built upon flawed ideas that are 40 or more years old. J. Marvin Herndon, pictured at left, has discovered and corrected past flaws. The consequence is a whole different way of understanding Earth and Universe that is securely anchored to the properties of matter. Sharing that understanding is what this website is all about. Email link: J. Marvin Herndon Brief Biography (click here) |
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| Early Earth Formation as a Jupiter-like Gas Giant | |
 J.
Marvin Herndon's concept of Earth originally having formed as a
Jupiter-like gas giant leads to a new vision of Earth's internal
composition, new geodynamics that correct and extend plate tectonics,
powerful new energy sources, and georeactor magnetic field generation.
In short, a whole new indivisible geoscience paradigm, securely anchored
to the properties of matter. Figure at right, from left to right:
1) Earth condensing inside a giant gaseous protoplanet;
2) Fully formed gas-giant Earth; 3)
Gases striped away by T-Tauri solar wind; 4) Ancient
Compressed Earth (64% present diameter); 5) Present
Earth; 6) Jupiter for size comparison. For more
details, references, and links to download scientific papers, please
check out the following webpage:
Click_Here.
For a quick overview of Herndon's new indivisible geoscience
paradigm:
Click_Here. |
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| Nuclear Fission Georeactor at Earth's Center | |
  J.
Marvin Herndon's discovery of the highly reduced, low-oxygen, chemical
composition of Earth's interior led to the understanding of why
substantial quantities of uranium would occur in Earth's core, settle by
the action of gravity to the center of the Earth, and begin to function
as a natural nuclear reactor. He demonstrated the feasibility of
a natural nuclear fission reactor, called the georeactor, at Earth's
center and provided evidence of its existance. For more details,
references, and links to download scientific papers, please check out
the following webpage:
Click_Here Learn
from Questions and Answers about Earth's Georeactor
Click_Here.
Many first learned about the georeactor from the cover feature of the
August 2002 issue of Discover magazine, entitled "Nuclear
Planet". For a link to that article,
Click_Here |
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| Georeactor Origin of Earth's Magnetic Field | |
  For
more than six decades, scientists have thought that the Earth's magnetic
field is generated by convection-driven dynamo-action in the Earth's
fluid core. Then, J. Marvin Herndon demonstrated that sustained
convection, and hence dynamo-action, in the Earth's fluid core is
physically impossible.
Click_Here And,
why a different possibility, convection-driven dynamo-action in the
georeactor, makes sense.
Click_Here.
YouTube Video:
Origin of Earth's
Magnetic Field (click here) |
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| Whole-Earth Decompression Dynamics | |
 The
dynamics of Earth, a direct consequence of its early gas giant origin,
is described by J. Marvin Herndon's new geodynamic theory, Whole-Earth
Decompression Dynamics, which gives rise to the myriad measurements and
observations attributed to plate tectonics, but without requiring mantle
convection. Beyond plate tectonics, Whole-Earth
Decompression Dynamics provides: (1) Two
powerful, unanticipated energy sources; (2) An
unanticipated means of heat emplacement at the base of the crust; and,
(3) A new basis for understanding: (i)
Geological activity as a consequence of a single process; (ii)
Emplacement of petroleum and natural gas deposits; (iii)
Submarine troughs; (iv)
Initiation of submarine canyons; (v)
Broadened view of mountain-formation; and (vi)
Much more. For details, references, and links
to download scientific papers, please check out the following webpage:
Click_Here.
YouTube Video:
21st Century Earth
Dynamics Part 1 (click here)
and
21st Century Earth
Dynamics Part 2 (click here) |
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| Important New Paper: J. Marvin Herndon, Heat transport within the Earth. (click here), 2011 arXiv: 1101.4871 | |
| Earth's Interior Composition | |
 The textbook description of Earth's interior is
based upon a 1940's incorrect idea, namely, that the Earth resembles an
ordinary chondrite meteorite, and was developed on the basis of physics without chemistry. J.
Marvin Herndon has corrected that, showing: (1) Only an
enstatite chondrite, not an ordinary chondrite, has the sufficient
relative amount of iron-alloy for Earth's massive core; and, (2)
The relative masses of enstatite chondrite minerals match precisely
corresponding masses of deep-Earth parts. In doing so, Herndon united chemical and physical
inferences for Earth-matter below the depth of 660 km.
Click_Here
Also, check out Herndon's discovery of Earth's nickel-silicide inner core
composition.
Click_Here.
Also, please read his logical, quantitative explanation of the
composition of the "seismically rough" matter at D'',
the boundary between the Earth's core and lower mantle being low
density, high melting-point magnesium and calcium sulfides, precipitates
from the Earth's core:
Click_Here.
Learn from Questions and Answers about Earth's Interior Composition
Click_Here. |
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| Important New Paper: J. Marvin Herndon, Chemical basis of deep-Earth physics: Emphasis on the core-mantle boundary D''. (click here) 2011, arXiv: 1101.5085 | |
| Oil and Gas Exploration Implications | |
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| Important New Paper: J. Marvin Herndon, Impact of recent discoveries on petroleum and natural gas exploration: Emphasis on India. (click here) Current Science, 2010, 98, 772-779. + In espanol haga clic aqui. | |
| Formation of Submarine Features | |
 Earth's
early formation as a Jupiter-like gas giant with its some 300
Earth-masses of volatiles compressed the rocky part to about 64% of its
present diameter. Subsequent removal of its gaseous envelope began the
process of decompression, described by J. Marvin Herndon's
Whole-Earth Decompression Dynamics, which leads in a logical,
causally related way to the miriad observations attribited to plate
tectonics, but without mantle convection. For example, oceanic trenches
are secondary decompression cracks. Moreover, some features,
inexplicably by plate tectonics, are readily explained by
Whole-Earth Decompression Dynamics: Oceanic troughs are
partially-infilled secondary decompression cracks, for one example
Click_Here.
Further, Herndon has demonstrated the basis for non-erosional, primary
initiation of submarine canyons
Click_Here and has pointed out a consequential, significant
source of error that calls into question decades of magnetic
paleolatitude determinations used in Pangaea-like reconstructions and in
paleoclimate estimations Click_Here. |
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| Major Developments Related to the Solar System | |
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Important New Paper: Herndon, J. M., Nature of planetary matter and magnetic field generation in the Solar System. (click here) Current Science, 2009, 96, 1033-1039. |
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| Major Developments Related to Stars, Galaxies, and Exo-planets | |
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Important New Paper: Herndon, J. M., New concept for internal heat production in hot Jupiter exo-planets, thermonuclear ignition of dark galaxies, and the basis for galactic luminous star distributions. (click here) Current Science, 2009, 96, 1453-1456. |
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| Methodologies for Making Scientific Discoveries | |
 How,
one might ask, is J. Marvin Herndon, pictured at right, able to make so
many fundamental scientific discoveries? There are methodologies, not
taught in schools, that Herndon shares in his book, Maverick's Earth
and Universe Click_Here,
and in his new paper, entitled "Inseparability of Science History and
Discovery".Time-Travel for Science Revolutions (click here)
is a brief synopsis of
Herndon's new work describing one methodology for making
revolutionary scientific discoveries which differs from the frequently
discussed variations of the scientific method. |
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| Important New Paper: Herndon, J. M., Inseparability of Science History and Discovery (click here) History of Geo- and Space Sciences, 2010, 1, 25-40. | |
| Science Corruption and Suppression | |
 Science
is about truth, not deception, not to the scientific community and not
to the general public. Science provides a
truth-standard, securely anchored in the properties of matter, a means
to expose the charlatans and science-barbarians who would lie, cheat,
steal, and tyrannize under the guise of science. "Climategate" was just
the tip of the iceberg. J. Marvin Herndon reveals the causes of
widespread science courruption, suppression and misrepresentation and he proffers
practical solutions.
Click_Here |
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| Improving Education | |
 American
education continues to decline even as committees propose one new
program after another for teachers to implement. J. Marvin Herndon
reveals the principal cause and proposes a solution to reverse that decline while
broadening the range and scope of education.
Click_Here.
See also: YouTube Video:
Put
Teachers on Top (click here) |
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| Special for Teachers and Lovers of Knowledge | |
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+ J. Marvin Herndon's Teaching Students to Question Earth-Core Convection (click here) |
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+ J. Marvin Herndon's Teaching Earth Dynamics: What’s Wrong with Plate Tectonics Theory? (click here) |
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+ J. Marvin Herndon's Teaching About Nature’s Nuclear Reactors (click here) |
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+ Important Scientific Discoveries and Insights of J. Marvin Herndon, Ph.D. (click here) |
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+ Current Biography Profile of J. Marvin Herndon (click here) |
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+ Discover Magazine article "Nuclear Planet" and Consequences (click here) |
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+ Galileo Quotes from The Assayer on Human Nature (click here) |
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| + Foreword by J. Marvin Herndon to the book Mars: Perspective Energy and Material Resources (click here) | |
| + Chapter 20 of the book Mars: Perspective Energy and Material Resources by J. Marvin Herndon "Perspectives on the Utilization of Martian Iron and Carbon Dioxide" (click here) | |
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YouTube Video: Origin of Earth's Magnetic Field (click here) This video is best "watched in high quality" as it contains an experimental demonstration of why long-term convection, and hence dynamo-action, in the fluid core is impossible. |
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YouTube Video: Lighting the Stars (click here) The nature of star ignition has been misunderstood since a mistake was made in the 1930s and subsequently built upon J. Marvin Herndon reveals the mistake and describes the rationale for his correcting it. (click here for notes and references) |
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YouTube Video: The Origin of Galaxies (click here) Observations arranged into a logical order reveal causal relationships leading to a new fundamental understanding of the origin of galaxies. |
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YouTube Video: No Mantle Convection!!! (click here) Plate tectonics theory is incomplete, providing no energy source for geodynamics and depends critically on the assumption of mantle convection. This video shows the reason that mantle convection is physically impossible. |
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YouTube Video: 21st Century Earth Dynamics Part 1 (click here) and 21st Century Earth Dynamics Part 2 (click here) This is a two-part video about a complete, new geodynamic theory, recently published in the scientific literature, called Whole-Earth Decompression Dynamics, that unifies and supersedes plate tectonics and Earth expansion theories. |
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YouTube Video: Put Teachers on Top (click here) |
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| Maverick's Earth and Universe | |
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Maverick's Earth and Universe begins at the foundations of knowledge and progresses step-by-step so that the reader can understand, not simply believe. The author reveals the way science should work, including a methodology more fundamental than the so-called scientific method, and describes techniques to use for making discoveries, which are not found in any textbook. Maverick's Earth and Universe discloses the decades-old major blunder that underlies astrophysics, and points to a wholly different way to envision the Universe. Available from Trafford (click here), from Amazon.com, (click here) and elsewhere. Reviews of Maverick's Earth and Universe (click here). |
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| Historical Background | |
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+ Richard D. Oldham's Discovery of the Earth's Core (click here) |
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+ Inge Lehmann's Discovery of the Earth's Inner Core (click here) |
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+ Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann's Discovery of Nuclear Fission and Consequences (click here) |
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+ Paul K. Kuroda's Feasibility of Natural Nuclear Reactors in Uranium Mines (click here) |
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+ French Discovery of Fossil Natural Reactors at Oklo, Republic of Gabon (click here) |
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The scientific foundations described on this website have been published in the following, premiere scientific journals: Naturwissenschaften, Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, Current Science, and Earth, Moon, and Planets. When an important new contradiction to prevailing ideas arises in the realm of ethical science, the new concept should be discussed and debated, subjected, if possible, to experimental and/or theoretical verification, refuted if wrong, or otherwise acknowledged. Scientists throughout the world are invited to ascribe to that standard. Secure in the belief that science and truth should go hand in hand with the freedom to learn about and to understand the world in which we live, this web site is dedicated to the dissemination of information to all people: to scientists and, especially, to interested persons everywhere. |
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In
J. Marvin Herndon’s view, virtually all major geological activity is the consequence of
a single process: Earth-crust fragmentation – splitting the Earth’s crust to
form new surface area to accommodate decompression-increased planetary volume.
Crustal fragmentation, called rifting, provides all of the crucial components
for petroleum-deposit formation: basin, reservoir, source, and seal. Rifting
causes the formation of deep basins, as presently occurring in the Afar triangle
of Northeastern Africa. Augmented by heat channeled upwards from deep within the
Earth, uplift from sub-surface swelling can sequester sea-flooded lands to form
halite evaporite deposits, lead to dome formation, and can make elevated land
susceptible to erosion processes, thus providing sedimentary material for
reservoir rock in-filling of basins. Moreover, crustal fragmentation potentially
exposes deep basins to sources of abiotic mantle methane and, although still
controversial, methane-derived hydrocarbons.
More than seven decades ago, scientists thought they had solved the
problem of how thermonuclear reactions in stars ignite automatically
during formation. Later, although
there were indications of serious problems, no one except J. Marvin Herndon,
thought to ask "What's wrong with this picture?" and to re-think the
problem. The result was realizing that thermonuclear reactions in
stars, as in hydrogen bombs, are ignited by nuclear fission. Without
fissionable elements to spark ignition, the stars remain dark.
Before
Herndon, the characteristic features of galaxies were inexplicable, because
astrophysics had been built upon a flawed foundation for more than seven
decades, i.e., the belief that stars automatically ignite upon formation.
Now, J. Marvin Herndon points the way to understand for the first time
galactic luminous star distributions, which are a prominent, common feature
of galaxies, making the galaxies appear as they do.
