Article ID: CBB106520535

Crystalline stenonian time features from earth and beyond (2021)

unapi

The writings of Niels Stensen (Steno) on mineral growth and modification in his Prodromus, together with his work on time and process in other solids, are here synthesized as five classes of time features defined by changes in the visible continuity of either or both chemistry and orientation. This organization highlights Steno’s implicit recognition of the fractal, scale-invariant nature of natural time features with regard to space, time, and material. The effectiveness of this Stenonian geochronology framework is demonstrated down to atom scale with modern case studies of the U-Pb geochronology of mineral zircon in samples originating from the Earth, Moon, and Mars spanning most of solar system history. Recently discovered nano-scale features, here termed chronostructures, were intimated by Steno in his corpuscular view of mineral behaviour. The remarkable advances in the Prodromus are seen here as resulting from the intersections of Steno’s highly attuned approach to visual perception, his adoption of Stoic (Senecan) ethics early in his career to guide his natural philosophy, and the influence of the Galilean scientific environment of Florence. It is argued that the scale-invariant, intensive quality of Stenonian geochronology makes it an invaluable check on the accuracy of absolute, extensive measurements of geologic time by chemical or isotopic means. In this way Steno’s scientific legacy continues to propel human understanding of how we see our place in time.

...More
Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB106520535/

Similar Citations

Article Silvio Menchetti; (2021)
How do Crystals Grow? Steno’s Approach (/isis/citation/CBB671869116/)

Article Gian Battista Vai; (2021)
Leonardo da Vinci's and Nicolaus Steno's geology (/isis/citation/CBB286856019/)

Book Belli, Gabriella; Giacomoni, Paola; Ottani Cavina, Anna; (2003)
Montagna: Arte, scienza, mito da Dürer a Warhol (/isis/citation/CBB000741141/)

Article Alan H. Cutler; (2021)
Steno and the Rock Cycle (/isis/citation/CBB133993345/)

Article Massimo Aliverti; (2021)
A letter by Nicolaus Steno about a cavern near Como (/isis/citation/CBB479698684/)

Article Stefano Dominici; (2021)
A man with a master plan: Steno’s observations on earth’s history (/isis/citation/CBB767123510/)

Article Stefano Dominici; Gary D. Rosenberg; (2021)
Introduction: Nicolaus Steno and earth science in early modern Italy (/isis/citation/CBB445450656/)

Book Ovidio Montalbani; Linda Bisello; (2017)
Del vento e delle comete: Speculazioni accademiche (/isis/citation/CBB450320639/)

Article Alessandro Iannace; (2019)
A three-step view for the history of geology (/isis/citation/CBB447026128/)

Essay Review Hamm, E. P.; (2000)
Shipwrecked Romanticism? Henrich Steffens and the Career of Naturphilosophie (/isis/citation/CBB000110340/)

Chapter Thomsen, Elsebeth; (2009)
Niels Stensen---Steno, in the World of Collections and Museums (/isis/citation/CBB001021038/)

Chapter Yamada, Toshihiro; (2009)
Hooke--Steno Relations Reconsidered: Reassessing the Roles of Ole Borch and Robert Boyle (/isis/citation/CBB001021040/)

Chapter Ziggelaar, August; (2009)
The Age of Earth in Niels Stensen's Geology (/isis/citation/CBB001021042/)

Book Sequeiros, Leandro; Pelayo López, Francisco; (2011)
Nicolás Steno, los estratos y el Diluvio Universal (/isis/citation/CBB001210013/)

Chapter J. Bek-Thomsen; (2013)
From Flesh to Fossils - Nicolaus Steno's Anatomy of the Earth (/isis/citation/CBB556396453/)

Chapter Vai, Gian Battista; (2009)
The Scientific Revolution and Nicholas Steno's Twofold Conversion (/isis/citation/CBB001021047/)

Chapter Olden-Jørgensen, Sebastian; (2009)
Nicholas Steno and René Descartes: A Cartesian Perspective on Steno's Scientific Development (/isis/citation/CBB001021044/)

Authors & Contributors
Vai, Gian Battista
Luzzini, Francesco
Dominici, Stefano
Montalbani, Ovidio
Aliverti, Massimo
Menchetti, Silvio
Concepts
Earth sciences
Natural philosophy
Fossils
Geology
Science and religion
Mineralogy
Time Periods
17th century
Renaissance
Early modern
19th century
16th century
Places
Italy
Europe
Tuscany (Italy)
Institutions
Experimentalists
Geological Society of London
Accademia del Cimento, Florence
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment