This article presents a current (as of September 2019) list of recommended ages for proven terrestrial impact n n structures ( = 200) and deposits ( = 46) sourced from the primary literature. High -precision impact ages can be used to (1) reconstruct and quantify the impact flux in the inner Solar System and, in particular, the Earth - Moon system, thereby placing constraints on the delivery of extraterrestrial mass accreted on Earth through geologic time; (2) utilize impact ejecta as event markers in the stratigraphic record and to refine bio- and magneto- stratigraphy; (3) test models and hypotheses of synchronous double or multiple impact events in the terrestrial record; (4) assess the potential link between large impacts, mass extinctions, and diversification events in the biosphere; and (5) constrain the duration of melt sheet crystallization in large impact basins and the lifetime of hydrothermal systems in cooling impact craters, which may have served as habitats for microbial life on the early Earth and, possibly, Mars.

Scott, A.C., Collinson, M.E., 2020. A note on the charring of spores and implications for coal petrographic analysis and maceral nomenclature. International Journal of Coal Geology 219, 103361.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166516219306974 Spore walls have inherently low reflectance (although this will rise with increasing rank) and are assigned to the liptinite maceral sporinite using a combination of their reflectance properties and their morphology that reflects their botanical origin. However, when fern and lycopod spores are charred their reflectance increases. Charred spores, therefore, should be assigned to the inertinite maceral group based upon reflectance properties. At higher rank levels such as anthracites the distinction of macerals using reflectance would become more problematic. Based on morphology some charred spores could appear to be assignable to the fusinite, semifusinite or funginite macerals, none of which would be correct because they are neither a single plant cell nor fungal in origin. At 500 °C and above Lycopodium spores coalesced resulting in material that would be classified as macrinite, one of the inertinite group macerals, adding yet another possible origin to those already known for that maceral. Experiments on pollen have yet to be undertaken, however spores are a more suitable experimental material being present from Paleozoic to Recent. This research further underlines the complexities of maceral formation and the difficulties of identification linked to the combination of physical and biological properties used in the definitions. It is concluded that maceral analysis may not always be an appropriate or reliable method for interpretation of peat/coal formation and composition.

Scott, G.R., Irish, J.D., Martinón-Torres, M., 2020. A more comprehensive view of the Denisovan 3-rooted lower second molar from Xiahe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117, 37.

http://www.pnas.org/content/117/1/37.abstract Bailey et al. (1) describe a lower second molar with 3 roots in a Denisovan hemimandible dated 160,000 ka. The presence of a third root is stated to occur in <3.5% of non-Asians and in up to 40% of Asians and some New World populations. From this, t hey conclude the feature 'provides morphological evidence of a strong link between archaic and recent Asian H[omo] sapiens populations. This link provides compelling evidence that modern Asian lineages acquired the 3-rooted lower molar via introgression fr om Denisovans' (ref. 1, p. 14806). However, there are 2 problems regarding this statement:1) While the expression of 3-rooted lower first molars (LM1) is more common in Asian and Asian-derived .... Original Article: Bailey, S.E., Hublin, J.-J., Antón, S.C., 2019. Rare dental trait provides morphological evidence of archaic introgression in Asian fossil record, PNAS 116 (30) 14806-14807. Reply to Comment: Bailey, S.E., Kupczik, K., Hublin, J.-J., Antón, S.C., 2020. Reply to Scott et al: A closer look at the 3-rooted lower second molar of an archaic human from Xiahe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117, 39.

Senatore, reuteri Senatore, reuteri G., Mastroleo, F., Leys, N., Mauriello, G., 2020. Growth of DSM17938 under two simulated microgravity systems: Changes in reuterin production, gastrointestinal passage resistance, and stress genes expression response. Astrobiology 20, 1-14.