http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967064519300165 Even though the intensity and frequency of the eruptive episodes of deep-sea mud volcanoes (MVs) substantially regulate the methane fluxes into the hydrosphere and the development of the near-seafloor sulfate zone that affects the position of the gas hydrate stability zone, these factors are not yet adequately investigated. Moreover, the evaluation of the eruptive sediment's thermal maturity may provide solid documentation of the petroleum generation potential in high depths below seafloor (bsf). Hence, the present study, through the integration of sedimentary facies analysis with hydrocarbon biomarker analysis (based on the concentrations of n long-chain (C - C ) -alkanes, hopanes and steranes), supported by swath bathymetry data, examined five 25 35 sediment cores recovered from the Gelendzhik, Moscow, Milano, Leipzig and Heraklion MVs of the Olimpi mud volcano field (OMVF) on the central Mediterranean Ridge. The main objective of this investigation was to assess the 'modern' eruptive activity in the OMVF and ide ntify the mud breccia's origin and mobilization depth (based on its maturity level), and the ages of the source beds. Among the studied MVs, Milano, Leipzig and Heraklion appear 'recently' active, while Moscow perhaps remains in dormancy for at least one c entury. The eruptive activity in the OMVF seems to be, generally, vigorous and persistent, while it is linked with several source beds of variable stratigraphy or environmental condition. The multiple eruptive episodes, occurring as uninterrupted events or via pulses, create conditions that perhaps favour high releases of methane into the water column as well as the growth of the gas hydrate phase near the seafloor. The identified 'modern' mudflows appear thermally immature for oil generation, while they most probably originate from terrestrial source beds located not deeper than 2 km bsf. A Messinian age could be suggested for the principal sources of the very soft to soft mud breccias of the OMVF, while stratigraphic horizons of Early-Middle Miocene might be proposed as the likely major sources for the firm to very stiff mud breccias of the area.

Pandey, S., Clarke, J., Nema, P., Bonaccorsi, R., Som, S., Sharma, M., Phartiyal, B., Rajamani, S., Mogul, R., Martin-Torres, J., Vaishampayan, P., Blank, J., Steller, L., Srivastava, A., Singh, R., McGuirk, S., Zorzano, M.- P., Güttler, J.M., Mendaza, T., Soria-Salinas, A., Ahmad, S., Ansari, A., Singh, V.K., Mungi, C., Bapat, N., 2020. Ladakh: diverse, high-altitude extreme environments for off-earth analogue and astrobiology research. International Journal of Astrobiology 19, 78-98.

https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550419000119 This paper highlights unique sites in Ladakh, India, investigated during our 2016 multidisciplinary pathfinding expedition to the region. We summarize our scientific findings and the site's potential to support science exploration, testing of new technologies and science protocols within the framework of astrobiology research. Ladakh has several accessible, diverse, pristine and extreme environments at very high altitudes (3000 - 5700 m above sea level). These sites include glacial passes, sand dunes, hot springs and saline lake shorelines with periglacial features. We report geological observations and environmental characteristics (of astrobiological significance) along with the development of regolith-landform maps for cold high passes. The effects of the diurnal water cycle on salt deliquescence were studied using the ExoMars Mission instrument mockup: HabitAbility: Brines, Irradiance and Temperature (HABIT). It recorded the existence of an interaction between the diurnal water cycle in the atmosphere and salts in the soil (which can serve as habitable liquid water reservoirs). Life detection assays were also tested to establish the best protocols for biomass measurements in brines, periglacial ice-mud and permafrost melt water environments in the Tso-Kar region. This campaign helped confirm the relevance of clays and brines as interest targets of research on Mars for biomarker preservation and life detection.

Paricaud, P., Ndjaka, A., Catoire, L., 2020. Prediction of the flash points of multicomponent systems: Applications to solvent blends, gasoline, diesel, biodiesels and jet fuels. Fuel 263, 116534.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236119318885 Fuel reformulation and the development of alternative fuels are currently topics of great interest. For example, gasoline can be reformulated for a reduction of emitted toxic pollutants. However, fossil and bio fuels are of complex compositions, and reformulation can dramatically affect the physical, chemical and safety properties of the fuel. Tools that can predict these properties are then of particular importance. In this work, we propose a