The Geologic Time Scale and the Italian stratigraphic record

The construction of the Geologic Time Scale (GTS) is a titanic scientific challenge that has been under way for two centuries and will require much dedicated effort in the future. Italy preserves a paramount stratigraphic record of Mesozoic and Cenozoic marine sediments that have been significant in the development of the modern GTS. The Italian stratigraphic record has been histori-cally important in introducing and defining the standard Chronostratigraphic Units (CUs) of the Neogene and Quaternary. Pelagic successions from Northern Apen-nines and Southern Alps have been used in the seventies for integrating the late Cretaceous-Paleogene Geomag-netic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) with planktonic microfossil biostratieraohv and standard CUs. This was a major contribution to the construction of a new gener-ation of GTS based on integrated magnetobiochronol-ogy. The middle Miocene to early Pleistocene marinerecord from Sicily and southern Italy has been funda-mental for establishing the recently developed Astro-nomical Time Scale (ATS). In prospect, there are many potentials still to be exploited in the Italian marine stratigraphic record for implementing the GTS by defin-ing GSSPs of various CUs, improving magneto-biochronology and extending downwards the ATS.     

新型抗旱保水剂问世

一种能够提高干旱、半干旱地区植物栽培成活率，集促进植物生根、持水保肥、营养缓释等功效于一身的抗旱保水剂日前研制成功。据专家介绍。这一抗旱保水剂是中国地质科学院矿产资源研究所与中国农业科学院土壤肥料研究所合作，利用内蒙古鄂尔多斯市杭锦旗黏土资源（杭锦2号土），经过4年多的潜心研究和反复实验开发研制而成的。以小麦为例。是对照组的1.5-1.8倍。可使玉米果穗秃顶率下降1-2.8个百分点，穗粒数增加25-60粒，且长势明显优于施用其他复合肥。     

"南方测绘软件CASS6.1"在工程测量中的应用

通过在实际工作中对“南方测绘软件CASS6.1”的具体应用,得出了其软件在工程测量中一体化成图的方法和总结的经验,能够对加快工作速度,减轻劳动强度,增加经济效益有一定的作用。     

活动星系核VLBI观测的新进展

介绍了活动星系核（AGN）的VLBI观测的新近展，特别关注其中心结构和低光度的活动星系核。主要目的是强调VLBI观测在该领域的重要性。