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Fire in the Hole

A small sample of sediment contained in a tin “boat” burns in a flash of light and 1700ºC (3092ºF) heat at the WHOI Organic Mass Spectrometry Facility. Gases released during combustion reveal how much carbon, nitrogen, and other elements the sample contained, as well as how much of individual isotopes of each element were present. The distribution of elements and isotopes helps scientists determine the source of any organic matter present—whether from bacteria or plants, grasses or trees—in samples that can be millions of years old.(Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)