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A UCLA-led research team reports that the moon is at least 4.51 billion years old, or 40 million to 140 million years older than scientists previously thought.

The findings – based on an analysis of minerals from the moon called zircons that were brought back to Earth by the Apollo 14 mission in 1971 – are published Jan. 11 in the journal Science Advances.

The moon's age has been a hotly debated topic, even though scientists have tried to settle the question over many years and using a wide range of scientific techniques.

“We have finally pinned down a minimum age for the moon; it's time we knew its age and now we do,” said Mélanie Barboni, the study's lead author and a research geochemist in UCLA's Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences.

The moon was formed by a violent, head-on collision between the early Earth and a “planetary embryo” called Theia, a UCLA-led team of geochemists and colleagues reported in 2016.

The newest research would mean that the moon formed “only” about 60 million years after the birth of the solar system – an important point because it would provide critical information for astronomers and planetary scientists who seek to understand the early evolution of the Earth and our solar system.

That has been a difficult task, Barboni said, because “whatever was there before the giant impact has been erased.”

While scientists cannot know what occurred before the collision with Theia, these findings are important because they will help scientists continue to piece together major events that followed it.

It's usually difficult to determine the age of moon rocks because most of them contain a patchwork of fragments of multiple other rocks. But Barboni was able to analyze eight zircons in pristine condition.

Specifically, she examined how the uranium they contained had decayed to lead (in a lab at Princeton University) and how the lutetium they contained had decayed to an element called hafnium (using a mass spectrometer at UCLA). The researchers analyzed those elements together to determine the moon's age.

“Zircons are nature's best clocks,” said Kevin McKeegan, a UCLA professor of geochemistry and cosmochemistry, and a co-author of the study. “They are the best mineral in preserving geological history and revealing where they originated.”

The Earth's collision with Theia created a liquefied moon, which then solidified. Scientists believe most of the moon's surface was covered with magma right after its formation.

The uranium-lead measurements reveal when the zircons first appeared in the moon's initial magma ocean, which later cooled down and formed the moon's mantle and crust; the lutetium-hafnium measurements reveal when its magma formed, which happened earlier.

“Mélanie was very clever in figuring out the moon's real age dates back to its pre-history before it solidified, not to its solidification,” said Edward Young, a UCLA professor of geochemistry and cosmochemistry and a co-author of the study.

Previous studies concluded the moon's age based on moon rocks that had been contaminated by multiple collisions. McKeegan said those rocks indicated the date of some other events, “but not the age of the moon.”

The UCLA researchers are continuing to study zircons brought back by the Apollo astronauts to study the early history of the moon.

Co-authors of the Science Advances study are Patrick Boehnke, a former UCLA graduate student who is now a University of Chicago postdoctoral scholar; Christopher Keller, a UC Berkeley postdoctoral scholar; Issaku Kohl, a UCLA research geochemist; and Blair Schoene, associate professor of geosciences at Princeton University.

The research was funded by NASA, and Barboni received support from the Swiss National Science Foundation.

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake Family Resource Center will present two community socials this month, one in Cobb and another in Middletown.

These evenings of free family fun, features activities such as crafts or games, a dinner meal and musical entertainment.

The Cobb community social will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 23 at Cobb Elementary School, 15895 Highway 175, in their multi-use room. An acoustic open mic will be a part of this event.

The Middletown community social will be held Jan. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Middletown Methodist Church in the community room at 15833 Armstrong St.

Live musical entertainment will be featured. Piano players are invited to come and play a few tunes.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County SIRs members will start their 2017 season with a tournament on Jan. 28 at the Yokayo Bowl in Mendocino County.

Check in time is 9:30 a.m. with the tournament starting at 10 a.m. The cost is $18 per person and spouses are encouraged to join in the fun.

To register or for more information call Gary Schurdell at 707-263-2911.

ASSASSIN’S CREED (Rated PG-13)

As a general rule, the beginning of January is the dumping ground for new film releases to the extent that the holdovers from the holiday season still have a grip on the public’s attention.

One such holdover, if only because you can watch the latest “Star Wars” for an X number of times, is “Assassin’s Creed,” which given its lineage of a blockbuster video game seems destined to tap into a certain market.

The problem with a video game as the source material for a story that jumps back and forth between modern times and the Crusades of the 15th Century is that battle scenes, even if artfully staged, become repetitive and confusing.

Confusion also grips the central character of Cal Lynch (Michael Fassbender), a convict facing capital punishment when he gains a second chance at life thanks to the mysterious workings of a research lab in Spain that seeks to unlock the genetic memories contained in his DNA.

The experiments of research director Alan Rikkin (Jeremy Irons) and his scientist daughter Sophia (Marion Cotillard) place Cal in a machine called the Animus to live out the experiences of a distant relative who had been one of the Assassins fighting the Knights Templar.

Amidst the intense and often painful training to which Cal is subjected, he once utters the panicked response of “What the f*** is going on?” At that moment, many in the audience shared this outburst of bewilderment.

From the perspective of one unfamiliar with the “Assassin’s Creed” video game, I can safely opine that finding a narrative string of coherence in the storyline may elude many viewers.

Cal’s quest to help his 15th century relatives in their fight to protect free will from the power-hungry Knights Templar transitions into a rebellion against the puppet masters of the Templar organization in the present day.

The Holy Grail to the Assassins, which has nothing to do with Monty Python, though that could be a nice twist to a medieval story, is an object called the Apple of Eden for which Cal and his cohorts are searching during a pitched battle to defeat the Templars.

When boiled down to its bare essentials “Assassin’s Creed” is about the centuries-long conflict between warring factions. If action matters more than story, the visuals and special effects are first-rate, delivering the expected violent punch of clashing warriors.

“Assassin’s Creed” ends on the type of note that suggests a sequel could be on its way. This expectation would seem to be greeted with great anticipation only by the most fervent video gamers.

TV Corner: 'The Real Mad Men' on Smithsonian Channel

The Smithsonian Channel, much like its namesake national museum, focuses its attention on science, nature and pop culture for some truly interesting television programming.

“The Real Mad Men of Advertising” is a four-part documentary series that taps into the zeitgeist of Matthew Weiner’s popular and long-running AMC series about the free-wheeling advertising executives on Madison Avenue during the turbulent and evolving Sixties.

Narrated by John Slattery, who played Roger Sterling on “Mad Men,” this Smithsonian Channel documentary begins with the advertising world’s prominent role in the post-World War II economic boom fueled by pent-up consumerism.

The first episode focuses on the 1950s where the consumer culture was propelled to avoid another depression.

It was also a simpler time when ad agencies produced shows like Texaco Star Theater and the Colgate Comedy Hour.

Clips of television ads and print advertisements reflect the spirit of the times. Even the kitchen debate between Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev highlighted the allure of modern consumer products.

The second episode that focuses on the 1960s is even more compelling in that the advertising world was popularized by the fictional “Mad Men” series, but kernels of truth emerged from the creativity of that series.

“Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner recounts that advertising executives were “rock stars” of their time, and that the hard-drinking and womanizing ad men, charismatic and glib on their feet, were a reflection of the culture.

One of the more interesting interview subjects is Jane Maas, former creative director at Ogilvy & Mather, who talks about being a second-class citizen because of her gender but managed to survive the male-centric culture.

“The Real Mad Men of Advertising” recalls the famous “Think Small” campaign for Volkswagen created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, producing the then-revolutionary and inspired concept of using humor to sell products.

The series explores some of the creative efforts to mass market everything from tobacco to underwear. The Marlboro Man became an advertising symbol to sell filtered cigarettes as a masculine product tied to the cowboy image.

Iconic print ads were unfurled with the celebrated Avis Rent-a-Car “We Try Harder” campaign and the stylish “The Man in the Hathaway Shirt” where dress shirts were sold with the image of a debonair man wearing an eye patch.

Of course, not all advertising campaigns, as clever as they may be, worked to success. A notable example of failure was the extensive campaign for the Ford Edsel. You can’t persuade the public to buy something they don’t want.

Preview episodes of the 1970s and 1980s weren’t provided for review, but if we were to judge the series by the first two episodes, “The Real Mad Men of Advertising” is a product worth selling.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

Frances Marie Gentry
Aug. 19, 1943 – Dec. 16, 2016

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Frances passed away peacefully on Dec. 16, 2016, after a brief battle with cancer. She was 73 years old.

She was born Aug. 19, 1943, in El Centro, Calif., the daughter of Eugenia and Emmette Henry.

She graduated from Central Union High School in El Centro, went on to San Diego State University earning her bachelor’s degree and moved to Lake County, Calif., in 1968 to be with, and marry, her high school sweetheart, Allen Gentry. They built their life together in Clearlake.

She taught for 35-plus years, 31 of which were for Konocti Unified School District, and she continued to substitute for many years into her retirement. Teaching was something that Fran loved with all of her heart and soul, and it showed in the many faces of past students that adored her.

She was a wife, a mother, a teacher, and a friend to so many, and will be greatly missed.

Fran is survived by her husband of 48 years, Allen Gentry of Clearlake; her daughters, Natalie Gentry of Carmichael, Calif., and Stacey Gentry and Nicole Gentry, both of Clearlake. She also is survived by her brother, Richard Henry of El Centro, Kathy Moreno of El Cajon, Calif., and Theresa Gibson of Chandler, Ariz.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Pomo Elementary School, 3350 Acacia St. in Clearlake.

Is your business committed to marketplace trust?

The Better Business Bureau is now accepting Torch Awards entries from local businesses at http://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/torch-awards-for-ethics/entries/ .

Any for-profit business headquartered in BBB’s 13-county service area that has been in business for at least three years can enter the 2017 Torch Awards competition.

The business does not have to be BBB Accredited, but it must be in good standing with BBB and have at least a “B” rating to be considered for the award.

The Torch Awards for Ethics competition was created to honor companies that demonstrate their commitment to trust and marketplace ethics. The award embodies Better Business Bureau’s mission to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust.

Businesses hoping to win this prestigious award will be evaluated by a panel of judges from the local business, media and academic communities.

Candidates will be judged on six categories – from leadership and communication to human resources and commitment to the community.

The winners of the 2017 Torch Awards have the unique opportunity to receive public recognition for their commitment to, and excellence in, ethical business practices.

Winners will be included in a press release and social media posts announcing winners, receive an office visit along with a trophy presentation and photos from your BBB, and have perpetual placement on the Torch Awards winners page and lifetime use of the BBB Torch Awards Seal – just to name a few of the perks.

Furthermore, Torch Awards winners will be qualified to enter the 2017 International Torch Awards for Ethics.

All qualified businesses are encouraged to apply. Applying for the 2017 Torch Awards for Ethics is free, and the application process is completely online and easy to navigate.

Do you have a favorite business you think deserves to be recognized for its ethical practices? You can nominate them online too!

To apply for the regional 2017 Torch Awards for Ethics, learn more about the competition, or nominate a business, visit http://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/torch-awards-for-ethics/entries/ .

Your BBB will accept entries through Friday, April 7, 2017, at 5 p.m. PST.

Rebecca Harpster works for the Better Business Bureau serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern Coastal California.