World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
52
Citations
11815
World Ranking
2996
National Ranking
1222

David S. McKay publication distribution in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Earth Science in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where David S. McKay sits on this spectrum.

38–42 publications: 1 scientists 43–47 publications: 0 scientists 48–52 publications: 3 scientists 53–57 publications: 8 scientists 58–62 publications: 11 scientists 63–67 publications: 16 scientists 68–72 publications: 24 scientists 73–77 publications: 31 scientists 78–82 publications: 49 scientists 83–87 publications: 77 scientists 88–92 publications: 86 scientists 93–97 publications: 88 scientists 98–102 publications: 92 scientists 103–107 publications: 84 scientists 108–112 publications: 102 scientists 113–117 publications: 108 scientists 118–122 publications: 117 scientists 123–127 publications: 126 scientists 128–132 publications: 146 scientists 133–137 publications: 114 scientists 138–142 publications: 102 scientists 143–147 publications: 127 scientists 148–152 publications: 102 scientists 153–157 publications: 112 scientists 158–162 publications: 102 scientists 163–167 publications: 127 scientists 168–172 publications: 121 scientists 173–177 publications: 112 scientists 178–182 publications: 109 scientists 183–187 publications: 98 scientists 188–192 publications: 92 scientists 193–197 publications: 105 scientists 198–202 publications: 77 scientists 203–207 publications: 80 scientists 208–212 publications: 89 scientists 213–217 publications: 70 scientists 218–222 publications: 74 scientists 223–227 publications: 74 scientists 228–232 publications: 70 scientists 233–237 publications: 67 scientists 238–242 publications: 59 scientists 243–247 publications: 67 scientists 248–252 publications: 51 scientists 253–257 publications: 46 scientists 258–262 publications: 41 scientists 263–267 publications: 39 scientists 268–272 publications: 34 scientists 273–277 publications: 39 scientists 278–282 publications: 35 scientists 283–287 publications: 36 scientists 288–292 publications: 35 scientists 293–297 publications: 29 scientists 298–302 publications: 23 scientists 303–307 publications: 39 scientists 308–312 publications: 34 scientists 313–317 publications: 23 scientists 318–322 publications: 18 scientists 323–327 publications: 18 scientists 328–332 publications: 21 scientists 333–337 publications: 20 scientists 338–342 publications: 15 scientists 343–347 publications: 13 scientists 348–352 publications: 24 scientists 353–357 publications: 25 scientists 358–362 publications: 10 scientists 363–367 publications: 20 scientists 368–372 publications: 17 scientists 373–377 publications: 18 scientists 378–382 publications: 15 scientists 383–387 publications: 7 scientists 388–392 publications: 22 scientists 393–397 publications: 9 scientists 398–402 publications: 11 scientists 403–407 publications: 16 scientists 408–412 publications: 4 scientists 413–417 publications: 5 scientists 418–422 publications: 14 scientists 423–427 publications: 8 scientists 428–432 publications: 7 scientists 433–437 publications: 7 scientists 438–442 publications: 10 scientists 443–447 publications: 10 scientists 448–452 publications: 3 scientists 453–457 publications: 9 scientists 458–462 publications: 11 scientists 463–467 publications: 4 scientists 468–472 publications: 6 scientists 473–477 publications: 11 scientists 478–482 publications: 8 scientists 483–487 publications: 2 scientists 488–492 publications: 3 scientists 493–497 publications: 4 scientists 498–502 publications: 4 scientists 503–507 publications: 4 scientists 508–509 publications: 4 scientists 510+ publications: 100 scientists
38 publications 510+

This scientist: 306 publications — 86th percentile

86% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 510 publications or more.

David S. McKay D-index placement in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where David S. McKay sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 15 scientists 31 D-Index: 42 scientists 32 D-Index: 60 scientists 33 D-Index: 90 scientists 34 D-Index: 103 scientists 35 D-Index: 108 scientists 36 D-Index: 142 scientists 37 D-Index: 147 scientists 38 D-Index: 147 scientists 39 D-Index: 152 scientists 40 D-Index: 143 scientists 41 D-Index: 157 scientists 42 D-Index: 141 scientists 43 D-Index: 151 scientists 44 D-Index: 140 scientists 45 D-Index: 135 scientists 46 D-Index: 121 scientists 47 D-Index: 108 scientists 48 D-Index: 128 scientists 49 D-Index: 111 scientists 50 D-Index: 106 scientists 51 D-Index: 112 scientists 52 D-Index: 102 scientists 53 D-Index: 103 scientists 54 D-Index: 94 scientists 55 D-Index: 61 scientists 56 D-Index: 101 scientists 57 D-Index: 71 scientists 58 D-Index: 65 scientists 59 D-Index: 78 scientists 60 D-Index: 93 scientists 61 D-Index: 56 scientists 62 D-Index: 58 scientists 63 D-Index: 52 scientists 64 D-Index: 63 scientists 65 D-Index: 49 scientists 66 D-Index: 53 scientists 67 D-Index: 57 scientists 68 D-Index: 50 scientists 69 D-Index: 44 scientists 70 D-Index: 44 scientists 71 D-Index: 31 scientists 72 D-Index: 33 scientists 73 D-Index: 33 scientists 74 D-Index: 23 scientists 75 D-Index: 32 scientists 76 D-Index: 24 scientists 77 D-Index: 17 scientists 78 D-Index: 19 scientists 79 D-Index: 9 scientists 80 D-Index: 21 scientists 81 D-Index: 20 scientists 82 D-Index: 17 scientists 83 D-Index: 19 scientists 84 D-Index: 19 scientists 85 D-Index: 14 scientists 86 D-Index: 6 scientists 87 D-Index: 14 scientists 88 D-Index: 17 scientists 89 D-Index: 10 scientists 90 D-Index: 8 scientists 91 D-Index: 8 scientists 92 D-Index: 9 scientists 93 D-Index: 6 scientists 94+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 94+

This scientist: 52 D-Index — 61st percentile

61% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 94 D-Index or more.

Overview

David S. McKay was affiliated with the Johnson Space Center in the United States. Their research contributions spanned multiple interconnected fields, notably Astronomy and Astrophysics, Physiology, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, and Ecology.

Their recent published papers addressed a range of scientific topics. One significant work was published in 2022 titled Comparative pulmonary toxicities of lunar dusts and terrestrial dusts (TiO2 & SiO2) in rats and an assessment of the impact of particle-generated oxidants on the dusts' toxicities, appearing in Inhalation Toxicology. Another notable publication from 2021 was Indigenous carbon-rich matter associated with unusual aqueous alteration features in Nakhla: Complex formation and preservation history in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Alongside these, their work included a supplementary material publication in 2021 for Experimental accreditation of outputs of noisy quantum computers released via Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), and a 2025 paper titled COVID-19 vaccination in patients at higher risk of anaphylaxis: A safe and pragmatic approach in Clinical Infection in Practice.

Their research topics often focused on areas including:

  • Spaceflight effects on biology
  • Climate Change and Health Impacts
  • Occupational and environmental lung diseases
  • Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Astro and Planetary Science
  • Isotope Analysis in Ecology

Frequent coauthors in their publications included Chiu-Wing Lam, Vincent Castranova, Patti C. Zeidler-Erdely, Roger A. Renne, and Robert L. Hunter. Their collaboration spanned diverse fields related to toxicology, pulmonary medicine, and planetary science.

David S. McKay's publishing record was distributed across several scientific venues, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of their work:

  • Inhalation Toxicology
  • Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
  • Clinical Infection in Practice

Through their contributions, McKay addressed complex questions including the biological effects of spaceflight, environmental lung disease mechanisms, and planetary materials chemistry. Their work intersected fields critical to understanding health risks related to environmental exposures and space exploration.

Best Publications

  • Search for past life on Mars: possible relic biogenic activity in martian meteorite ALH84001.

    David S. McKay;Everett K. Gibson;Kathie L. Thomas-Keprta;Hojatollah Vali

  • Space weathering on airless bodies: Resolving a mystery with lunar samples

    Carlé M. Pieters;Larry A. Taylor;Sarah K. Noble;Lindsay P. Keller

  • The nature and origin of rims on lunar soil grains

    Lindsay P. Keller;David S. McKay

  • Discovery of vapor deposits in the lunar regolith

    Lindsay P. Keller;David S. McKay

  • Lunar Mare Soils: Space weathering and the major effects of surface‐correlated nanophase Fe

    Lawrence A. Taylor;Carlé M. Pieters;Lindsay P. Keller;Richard V. Morris

  • Elongated prismatic magnetite crystals in ALH84001 carbonate globules: Potential Martian magnetofossils

    Kathie L. Thomas-Keprta;Dennis A. Bazylinski;Joseph L. Kirschvink;Simon J. Clemett

  • Lunar deposits of possible pyroclastic origin

    Geant H Heiken;David S McKay;R.W Brown

  • Truncated hexa-octahedral magnetite crystals in ALH84001 : Presumptive biosignatures

    Kathie L. Thomas-Keprta;Simon J. Clemett;Dennis A. Bazylinski;Joseph L. Kirschvink

  • Carbon abundance and silicate mineralogy of anhydrous interplanetary dust particles

    Kathie L. Thomas;George E. Blanford;Lindsay P. Keller;Wolfgang Klöck

  • An assessment of the meteoritic contribution to the Martian soil

    George J. Flynn;David S. McKay

  • The optical properties of the finest fraction of lunar soil: Implications for space weathering

    Sarah K. Noble;Carlé M. Pieters;Lawrence A. Taylor;Richard V. Morris

  • Unusual olivine and pyroxene composition in interplanetary dust and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites

    W. Klöck;K. L. Thomas;D. S. McKay;H. Palme

  • Mineralogical and chemical characterization of lunar highland soils: Insights into the space weathering of soils on airless bodies

    Lawrence A. Taylor;Carlé Pieters;Allan Patchen;Dong-Hwa S. Taylor

  • Magnetofossils from Ancient Mars: a Robust Biosignature in the Martian Meteorite ALH84001

    Kathie L. Thomas-Keprta;Simon J. Clemett;Dennis A. Bazylinski;Joseph L. Kirschvink

  • Chemical weathering and diagenesis of a cold desert soil from Wright Valley, Antarctica - An analog of Martian weathering processes

    Everett K. Gibson;Susan J. Wentworth;David S. McKay

  • Morphologic and spectral investigation of exceptionally well-preserved bacterial biofilms from the Oligocene Enspel formation, Germany

    J.K.W Toporski;J.K.W Toporski;A Steele;A Steele;F Westall;R Avci

  • The simulated silicification of bacteria--new clues to the modes and timing of bacterial preservation and implications for the search for extraterrestrial microfossils.

    Jan K.W. Toporski;Andrew Steele;Frances Westall;Kathie L. Thomas-Keprta

  • Properties of Lunar Soil Simulant JSC-1

    Brian M. Willman;Walter W. Boles;David S. McKay;Carlton C. Allen

  • Life on Mars: evaluation of the evidence within Martian meteorites ALH84001, Nakhla, and Shergotty

    E.K. Gibson;D.S. McKay;K.L. Thomas-Keprta;S.J. Wentworth

  • Polymeric substances and biofilms as biomarkers in terrestrial materials: Implications for extraterrestrial samples

    Frances Westall;Andrew Steele;Jan Toporski;Maud Walsh

  • Oxygen extraction from lunar soils and pyroclastic glass

    Carlton C. Allen;Richard V. Morris;David S. McKay

  • Antarctic Dry Valleys and indigenous weathering in Mars meteorites: Implications for water and life on Mars

    Susan J. Wentworth;Everett K. Gibson;Michael A. Velbel;David S. McKay

Frequent Co-Authors

Andrew Steele
Andrew Steele Carnegie Institution for Science
Lindsay P. Keller
Lindsay P. Keller Arizona State University
Lawrence A. Taylor
Lawrence A. Taylor University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Hojatollah Vali
Hojatollah Vali McGill University
Joseph L. Kirschvink
Joseph L. Kirschvink California Institute of Technology
Carle M. Pieters
Carle M. Pieters Brown University
Richard V. Morris
Richard V. Morris Langley Research Center
Dennis A. Bazylinski
Dennis A. Bazylinski University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Frances Westall
Frances Westall Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS
Michael E. Zolensky
Michael E. Zolensky National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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