Monthly Archives: April 2015

The Man on the Moon

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Eugene Shoemaker is the only man on the moon. It’s his birthday, he would be 87 today, but he won’t know it. Shoemaker has been dead for almost twenty years. His ashes have been on the moon since 1997. Unless … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Exploration, Geology, History, People, Space | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Katmandown

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Katmandu’s earthquake was a tragic surprise; but not unexpected. Katmandu sits atop a fault that releases pressure as continental crust merges. India, which was an island until 25 million years ago, continues shoving itself into Asia. This sparring of continents … Continue reading →

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Sit on a continent, go for a ride.

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Of course you know about plate tectonics. Sit on a continent, go for a ride. You were probably told in grade school that continents move with as much speed (and unstoppable determination) as your fingernails are supposed to grow. That’s … Continue reading →

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Curse of the Petrified Tree Trunks

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Summer driving season is creeping up on us and the world’s national parks want to again warn visitors that removing protected rocks and artifacts can get you into big trouble. With the government, of course. But even worse, you may … Continue reading →

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A Life Well-Lived

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Two years ago this week, one of our greatest scientists quietly passed away. Although among the world’s unheralded heroes, the life of Lawrence Morley deserves our attention. He helped prove plate tectonics, but in a fluke too common in science … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Geology, History, Plate Tectonics, Space, The Book | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

200 Years of Volcanic Legacy

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Ron Miksha

I am rather pleased when my favourite non-science journal explains a bit of science – and gets it right! I’ve been reading The Economist ever since I discovered the world, and the magazine has seldom let me down. Here is … Continue reading →

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Trumpeting the Quake

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Earthquake prediction may run off in a new direction. We’ve tried electronics attached to seismic detectors (and made some progress), but there may be a new ally in the battle to give a warning before the next big one knocks … Continue reading →

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Finger pointing frustrations

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Originally posted on The Grumpy Geophysicist:
Well, the New York Times finally decided to dial in to the ongoing seismic mess in Oklahoma. And while the coverage highlights the potential conflicts of interest and ability of the oil and gas…

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