Author Archives: Ron Miksha

Unknown's avatar

About Ron Miksha

Ron Miksha is a bee ecologist working at the University of Calgary. He is also a geophysicist and does a bit of science writing and blogging. Ron has worked as a radio broadcaster, a beekeeper, and Earth scientist. (Ask him about seismic waves.) He's based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

All Aboard the Barracuda

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Maurice Ewing was a Texas-panhandle farm boy,  became a geophysicist, and then and oceanographer. He conducted the first marine seismic acquisition, inventing the equipment he needed as he sailed the oceans. I find it odd that a lad from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Exploration, History, Oceans | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Zero Degrees of Kelvin

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Ron Miksha

My book, The Mountain Mystery, is not kind to the great physicist Lord Kelvin. I feel a bit uneasy admitting that in my research on the brilliant fellow, I just could not get comfortable. I wouldn’t have been his friend. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, How Geophysics Works | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Seismic Saves the World

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Remarkable that we haven’t blown the planet to bits with an atomic bomb.  Not yet, anyway. An atmospheric nuclear test ban went in effect August 5, 1963. Exactly 51 years ago today. And almost 20 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, History, How Geophysics Works | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Oblated Spheroids, anyone?

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Who cares if the world is not a perfect ball?  You should, for one. Knowing the exact shape of the Earth keeps satellites in place, keeps your GPS navigator working, and keeps you from the dehumanizing torture of asking someone … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Earthquake Prophets

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Ron Miksha

South Carolina. Earthquake.  Yes, according to the US Geological Survey, you need to link these two together in your mind. The government has issued a warning to folks in that southeast American state that it’s time to anchor the foundation. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Conspiracies are Everywhere

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Bison, anticipating a massive volcanic eruption, seen fleeing Yellowstone. Yellowstone National Park sits atop the world’s largest supervolcano.  The accompanying caldera will one day tip its hat and obliterate half of the American states. Or maybe not. This blog entry … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Education | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Alaska knows something

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Ron Miksha

  Alaska is taking credit for proving plate tectonics.  OK, that’s an exaggeration. 50 years ago, in March 1964, an incredibly powerful 9.2 Magnitude earthquake shook Alaska.  We are being told that “the quake proved a theory that was just … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering, History | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

SWARM of Magnetism

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Ron Miksha

The popular press has been fretting about the impending demise of our protective magnetic field.  Rightly so. We can expect all sorts of nasties when the field fails. The European Space Agency recently placed a “swarm” of magnetism-sensing satellites in … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Space, The Book | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Boring Mountains

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Ron Miksha

You might think that “boring mountains” is an odd title for a blog that promotes the study of mountains.  But today marks the anniversary of the death of an engineer who supervised the first major boring of a mountain anywhere … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Engineering, History | Tagged | Leave a comment

Goddess Pele is stirring

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Ron Miksha

The goddess Pele may be restless again.  It seems that the legendary fire-woman, believed by early Hawaiian islanders to live under the sea and breathe lava into the throats of mountains, may be stirring. According to the ancient legends, the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, How Geophysics Works | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment