Author Archives: Ron Miksha

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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.

Throwing Spitballs in Geology Class

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Chemistry Lab: Tie you hair back. Wear lab coats and safety goggles! Physics Lab: Get assistance before lifting wave tank. Use sturdy shoes! Biology Lab: Always wear goggles, rubber gloves, and face mask! Geology Lab: Here’s a rock. Take turns … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Science Education | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Have Geophysicists Found Suleiman the Magnificent’s Heart?

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Ron Miksha

What does a geophysicist do? Almost everything that involves looking beneath the soil. Geophysicists study everything from buried tombs to the boundary between the Earth’s inner and outer core. They perform a sort of fancy X-ray magic which can include … Continue reading →

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A 2015 Review

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Ron Miksha

I wish there were two of me. I’d write twice as much or twice as often. As it is, I was able to post 81 times in 2015. That’s certainly not as prolific as some of my favourite bloggers. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion, Science Education | Tagged | 3 Comments

A Glowing Holiday Gift

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Christmas Eve, 2015. A bit late to buy The Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab for your favourite budding young nuclear physicist. 65 years too late. It’s hard to imagine that Dad could once easily buy uranium, radium, and all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Science Education | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Why Some ‘Quake Shakes Arrive Before Others

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Ron Miksha

When a big earthquake quakes, different sorts of vibes spread through the Earth. Two of the main destructive seismic waves – the P and S – travel at different velocities.  P-waves (Primary or Pressure) will shake your dishes a few … Continue reading →

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Drilling into Hell . . . enjoy your visit!

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Yesterday, I wrote at length about the many disastrous expensive attempts scientists and engineers made in their quest to collect material from the mantle. So far, they’ve all ended far short of their target. Drilling through crust material (granite on … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Engineering, Exploration, Geology, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Drilling into Hell . . . almost there

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Chasing gold, humans have dug tunnels almost four kilometres into the Earth. Oil men have drilled down ten kilometres, but with occasionally disastrous results. Money is a strong motivator, but scientific curiosity is even stronger when measured in meters of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Engineering, Exploration, Geology, Oceans | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Drilling into Hell

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Ron Miksha

They’re going to drill into the Earth’s mantle. This has been an unachieved goal of Earth scientists for decades. This time they really mean it. No stopping before they get the job done. Over the next three days, I’ll look … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Engineering, Exploration, Geology, History, Oceans, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

All the Grains of Sand

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Until today, I hadn’t written much in this blog about sand.  I don’t know why I’ve neglected the grainy little bits of rock, but it’s about time that sand had it’s day.  I’m doing sand because I just finished a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Geology | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Third Lucasian Professor

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Newton was the second Lucasian Professor, holding the position founded by Henry Lucas, Cambridge’s Member of Parliament. Newton clung to the job for 33 years despite his obnoxious manners and his heretical ideas about religion. He succeeded by hiding his … Continue reading →

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