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.

Geosyncline Celebration

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Today, September 12, commemorates the 1811 birth of James Hall, Jr., an American geologist (and one of the world’s first paleontologists). Hall was brilliant. But dangerous. And, as often happens in science, his most stunning idea was eventually proven wrong. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Geology, History, Non-drift Theories | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Finding Oil and Gas where God Dumps Them

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Well, here’s a great idea. Sarah Palin has offered to head the Department of Energy when Donald Trump becomes president. “I think a lot about the Department of Energy, because energy is my baby: oil and gas and minerals, those … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Geology, People | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

What do We Really Think about Plate Tectonics?

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Ron Miksha

In mid-August, two experts on acid rain published a study. It’s about Wikipedia and how wiki edits reflect some of the social dynamics of the public’s view of science.  The researchers – Adam Wilson and Gene Likens – indicated that … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Science Education | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida’s Newest Sinkholes

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Smack-dab in the middle of Florida is a farming community called Groveland. It is hard to get more central than this central Florida town.  Groveland rides high on Florida’s limestone spine, a slight rise that puts the center of the … Continue reading →

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

Hiding Rising Seas in Sunken Deserts

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Ron Miksha

This weekend, a friend asked me if the rise in the oceans could be drained off into the world’s below-sea-level depressions. Could rising ocean waters be diverted to fill the Dead Sea and Death Valley Depressions, for example? It seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Engineering, Environment, Oceans | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

Did humans wipe out the megafauna?

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Originally posted on TwilightBeasts:
The wonderful thing about writing for Twilight Beasts is the chance to bring back some truly incredible creatures. Here we are allowed to be taken back to a time when the largest land lizard ever walked…

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Newton and the Speed of Sound

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Would you like to try Newton’s classic speed of sound experiment? Last month, at Trinity College in Cambridge, my 13-year-old stood at the colonnade where Newton measured the speed of sound. Just like Newton, Daniel clapped his hands once and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, How Geophysics Works | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

1000 Simple Words

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Could you describe your work to someone new if you had to use fewer than 1,000 words? I certainly hope so – that’s two or three typed pages. If you need more than that, maybe you don’t really know your … Continue reading →

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

Respects to the Hobbit Man

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Ron Miksha

About a week ago I was at JRR Tolkien’s grave. It is not my habit to seek cemeteries containing the tombstones of fantasy writers. However, my wife, two young kids, and I were staying at a guesthouse in Oxford. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, Philosophy, Science Education | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Busted by Oil

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Ron Miksha

The list is long. Spindletop in Texas; Drake’s well in Pennsylvania; Petrolia, Ontario; Baku, Azerbaijan; Boryslav in Galicia. And many more. These are places spoiled by the boom and bust, rust and dust of oil production. I wonder if one … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Exploration, History | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments