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.

Criminalizing Geology

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Originally posted on The Grumpy Geophysicist:
Yep, the New York Times notes that, among other odd state laws, that Wyoming has enacted a law that “makes it a crime to take photographs of or make written observations about a piece of…

Posted in Environment, Reblogs | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Getting Naked on Mount Kinabalu?

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Ron Miksha

If you have been following the seismic news, you have heard that a small group of merry-makers are being held in Malaysia for showing flesh on the wrong mountain. Their antics caused an earthquake, killing at least 13 people. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Michele Bachmann’s Dirty Bones

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Ron Miksha

“If dinosaur bones have been buried for “millions” of years, then why are they so clean when they’re in museums?” asks Michele Bachmann. Is this just one more of the many thoughtful questions coming from this year’s crop of political … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Religion, Science Education | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Scotland’s Verbose Expounditor of Geological Logorrhea

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Ron Miksha

James Hutton (1726-1797), Scotland’s most celebrated geologist, had a way with words. A rather awful way with words. But his scientific brilliance is uncontested. He is credited with moving geology away from the La-Z-Boy recliners of seventeenth century drawing rooms … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, Geology, History, Philosophy, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Paying for Physics

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Over 300 years ago, the world worked a lot like it does today. A man writes a brilliant book, but he’s a recluse and lacks charm. He wants to get his science club to print his book, but the  members … Continue reading →

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What happens when a Young Earth Creationist discovers a 60,000,000-year-old fossil?

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Originally posted on Primate's Progress:
Nearly perfect fish fossil specimens found in a block of sandstone excavated in the northwest Calgary community of Evanston. Photo by Darla Zelenitsky, University of Calgary Fortunately, Edgar Nernberg of Calgary is a keen…

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Nepal’s Missing Volcanoes

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Last month’s devastating earthquakes in Nepal were caused by the collision of the Indian subcontinent crashing into and (partly) under the bulk of Asia. The Himalayas are being created by the collision of tectonic plates. So, where are the volcanoes? … Continue reading →

Posted in Geology, How Geophysics Works, Oceans, Plate Tectonics | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Harry Hess and the Sea’s Floor

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Ron Miksha

What does a commander of a World War II assault transport ship do in his spare time? If the captain is Harry Hammond Hess, he would be gathering geophysical data enroute to Iwo Jima. Later, he would use the data … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Exploration, Geology, History, How Geophysics Works, Oceans, Plate Tectonics, The Book | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

An Oil Man Blames the Russians

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Ron Miksha

The wealthiest person in Oklahoma, conspiracy theorist Harold Hamm, claims that Russians are financing the anti-fracking movement in America. Of course they are. Russian spies meet at select Starbucks locations and hand over sealed envelopes stuffed with rubles so that … Continue reading →

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Mount St. Helens Day

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Today is one of those trigger dates that remind me of how small I really am, a day that invokes memories of my life in younger years. Somewhat like September 11, 2001. (I was on Crowchild, heading towards work in … Continue reading →

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