Category Archives: Exploration

Crater Lake

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Ron Miksha

During the 1849 California Gold Rush, the easy pickings around Sutter’s Mill were staked off and scooped up rather quickly. The ’49ers, as the first prospectors were called, put gold in the bank while the ’50ers had to look further … Continue reading →

Posted in Exploration, Geology, People, Religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Finished Science

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Ron Miksha

I have been reading Jerry Coyne’s new book, Faith vs Fact, and the evolutionary biologist makes a clear point that scientific understanding evolves as much as biological entities. In his book (which is a solid testimony of what science is … Continue reading →

Posted in Exploration, Geology, Space | Tagged , | 8 Comments

USA and Vietnam may go to war again – as Allies

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Ron Miksha

I was a kid during the Vietnam War. I remember the nightly television scenes of boys not much older than I was, crawling through rice paddies while explosions ignited around them. Some of the young men were relatives, others were … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Exploration | Tagged , , , , | 4 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 →

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

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

Rare Earths in Rare Places

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Some of our favourite toys – including cells phones and computers – function through the kind benevolence of the People’s Republic of China. OK, it’s a business deal with the Communists, it’s not benevolence. China has a near monopoly on … Continue reading →

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

Ted Cruz, The Science Guy!

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Ted Cruz, the science guy! Those are five words that tickle your tongue when spoken together. But it’s true, the senator is now America’s science guy. Senator Ted Cruz (R–TX) is the new chair of the science and space panel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Exploration, Religion, Space | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Has Cuba Got Oil?

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Besides sunshine and sugar cane, what has Cuba got? It looks like the USA is serious about letting Americans party along Havana’s beaches and carry home a cigar or two. It has long bemused me that two of the continent’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Exploration, Geology | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Canada’s Deceptive Arm

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Well, this is embarrassing. A friend in the States sent me a link to a Washington Post story. Along with the link, he sent a short note: “So much for your Canada Arm.” You see, I had bragged about Canada’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Exploration, Space | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment