Tag Archives: evolution

Naming Schools after Nobel Laureates

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Ron Miksha

The Washington Post recently ran a story about the late Abdus Salam, a physicist who won the Nobel Prize almost 40 years ago. The piece concerns the politics of naming a building at a Pakistani university in honour of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, History, People, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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…

Posted in Reblogs | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Monkeys on Trial

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Ron Miksha

The monkey trial.  It was 90 years ago. We know the key players – the fabulously successful criminal trial lawyer who defended Scopes (but lost) and the 3-time Democrat presidential candidate (and erstwhile preacher) who attacked Scopes (and won). It … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, Geology, History, Religion, Science Education | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

In Pursuit of Dead Squishy Things

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Ron Miksha

If you spend a little time at your favourite dinosaur museum, you are sure to hear parents explain to their child that the T-rex about to swallow the kid’s head is just a bunch of dead bones. “Quit bawling, Johnny. … Continue reading →

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

Charles Darwin, the Geologist

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Ron Miksha

It’s his birthday. It seems Charles Darwin’s legacy is experiencing a renaissance. Sure, some 60% of Americans vilify the man and hope he is roasting in hell. Or undergoing reincarnation as a toad, or is still awaiting release from purgatory. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Culture, History, Philosophy, Religion, The Book | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A Wonderful Life

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Are you ready? Just 7 more shopping days until December 25th – Newton’s birthday.* People celebrate Sir Isaac Newton’s birthdate in interesting ways. In this part of the world, there are a lot of coloured lights, decorated trees, and shiny … Continue reading →

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

The Age of Man?

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Well, this is not the Age of Aquarius. Last week, geologists met in Berlin to discuss  renaming our current geological epoch – the Holocene. They say it began when the ice age ended, 11,700 years ago. The geologists in Berlin … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Culture, Oceans, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pope Francis and the Magic Wand

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Ron Miksha

Pope Francis has been in the news for the past few days. The pontiff has a habit of saying what he’s thinking and he sometimes does this at surprising venues. This time he was speaking at the unveiling of a … Continue reading →

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

Bad Russian Science

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Ron Miksha

My daily Geo-calendar reminds me to consider events in the evolving history of Earth Sciences. Yesterday’s little blurb on that calendar commemorated the birth of Vladimir Belousov (1907-1990), the Soviet-era geologist who stopped plate tectonics, at least in his country. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Non-drift Theories, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment