I’ve studied sand dunes for 40 years – here’s what people find most surprising

Dunes can preserve a record of historic climate changes and shifting continents.

David Thomas, Professor of Geography, University of Oxford • conversation
March 28, 2024 ~6 min

What the Anthropocene’s critics overlook – and why it really should be a new geological epoch

Geologists recently voted down a proposal to formally recognise the Anthropocene.

Martin J. Head, Professor of Earth Sciences, Brock University • conversation
March 12, 2024 ~9 min


How do crystals form?

There are a lot of myths about crystals − for example, that they are magical rocks with healing powers. An earth scientist explains some of their amazing true science.

Natalie Bursztyn, Lecturer in Geosciences, University of Montana • conversation
Nov. 20, 2023 ~7 min

'Many sleepless nights': why scientists who predict landslides are under enormous pressure

Satellites can detect land moving by just a few millimetres, but we can never be sure exactly how or when a slope will slide.

Dave Petley, Vice Chancellor and Professor of Geography, University of Hull • conversation
Nov. 17, 2023 ~7 min

Why the earth quakes – a closer look at what's going on under the ground

A geologist explains where earthquakes are most common and why.

Jaime Toro, Professor of Geology, West Virginia University • conversation
Sept. 13, 2023 ~8 min

Living near the fire – 500 million people worldwide have active volcanoes as neighbors

For some people, it’s a choice based on cultural beliefs or economic opportunities provided by the volcano. Other times it’s less a choice than the only option.

David Kitchen, Associate Professor of Geology, University of Richmond • conversation
July 13, 2023 ~7 min

Why don't rocks burn?

Some rocks will burn, and others will melt, depending on how they were formed and what minerals they contain.

Natalie Bursztyn, Lecturer in Geosciences, University of Montana • conversation
May 15, 2023 ~6 min

What are mud volcanoes?

When mud, fluids and gases erupt at the Earth’s surface, they hint at what’s happening underground, allowing scientists to build a more comprehensive 3D view of what’s going on inside our planet.

Michael R. Hudec, Senior Research Scientist at Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin • conversation
Dec. 19, 2022 ~9 min


Sandcastle engineering – a geotechnical engineer explains how water, air and sand create solid structures

From capillary forces to sand grain shape, the simple mix of sand and water hides the of complexity within.

Joseph Scalia, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University • conversation
Aug. 19, 2022 ~8 min

James Lovelock: the scientist-inventor who transformed our view of life on Earth

Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis suggested that Earth could be considered a single, self-regulating organism.

Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Science, UCL • conversation
July 28, 2022 ~7 min

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