Weird & Dead
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How Fossil Lemurs Got Across Oceans
Jan 24, 2024 • 48:32
Throughout time we find evidence that animals made it to other continents seemingly by crossing vast oceans. In this episode we talk all about how animals can survive these strange events of accidental seafaring, and how the odds are always stacked against them. CW: Cruel research methods (not ours!), inbreeding,…
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How to Preserve a Fossil Fish in The Weirdest Way Possible
Jan 31, 2024 • 37:59
Sometimes paleontology is awe-inspiring. Sometimes it’s gross and hilarious. This episode is at the weird epicenter of all of those things, because it turns out the best preserved fossil sturgeons are found up the rear end of duck-billed dinosaurs. CONTENT WARNINGS: Hemorrhoids, butt jokes, maligning archeologists, misinterpreting a cloaca as…
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How to Mummify a Dinosaur (and Other Fossil Tips and Tricks)
Feb 7, 2024 • 46:22
While usually it’s just the hard bits that fossilize, occasionally the fossil record can preserve things like skin, organs, blood and more. This episode talks about what happens when soft tissue fossilizes, and what weird things scientists have done upon finding it. CW: Dead animals/babies, eating gross things, blood and…
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Homicidal Earth Burps and Murderous Sky Rocks (All About Extinctions)
Feb 14, 2024 • 47:54
Asteroids, volcanoes, and sex lakes – in this episode we discuss the varied and sometimes hilarious hypotheses of why animals have gone extinct. CW: Extinctions/animal death, toxic shock syndrome, menstruation, serial killers, suicide in reference to having to do geochronology. Referring to non-avian dinosaurs as just dinosaurs. This work is…
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The Secret Shame of Dinosaurs (Fossil Names)
Feb 21, 2024 • 49:09
Did you know that technically, the name ‘dinosaur’ is a rebrand? The original name was a lot more… wrinkly. In this episode we discuss how to name fossils and bring up the funniest fossil names we could find. CW: Cursing. Discussion of European colonization and Native Americans. Many references to…
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The Science of Fossil Poop and Puke
Feb 28, 2024 • 48:42
Trace fossils are an incredible resource to understand behavior… even behavior those animals wish maybe there wasn’t a record of. From the results of terrible food poisoning to the fossil equivalent of a xeroxed buttocks, trace fossils record some animals’ most humiliating moments. CW: Everything in the title, cursing, stomach…
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Everything That Ate Our Ancestors
Mar 6, 2024 • 50:12
It’s time to be more afraid of seals, everyone. And hyenas. And tigers. And… birds? And big crocodiles. Really, the deeper you go into human history, the longer that list of fears gets – and on this episode, we go real, real deep. CW: death, dead bodies, being hunted, cannibalism.…
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Everything You Wanted To Know About Eggs
Mar 13, 2024 • 46:15
…and then some. From the eggs of the platypus to the eggs of dinosaurs, we’ll talk about how eggs are formed, why humans don’t lay them, and of course, why the egg definitely came before the chicken. CW: Placentas and afterbirth, body fluids, cursing This work is licensed under a…
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Thick Thighs and Body Size
Mar 20, 2024 • 48:45
From dinosaurs to rhinos to bugs, things used to get a whole lot bigger than they seem to today. In this episode we talk all about evolutionary constraints, the narrow set of bumper bars enforced on us by biology. CW: Body fluids. Using the term bug incorrectly (sorry entomologists). Cursing.…
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Becoming Paleontologists
Mar 27, 2024 • 46:59
For our final episode of season 1 we go into detail on how the two of us met, how we got into paleontology, and the various twists and turns that have made up our two careers. CW: Cursing. Yep, that’s all this time – we were surprised too! This work…
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Weird & Dead Trailer
Jun 4, 2024 • 1:10
On this podcast we dish the details on the wildest stories that 500 million years of evolution have to offer. The grosser, the better! That said, this podcast is not intended for kids and is rated E for strong language and crude senses of humor. Season 2 begins 6-19-2024! This…
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Things You Didn't Think a Butthole Could Do
Jun 19, 2024 • 46:07
From the anal chimneys of crinoids to the tushy lungs of turtles, this episode covers all the weird things that buttholes can do… but shouldn't. CW: Buttholes, cursing, poop, tobacco use, alien abduction
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Lingering Fingerlings and Dexterous Dingalings (Vestigial Structures)
Jul 3, 2024 • 56:21
Today we’re answering the big questions, like why do whales have hips when they don’t have legs? And why did Tyrannosaurus rex have such tiny tiny arms? CW: Genitalia, cursing, discussion of unwanted sexual contact in whales This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Fossil Brainz
Jul 17, 2024 • 44:42
How much do we really know about the brains of ancient animals? In this episode we dive into the fantastic world of endocasts, aka, brain impressions! CW: soft tissue, cursing, Nanotyrannus, brief mention of the Nazis in regards to Tilly Edinger This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0…
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The Baculum and the Baubellum
Jul 31, 2024 • 53:54
Sometimes boners have actual bones! This episode is all about the evolution, use, and occasional loss of/damage to genital bones in both male and female animals. CW: Cursing, genitalia, brief mention of non-consensual sexual behavior in animals This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Polar Dinosaurs
Aug 14, 2024 • 52:33
There were dinosaurs in Antarctica and Alaska – but what did it look like when they lived there? Was it cold? Was it dark? Did they stay there year round? Also, Meaghan learns how magnets work (finally). CW: cursing, death of people and animals This work is licensed under a…
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Trunks, Snoods, and Other Floppy Face Flesh
Aug 28, 2024 • 1:04:10
Did Diplodocus have a trunk? Did T. rex have a wobbly turkey neck? This week’s episode is all about fleshy face flaps and their uses, and how to detect them in the fossil record. CW: Animal death, cursing, making fun of dinosaurs, urine This work is licensed under a Creative…
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Fossil Forensics
Sep 11, 2024 • 56:36
Bones are sick – and this time, we mean it literally. From infected bite marks to the ever-prevalent markings of tuberculosis, we’re talking about the signs of illnesses and injuries in fossils and what they tell us about the lives (and deaths) of these animals. CW: Cancer, infections and pus,…
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The Burgess Shale
Sep 25, 2024 • 49:07
500 some million years ago the world was full of ‘abnormal shrimp’ and ‘blunt feet’ and other animals that defy comprehensible definitions. In this episode we talk all about the mind-boggling biology and bizarre geology of the Cambrian. CW: Drug references, cursing, dead animals, cavalier jokes at the expense of…
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Fossil Frenemies
Oct 9, 2024 • 54:46
From friends to enemies to roommates (to lovers??), we discuss classic examples of animals found fossilized together, how that happens, and how some of the interpretations are… a stretch. CW: Animal death, dead babies, lubed holes, incest, cursing This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Storybook Earth
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Storybook Earth ep.1 - Ebb and Flow of Ice
May 19, 2021 • 16:16
Episode summary: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess shares her own experiences with the natural environment of her childhood home and how its unique landscape was shaped by glacial activity during the ice ages of geologic history. What are ice ages? How do they happen? When was the last…
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Storybook Earth ep. 2 - A Tell-tale Sign of Tectonic Activity
Jun 3, 2021 • 16:30
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess tells the intricate tale of faults. She will talk about exactly what a fault is, how it is formed, as well as the different kinds of faults…yes, there are more than one! She will even talk about her own experiences with faults and…
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Storybook Earth ep. 3 - Read the Rocks
Jun 17, 2021 • 15:39
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess will tell the story of rocks. Did you know that there are many different kinds of rocks? Do you know how they are made? Well, Jess has all the answers and will share the ins and outs of the earth under…
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Storybook Earth ep. 4 - Take In the Colors
Jul 1, 2021 • 16:18
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess tells how some rocks’ stories begin with color. Being able to detect pattern and color is an important tool for any scientist, geologists included. But, color can also be deceiving. Why? Well, Jess can tell you! In a tale woven with color…
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Storybook Earth ep. 5 - The Gift of Oxygen
Jul 15, 2021 • 18:23
Episode summary introduction: In this episode, Jess begins our story with the mountains of Tibet, a landscape shaped by time, and an encounter with a lone wolf. From this beautiful setting, Jess tells the tale of oxygen. Oxygen has a varied and interesting history on Earth, and evidence of its existence…
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Storybook Earth ep. 6 - Zircon: Impossibly Fantastic!
Jul 29, 2021 • 17:46
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess shares the stories of zircons and why they have become a cornerstone of geochronology, or, the study of geologic aging. Find out how Jess discovered her passion for zircon geochronology, what zircons are, where you can find them, and why they…
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Storybook Earth ep. 7 - A Grand Canyon Twist!
Aug 12, 2021 • 15:17
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess unravels the amazing geologic history of the Grand Canyon! If you have never been to this incredible geologic wonder before, then this episode is the perfect place to begin. Jess leads you through time as if you were walking the Canyon…
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Storybook Earth ep. 8 - Lost and Found in Tibet
Sep 9, 2021 • 19:33
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess brings us a beautiful tale of her time spent exploring the wonders of Tibet, and how she unraveled her path to geology. Listen as she shares memories of her father and how his connection to his daughter led Jess to embark…
Gneiss Chats
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Gneiss Chats Trailer
Jan 5, 2021 • 0:59
Do you enjoy learning new things in all fields of geosciences? Do you have a soft spot for shenanigans? Then this podcast is just for you! In this podcast, Dr B. interviews interesting geologists with interesting stories. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Mining a green future with Rebecca Paisley
May 27, 2021 • 47:57
Over the next three episodes Dr. B is coincidently interviewing three Rebeccas, about fields in geosciences that are completely different from each other. This is the first episode of the Rebecca Trilogy, and for this first piece Dr. B has a Gneiss Chat with Dr Rebecca Paisley, an exploration geochemist…
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Earth Tremors with Rebecca Harrington
Jun 10, 2021 • 40:13
Have you ever felt the earth shaking under your feet? For Part II of the Rebecca Trilogy, Professor Rebecca Harrington from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum joined Dr. B for a Gneiss Chat about Earth Tremors. In this episode Rebecca tell us about her research group’s interest in understanding natural and induced…
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Thermochronology with Rebecca Flowers
Jun 24, 2021 • 42:50
For this final chapter, Part III, of the Rebecca Trilogy, Dr. B plays a geology-version of the famous game show Family Feud that we renamed the Geology-Field Game. Our guest, Professor Rebecca Flowers from the University of Colorado Boulder, tries to find out which one was the most popular answers…
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Fake Rocks with Stefano Poli
Jul 8, 2021 • 45:11
Frankenstein was a young scientist who enjoyed doing scientific experiments to create a sapient creature. In this episode our guest is a great Senior Experimental Petrologist who talks about geo-scientists who create rocks and experiments to study Earth processes. Professor Stefano Poli from the University of Milan tells Dr. B…
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Ophiolites with Luke Milan from LLUNE
Jul 22, 2021 • 50:48
This is the first of three special episodes in partnership with the Litho Lab University of England or LLUNE for short. In this episode Dr. B plays the game ‘Time for Questions’ with the three researchers of the LLUNE Special Series: Dr Luke Milan, Dr Tim Chapman, and Dr. Marissa…
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Landscapes with Chiara Zuffetti
Aug 5, 2021 • 44:00
A landscape is a palimpsest because it is the result of different geological processes that build and shape the planet where we live on. In this episode Dr. B chats about how beautiful landscapes develop and form breathtaking natural shapes, by interviewing an expert on this topic, Dr. Chiara Zuffetti…
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Rocks under pressure with Tim Chapman from LLUNE
Aug 19, 2021 • 50:20
This is the second of three special episodes in partnership with the Litho Lab University of New England or LLUNE for short. Have you ever felt under a lot of pressure? Well, Dr. Timothy Chapman from LLUNE chats with Dr. B about rocks that formed at very high pressures (HP),…
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Hunting for meteorites with Luke Daly
Sep 2, 2021 • 55:42
In this episode Dr. B had an interesting chat with brilliant actor and researcher Dr. Luke Daly from the University of Glasgow. Luke explains the difference between meteorites, fireballs, meteoroids, and UFOs and how the fireball network monitors the ‘sky activity’ across the world to know when a meteorite hits…
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Biostratigraphy with Marissa Betts from LLUNE
Sep 16, 2021 • 55:53
This is the third and last of three special episodes in partnership with the Litho Lab University of New England or LLUNE for short. Which one is your favorite Gneiss Chats game? For this Special episode with Dr. Marissa Betts from LLUNE, Dr. B brings back the highly requested Dating…
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The power is in Petrochronology with Eleanore Blereau
Sep 30, 2021 • 49:34
Are you a gamer? Do you know the lingo? Marie Curie Fellow Dr Eleanore Blereau from the University of Leeds is not only a gaming expert, but she is also a petrochronology one. Eleanore explains to Dr. B and Dr. Silvia that petrochronology is a way to describe a field…
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The Gneiss Chats Christmas Special
Dec 21, 2021 • 17:57
Dr. B was visited by the three spirits of Christmas to be reminded of all we’ve learned in this podcast so far about the past, present and future of our planet. Sing along with the Geo-themed carol (for Full lyrics visit http://www.travelinggeologist.com/podcast/gneiss-chats-christmas/) 12 Days of GeoXmas On the (First trhough Twelfth)…
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Rare Earth Elements with Kathryn Goodenough
Jun 30, 2022 • 37:58
Do you enjoy learning new things in all fields of geosciences? Do you have a soft spot for shenanigans? Then this podcast is just for you! In this podcast, Dr B. interviews interesting geoscientist with interesting stories. Resources mentioned in this episode: Go back and listen to the previous GC…
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Geological Mapping with Daniel Brennan
Jul 28, 2022 • 44:23
Do you enjoy learning new things in all fields of geosciences? Do you have a soft spot for shenanigans? Then this podcast is just for you! In this podcast, Dr B. interviews interesting geoscientist with interesting stories. Resources mentioned in this episode: Go back and listen to the previous GC…
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Volcanoes with Heather Handley
Aug 25, 2022 • 52:27
Do you enjoy learning new things in all fields of geosciences? Do you have a soft spot for shenanigans? Then this podcast is just for you! In this podcast, Dr B. interviews interesting geoscientist with interesting stories. Skip the game [09:00] minutes. Resources mentioned in this episode: Go back and…
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Geological Timescale [BONUS]
Sep 29, 2022 • 20:28
Do you remember the episodes where we interviewed researchers from the LLUNE? If you haven’t listened to them yet, go back to episodes Ophiolites, Rocks under pressure, and Biostratigraphy with Dr. Luke Milan, Dr. Tim Chapman, and Dr. Maritta Betts from LLUNE. In this Bonus episode, Marissa talks with DrB…
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Pompeii with Claudio Scarpati, Part I
Oct 27, 2022 • 29:08
Show notes Do you enjoy learning new things in all fields of geosciences? Do you have a soft spot for shenanigans? Then this podcast is just for you! In this podcast, Dr B. interviews interesting geoscientist with interesting stories. Resources mentioned in this episode: Go back and listen to the…
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Pompeii with Claudio Scarpati, Part II
Nov 10, 2022 • 39:58
Show notes Do you enjoy learning new things in all fields of geosciences? Do you have a soft spot for shenanigans? Then this podcast is just for you! In this podcast, Dr B. interviews interesting geoscientist with interesting stories. Resources mentioned in this episode: Go back and listen to the…
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Geoscience Communication with Lucía Pérez-Díaz
Dec 1, 2022 • 47:53
Do you enjoy learning new things in all fields of geosciences? Do you have a soft spot for shenanigans? Then this podcast is just for you! In this podcast, Dr B. interviews interesting geoscientist with interesting stories. To skip the game jump to minute 5:00 Resources mentioned in this episode:…
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Earth evolution with Peter Cawood
Jan 6, 2021 • 40:10
Episode summary introduction: This episode of Gneiss chats has Laureate Professor Peter Cawood from Monash University in Melbourne as a guest. Dr B. interviews Peter about fundamental geological questions that Peter and his research group, the Pulse of the Earth, are trying to answer. In this episode Dr B. and…
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Supercontinents with Erin Martin
Jan 20, 2021 • 50:19
Episode summary introduction: The guest of this episode of Gneiss chats is Dr. Erin Martin a research fellow from Monash University in Melbourne. Dr. B. interviews Erin about supercontinents: what they are, how they form, and what are the plate-scale mechanism and processes related to the movement of the…
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Fieldwork with Chris Spencer
Feb 4, 2021 • 44:38
Episode summary introduction: In this episode Dr B. interviews, the original traveling geologist himself, Assistant Prof. Chris Spencer. Chris shares how the initiative of traveling geologist started during his PhD studies in St. Andrews, and also, his love for one of the most fascinating parts of our job: fieldwork.…
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Exoplanets with Francesca Miozzi
Feb 18, 2021 • 49:49
Episode summary introduction: Space? Exoplanets? In this episode our guest is Dr Francesca Miozzi aka ‘La Giovi’ who will take us outside of our home ‘the Earth’ by talking about to the study of exoplanets. La Giovi will tell us about how, through experimental petrology, she tries to understand…
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Controversial Theories with Angus Rogers
Mar 4, 2021 • 40:17
Episode summary introduction: In this episode Dr B. decided to investigate and discuss about contested theories in geoscience and the reasons for their creation with current PhD candidate Angus Rogers at Monash University. As we all know, Dr B enjoys to break the ice with a funny game and for this…
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Melt Inclusions with Bruna Carvalho
Mar 18, 2021 • 38:25
For the first time Dr. B is going back to the motherland. In this episode he interviews his countrywoman and also ECR celebrity Dr Bruna Carvalho, who is a postdoc at the University of Padova in ‘Italia’. This episodes’ central theme is Melt Inclusions. But before starting to dig into…
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IsoTOPes with Bryant Ware
Apr 1, 2021 • 39:08
In this episode we have a bit of a freaky Friday thing going. Gneiss Chats producer and occasional co-host Dr Silvia Volante is the host of the game Newly Grad (formerly known as Twinning). She interviews Dr B and his co-author, producer of the Gneiss Chats podcast and also BEST…
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IsoTOPes II (Stables) with Mikaela Moore
Apr 15, 2021 • 43:31
This episode can be treated as a sequel to the previous episode with Dr Bryant Ware on radiogenic isotopes. This time Dr B has a Gneiss Chat with Mikaela Moore, who tells us about the use of Stable IsoTOPes in geoscience. Mikaela just obtained a bachelor degree from Queens University…
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Paleomag[ic]netism with Uwe Kirscher and Ross Mitchell
Apr 29, 2021 • 42:53
In this episode Dr B will have a double interview with Dr Uwe Kirscher and Prof Ross Mitchell. Well, actually, to be more precise, Ross started the interview as an Associate Professor and finished it as a Full Professor, that was pretty dope! In the first part of the episode,…
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Hot Rocks (UHT) with Mahyra Tedeschi
May 13, 2021 • 44:15
Hot, hot, hot, rocks! This episode is going to be a real burn, because we are going to talk about metamorphic rocks that have experienced very high temperature metamorphism, deep in the crust, the so called Ultra High Temperature or UHT conditions. Professor Mahyra Tedeschi from the Universidade Federal de…
Geological Expeditions of Yore
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Geological Expeditions of Yore Trailer
Oct 25, 2020 • 1:36
As geologists, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep. 1 - Alfred Wegner
Nov 2, 2020 • 20:23
This episode of GEOY is dedicated to brilliant interdisciplinary scientist, and pioneer polar explorer Alfred Wegener, whose theory of continental drift shook the foundations of geology, paleontology, and biology research. While today continental drift and plate tectonics are firmly established concepts, when first proposed Alfred Wegener’s theory was ridiculed and…
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep.2 - Marie Tharp
Nov 17, 2020 • 17:58
The true discoverer of sea-floor spreading.
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep.3 - Alice Wilson
Nov 30, 2020 • 16:49
The first Canadian female geologist.
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep.4 - Meeman Chang
Dec 14, 2020 • 12:42
Episode title: The Love of Fish Bones with Meeman Chang Episode summary introduction: This episode of GEOY explores the life of Dr. Meeman Chang, a leading Chinese vertebrate paleontologist. She spent her life studying fish faunas and clarified the link between Paleozoic fish and land-based vertebrates’ evolution. Geologists Noelle…
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep.5 - James Hutton
Dec 28, 2020 • 17:37
Episode summary: This episode of GEOY takes you back to the 18th century when James Hutton set out for his famous expedition to Siccar Point, and introduced the concept of geological time. Back in Hutton’s day when it was widely believed that Earth came into creation only about 6000…
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep.6 - J. Tuzo Wilson
Jan 11, 2021 • 16:40
Episode summary: This episode of GEOY explores the life of Dr. John Tuzo Wilson, the famous geologist responsible for the Wilson cycle and the discovery of transform faults. Geologists Noelle Lin and Mikaela Moore discuss the important contributions Wilson made, including his time at the Geological Survey of Canada, his…
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep.7 - Tanya Atwater
Jan 25, 2021 • 20:16
Episode summary introduction: This episode of GEOY explores the incredible and inspiring life of notable geologist Tanya Atwater, the Mother of Plate Tectonics. Geologists Mikaela Moore and Gillian Ivey discuss Atwater’s life from a young age, through her major discoveries regarding the theories of plate tectonics, obstacles and discrimination faced…
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Geological Expeditions of Yore ep.8 - Arthur Holmes
Feb 9, 2021 • 17:13
Episode summary introduction: “How old is the Earth?” Generations of scholars have asked this fundamental question, and estimates ranged from a few thousand years to indefinite time spans. Geologic and biologic observations from the 18th and 19th centuries (like Darwin’s theory of evolution and Hutton’s concept of deep time) suggested that…
Backyard Geology
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Backyard Geology Trailer
Nov 3, 2020 • 1:00
What exciting geology is in your backyard? This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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BYG Canada ep. 1 - St. John's, Newfoundland: Neat fossils? You’re not mistaken!
Nov 4, 2021 • 11:37
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to St. John’s Newfoundland. The southeastern tip of the peninsula, 130km down the coast from the city, host to the oldest known forms of large, complex life dating back 565 million years ago from the Ediacaran Period. The…
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BYG Canada ep. 2 - Hamilton, Ontario: "The Mountain"
Nov 18, 2021 • 11:48
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Hamilton, ON to look at the sedimentary structure that locals call “The Mountain”. The Niagara Escarpment is a steep cliff face that bisects southern Ontario. The cliff face is home to scenic hiking trails and countless waterfalls.…
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BYG Canada ep. 2 - Hamilton Bonus Episode with Henry Gage
Nov 25, 2021 • 25:45
The more rocks you talk about, the more you learn! Tune in for another bonus episode of Backyard Geology: Canada Edition where Serena talks with Henry Gage, who studies freeze-thaw weathering in the Niagara Escarpment. When it comes to urban landscapes, geologists play a key role in predicting, understanding and…
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BYG Canada ep. 3 - Sudbury, Ontario: A Geologic Scar
Dec 2, 2021 • 10:33
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Sudbury, ON where a massive meteorite impact 1.85 billion years ago left an economically significant scar on the terrane. Now one of the top global producers of nickel, Sudbury’s owes it fame to Earth’s own natural smelting…
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BYG Canada ep. 3 - Sudbury Bonus Episode with Catherine Farrow
Dec 9, 2021 • 41:45
Geology students: this is NOT an episode to miss! Check out Serena’s talk with geologist and businesswoman extraordinaire Dr. Catherine Farrow. In this bonus episode of Backyard Geology: Canada Edition, Dr. Farrow shares her experiences working alongside mining companies and her rich career history here in Canada. This work is…
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BYG Canada ep. 1 - St. John's Bonus Episode with Noelle Lin
Nov 11, 2021 • 34:35
We can’t get enough of fossils, and I hope we can say the same about you. That’s why Serena met with fossil lover and fellow Traveling Geologist team member Noelle Lin to follow up on the wonders of Mistaken Point. Check out this bonus episode of Backyard Geology: Canada Edition…
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BYG Canada ep. 4 - Regina, Saskatchewan: The Big Puzzle
Dec 16, 2021 • 11:49
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Regina, Saskatchewan to explore one of the greatest puzzles in Canadian geologic history. The Trans-Hudson Orogeny was a massive Paleoproterozoic mountain building event that built a large portion of North America. Over a billion years of erosion now conceals the…
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BYG Canada ep. 4 - Regina Bonus Episode with Fiona Darbyshire
Dec 23, 2021 • 20:36
Geologists have eyes for the subsurface, and that is especially true for geophysicists like Dr. Fiona Darbyshire who studies the complicated structure of Earth’s crust. Parts of the Canadian prairies hide the remnants of an ancient, colossal mountain building event, preserved in the crust. Dr. Darbyshire explains how geologists study…
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BYG Canada ep. 5 - Diavik, Northwest Territories: Classy Hitchhikers
Dec 30, 2021 • 10:43
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to the Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories. Here, a field of kimberlite dikes host Earth’s famous hitchhikers: diamonds. Learn how diamonds made their way to the Northwest Territories and how kimberlites rule the world of hard-rock mining. This work…
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BYG Canada ep. 5 - Diavik Bonus Episode with Janina Czas
Jan 6, 2022 • 24:13
Diamonds are a geologist’s best friend – that is, if you want to study the mantle! Dr. Janina Czas studies ancient cratons, which are hosts to kimberlites and kimberlite diamonds, and in this bonus episode of Backyard geology: Canada Edition, Dr. Czas walks us through Canadian diamond sources and what…
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BYG Canada ep. 6 - Drumheller, Alberta: Cretaceous Park
Jan 13, 2022 • 11:18
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Drumheller, Alberta, home to the largest known assembly of cretaceous fossils, including those of dinosaurs. Sedimentation on the coastal region of the Western Interior Seaway about 70 million years ago preserved the remains of dinosaurs, amphibians and fish and more…
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BYG Canada ep. 6 - Drumheller Bonus Episode with Dr Jon Noad
Jan 20, 2022 • 36:31
Bones are not the only thing that geologists use to paint a picture of the Cretaceous period. Tune in to this week’s bonus episode of Backyard Geology: Canada Edition to hear Serena’s talk with fossil enthusiast Dr. Jon Noad. Dr. Noad touches on other forms of fossils found throughout the…
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BYG Canada ep. 7 - Whitehorse, Yukon: Trails, Trams, and Dams
Jan 26, 2022 • 10:16
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Whitehorse, Yukon. Today, the Miles Canyon, passing through Whitehorse, is home to spectacular views of columnar basalt and a hydro electric dam. But before the dam, the Miles Canyon was a memorable point of passage for those traveling north to…
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BYG Canada ep. 7 - Whitehorse Bonus Episode with Sydney Van Loon
Feb 3, 2022 • 34:39
The present is the key to the past, and in the case of placer mining in the Yukon, the past is the key to the present! Sydney Van Loon is a geologist and historian who works with Canadian gold mining archives to explore mine sites today. Join Serena and Sydney…
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BYG Canada ep. 8 - Kelowna, BC: Home on the (Coast) Range
Feb 10, 2022 • 11:18
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Kelowna to look at western Canada’s resident mountains. The Canadian Cordillera are a series of mountain chains formed by different types of tectonic processes on the margin of the North American Plate starting about 200 million years ago. Learn about…
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BYG Canada ep. 8 - Kelowna Bonus Episode with Dr. Kyle Larson
Feb 17, 2022 • 29:26
Studying mountains is a mammoth task, pun intended, as Dr. Kyle Larson explains in this bonus episode of Backyard Geology: Canada Edition. The Canadian Cordillera, made up of the Coast Range and the Rockies, must be studied with an interdisciplinary approach from the largest to the smallest structures. Tune in…
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BYG Canada ep. 9 – Chronostratigraphy
Mar 3, 2022 • 18:54
4.6 billion years is an incredibly long time. If you’re feeling overwhelmed even thinking about how long that is, and where geologic events fit on it, have no fear. In this bonus episode of Backyard Geology, Serena talks about the geologic time scale and how famous geologic processes and structures…
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BYG International Pilgrimage Ep. 1 – Svalbard: Changing Landscapes
Feb 23, 2023 • 13:04
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you 80 degrees north to the archipelago of Svalbard. Here, the cryosphere speaks to the effects of global warming and researchers can observe our changing world. As a change from our usual programing, it’s what sits on top of the rocks that…
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BYG International Pilgrimage Ep. 2 – Iceland: Succession at its Finest
Mar 9, 2023 • 11:49
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Iceland to see the early stages of geologic succession in action. As one of the youngest nations in the world, geologically speaking, of course, Iceland showcases fresh geologic processes as an active volcanic island. Tune in to learn about what…
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BYG International Pilgrimage ep. 3 - Scotland: Chasing Deep Time
Mar 23, 2023 • 12:33
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to Scotland where foundations for modern geology were laid. In the late 18th century, naturalists seeking to explain the landscapes around them started to propose radical ideas about the origins of rocks and the cycling of Earth’s materials. Tune in to…
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BYG International Pilgrimage Ep. 4 – The Galapagos Islands: A Petri Dish for Evolution
Apr 6, 2023 • 12:11
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to the Galapagos Islands. Here, helium isotopes and the observations of Charles Darwin tell the tales of evolution, both in terms of geology and ecology respectively. As an isolated group of ocean islands, the Galapagos became the perfect place to observe…
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BYG International Pilgrimage Ep. 5 – Oman: Magic Mantle
Apr 20, 2023 • 10:41
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to the Semail Ophiolite. The small mountains on the northern coast of Oman once resided at the bottom of an ocean, before being uplifted onto land. Here, the igneous stratigraphy of the ocean crust is perfectly preserved, proving a standard for…
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BYG International Pilgrimage Ep. 6 – The Jack Hills: A Window into Primitive Earth
May 4, 2023 • 12:21
In this episode of Backyard Geology, Serena takes you to the Jack Hills in western Australia to peer 4.39 billion years into the past. Detrital zircon grains found in the rocks of the Jack Hills are the oldest known materials existing on Earth today. Their chemical makeup preserves Earth’s oldest…
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Backyard Geology ep.1 - Mammoths
Nov 9, 2020 • 13:46
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Chris explores one of the largest mammals ever to walk this earth – Mammoths! He will discuss the evolutionary history, migration patterns, and finally extinction of this great species, as well as stories of people who actually have found mammoths in…
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Backyard Geology ep.2 - Gold
Nov 23, 2020 • 13:46
So you wanna find gold in your backyard? Listen to find out how! Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Chris explores the precious mineral of gold! Do you think you can find gold in your backyard? Well, that depends… Find out why we care about gold so…
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Backyard Geology ep.3 - Manhattan
Dec 7, 2020 • 16:31
Geology in America's biggest backyard!
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Backyard Geology ep.4 - Landslides
Dec 21, 2020 • 15:49
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Chris explores the natural phenomena of landslides. Landslides, however common, are incredible to witness and horrific if caught in one. But, how and why do they happen? Chris will answer these questions through a discussion of the impact of a fault…
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Backyard Geology ep.5 - Diamonds
Jan 4, 2021 • 11:40
How would you like to find a diamond in your backyard?
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Backyard Geology ep.6 - Meteorites
Jan 18, 2021 • 13:09
What would you do if a meteorite fell in your backyard?
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Backyard Geology ep.7 - Oil
Feb 2, 2021 • 10:32
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Chris explores oil found right in people’s backyards. Finding oil in your backyard depends on a host of variables that all need to align perfectly. From the hill billies who struck oil and moved to Beverly Hills to the oil dowsers…
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Backyard Geology ep.8 - Lava
Feb 16, 2021 • 17:45
Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Backyard Geology, Chris explores the incredible variety and flow of lava! Not everyone’s backyard is a place to see lava, but that doesn’t mean that lava flows are uncommon. Chris will explore the major types of lava as well as share some unbelievable,…
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