Geodynamics

Summer of ‘23: Chronicles of a summer school on meteorite and comet impacts.

Katherine Villavicencio and edited by Constanza Rodriguez Piceda March 27, 2024

Exploring geologic formations along the Nördlingen Ries impact Crater. Credit: Attendees of the school.

One of the best-researched and preserved impact craters on Earth is the Ries Crater (Germany). Hikers, bikers, school groups, and geo-tourists from all over the world come here in search for the evidence of the cosmic catastrophe. In this week’s blog post, PhD student Katherine Villavicencio from University G. d’Annunzio (Italy) shares her experience when attending the Summer School “Impacts and ...[Read More]

Revisiting Sagarmatha: Reflections on Fieldwork in the Eastern Nepal Himalaya

Tshering Lama Sherpa and edited by Rajani Shrestha March 20, 2024

Tshering Lama Sherpa (author) and Dr. Pete DeCelles (University of Arizona), mapping and contemplating Himalayan geology at Kala Patthar, with Pumori (7161m) in the background. (Credit: Author)

“The mountains are calling.” This week, we are embarking on an adventure to the highest mountain in the world – Sagarmatha (also known as Mt. Everest). We will join Tshering Lama Sherpa, from the University of Arizona, as she unveils the exciting world of geological fieldwork amidst the majestic Himalayas in her post. In October of 2023, I set out on my fourth geological fieldwo ...[Read More]

Equilibrium Crustal Thickness and Dynamics of Earth’s Lithosphere: The Answer is 42.

Ajay Kumar and edited by Lorenzo Mantiloni March 13, 2024

There really is an answer, and now there is a question too - just deep below us rather than above. But then again, aren't up and down just conventions? Figure courtesy: Emily Hinshaw.

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” had the answer; we think we have the right question. This week, Ajay Kumar from IISER Pune, India, will take us on a journey to the depths of the Earth’s lithosphere – a world as mysterious as the farthest reaches of the Universe. We will see what the thickness of the Earth’s crust can tell us about the balance between the ...[Read More]

How we made QUARTETnary – the card game about the geological time scale

Iris van Zelst March 6, 2024

Ready to explore the history of the Earth and play QUARTETnary yourself? Back the Kickstarter now!

QUARTETnary is an educational card game about the geological time scale. Consisting of 60 beautifully illustrated cards, QUARTETnary explores the events in Earth’s history: from dinosaurs to humans and from the formation of the Alps to the formation of the Himalayas. It was designed by Iris van Zelst (me! Your fabulous former Editor-in-Chief), and illustrated by Lucia Perez-Diaz (also a former edi ...[Read More]