GD
Geodynamics

outstanding questions

Bored by the Lower Mantle? Think Again!

and October 22, 2025
Bored by the Lower Mantle? Think Again!
Conceptual sketch illustrating the complexity of upwellings observed beneath hot spots. From Wamba et al 2023. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ade3723

Is the lower mantle boring? For a long time, the lower mantle was thought to be relatively featureless and uniform compared to the more dynamic upper mantle. But recent seismic observations are challenging that idea, especially when we look near the base of the mantle. Recent studies from Maureen Long’s group (Creasy et al. 2017, Wolf et al. 2019, Reiss et al. 2019, Wolf & Long, 2023) and othe ...[Read More]

Biogeodynamics – Let’s model the entire world!

and May 15, 2024
Biogeodynamics – Let’s model the entire world!

All models are wrong, but some are useful – we all have heard this quote. But it raises several questions (including but not limited to) – What would a model of the entire world look like? Can you couple geodynamical models with climate and biological evolution models? Would these models be useful? In this week’s blog post, Timothy Gray, a PhD student from ETH Zürich is looking for ans ...[Read More]

A summer science YouTube playlist

August 2, 2023
A summer science YouTube playlist

Summer is not over yet, so today I prepared a list of science YouTube channels to check out during the lazy summer afternoons. Scientists and teachers love to share their research, experiments and insights with anyone who is willing to listen, so there are many fantastic science channels to watch. These people work hard to make science accessible for everyone, so when we’re all done watching bad s ...[Read More]

The Sassy Scientist – To Beer Or Not To Beer?

November 27, 2020
The Sassy Scientist – To Beer Or Not To Beer?

Theeerre ish noffink quite so dangerereroush as ashkink a seeeriouss question of scieeence at 18h30 on a Friday. Rudi inshtead ashks the not-at-all, definitely-not, who-me, ashking-for-a-friend queshtion: Can I get drunk at Friday Beers? Dear Rudi, Your question has more answers than asking a conference of geodynamicists what’s the best wine? With movement and beer restrictions in place, the ...[Read More]