Recent earthquake (orange dot) on Sept. 12, 2019 (via USGS) After a slow start with my research, I’m hoping that things will begin to move along much faster this fall. To help with the momentum, I’ve scheduled a meeting with my PhD committee, however, the best day to do so is tomorrow – Friday the 13th….
Again, Ugh…Social Media
While doing some research for a new blog post, I took a break from writing by taking a trip over to Facebook again, and unfortunately found something else to write about: I’ve seen this image before and apparently it’s making the rounds again. Based on what you see here, with no additional text or context…
Microscopic Meteorites Are All Around Us
Various types of micrometeorites (credit: © Jon Larsen) In 1970, a machine was rigged onto a high-altitude atmospheric balloon and sent 21.7 miles (35 km) into the sky over Texas. The machine, lovingly named the Vacuum Monster after a creature in The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine movie, collected microscopic particles as small as two micrometers (microns) in diameter….
The Google Chrome Dinosaur Game
On occasion, my home Internet router will reboot itself for reasons unknown to myself, and during one such instance recently, I was left realizing how much that I rely on the Internet these days and was unable to do much without it. However, since I use the Google Chrome browser, I was able to play…
The Norphlet Crater: When A Good Well Goes Bad
Hidden in the woods of Union County, Arkansas, a large unassuming sinkhole housing a small pond called the Norphlet Crater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Although it’s easy to overlook, this hole in the ground has quite a story to tell about the early days of the oil…
The Fatal First Natural Gas Well in Southern Arkansas
At 2:10 pm on Thursday, April 22, 1920, the small town of El Dorado, in Union County, Arkansas was busily going about its day. Over a dozen miles northwest, a drilling rig had just finished drilling the first productive oil well in Arkansas six days prior, the Hunter No. 1. However, just two miles[1] southwest of…
Apollo 11 50th Anniversary: The Lunar Minerals
The MOOOOOOOOON!!! (image: Wikimedia) 50 years ago today, Apollo 11 accomplished the bold feat of landing on the Moon and not only did they walk on the Moon, they brought back some of it with them on their return for study. Some bits of lunar rock found their way to becoming thin sections, which you…
The Research Diaries #2: Field season!
Measuring section and bagging samples in Marion County, Arkansas looking for clues from the Ordovician in some cherty dolostones. When you can’t find a Jacob’s staff in the office, you grab a broom stick and make your own…with black, semi-goth duck tape! Now to figure out how to cut slabs, make thin sections, and make…
Historical Topographic Maps of Fayetteville
Of all of the many types of maps that have been made for one purpose or another, I find one of the most enjoyable kind to look at are the old USGS topographic maps. These types have been made since 1879 (which also was the year that USGS was established) and thus, depict the human world that…
Ugh….Social Media
On a rare occasion when I visit Facebook, I’ll run across a post on my feed from someone who, for good humor or not, has shared an image, video, or link related to geoscience. Naturally, that makes me very happy and almost willing to comment on social media (I don’t usually partake in many social…