As well as eating and drinking, Christmas is traditionally a time for doing very little. In celebration of this, we’ve compiled a few geological ways to pass the time during the holiday. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: December 2011
All in a whorl
We knew we were in for it when we chose a picture library image of an unidentified ammonite for the cover of the November issue of Geoscientist. So far reactions have been of two kinds – compliments on the graphic design, and complaints regarding the lack of diagnosis. So, hoping to move on beyond the … Continue reading
Farewell to the Antarctic
Seeing the huts of these early expeditions and experiencing in a slight way what the weather can be like here, even at the height of summer, brings a new dimension to, and a deeper appreciation of the achievements of the Scott and Shackleton expeditions. Continue reading
Christmas gift idea!
Back in 2009, the cover of Geoscientist carried an image scanned from a fragment of Paesina Stone from Tuscany – a silty limestone formed during the Cretaceous Period and marked with a fine network of cracks through which groundwater has diffused, bringing colourful oxides of various minerals. This stunning image had been created by Richard … Continue reading
Communicating geology in the digital age
When the news broke on Friday that a new Icelandic eruption could be on the way, it didn’t take long for it to spread. This hasn’t always been the case. In its early years, the physics of geological communication was simple – involving nothing more than oscillations of pressure transmitted through a gas – talking. Continue reading
The Ross Sea Ice Shelf and beyond
Extending east from Cape Crozier, the front of the Ross Ice Shelf is a 30 metre high vertical wall of ice. It’s a remarkable feature, especially when you realise that it’s fresh water, it’s floating, and about 90% of it is underwater. With an area of 487,000 square kilometres, the Ross Ice Shelf is the … Continue reading