PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Testing Venus - Preview to Interview with Professor Martha Gilmore Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

Well, we got to interview yet another amazing geoscientist - Professor Martha Gilmore of Wesleyan University!
Professor Gilmore is a world expert on Venus, the second planet from the sun and the target for newly announced NASA Missions in the coming decade! In this preview to the full interview with Dr. Gilmore, we discuss how she collects data on the composition of Venus - despite the atmosphere being way waaaaayyy harder to look through than Earth's!
As usual, follow us on social media and let us know what you think by sending us an email!
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Download the CampGeo app now at this link.
On the app you can get tons of free content, exclusive images, and access to our Geology of National Parks series.
You can also learn the basics of geology at the college level in our FREE CampGeo content series - get learning now!
Like, Subscribe, and leave us a Rating!
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Geothermal Energy - The Basics Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Learn all the basics of geology in our new conversational textbook - campGEO!
Available here: geo.campcourses.com
Today we get to talk about something really relevant to our everyday lives, and the future - Geothermal Energy!
Geothermal Energy is a term that means a few different things, but it all relies on the Earth being somewhat hot. So, before we dive into the question of what Geothermal Energy is, we need to figure out why the Earth is hot!
The Earth produces a ton of heat, which is really important to understand how our planet operates over long times (remember plate tectonics??). The heat comes from several sources, and some of it is left over from when the Earth formed - so some of the geothermal energy is tapping into 4.5 billion-year-old heat!
Geothermal energy takes two major forms: 1) passive geothermal heat pumps, often used in residential houses like Jesse's and 2) more active geothermal power plants that use lots of heat from the Earth!
As usual, follow us on social media and let us know what you think by sending us an email!
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Website: https://planetgeocast.com
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Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com

Common Misconceptions Part I (GeoShort) Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

There are so many misconceptions out there!
In this Geoshort episode, Jesse interviews Chris about common Geoscience misconceptions that students have regarding our planet. Jesse is pulling the questions from a list of over 500 misconceptions (link here). Chris has not been given any clues to the questions he's being asked and nothing was discussed prior to recording - join us for a fun off-the-cuff conversation!
Many of the misconceptions deal with the interior of the Earth and plate tectonic related topics. That said, they really span a lot of the material from a typical introductory level geoscience course. Join us in this fun episode and see if you have or have come across the same misconceptions. Also, we welcome suggestions that we missed on this episode as we plan to revisit this at a later time!
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Gems, Museums, and Minerals: Interview with Dr. Gabriela Farfan Sep 16, 2021

Show notes

This week is a really special one! We had the great pleasure of interviewing Dr. Gabriela Farfan, the Coralyn W. Whitney Curator of Gems and Minerals at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the United States National Museum.
Dr. Farfan is a world expert on gems and minerals, and we cover a lot! Everything from a personal look at how Dr. Farfan got into geology and minerals, the future of mineralogy as a field and in education, and why studying the mineralogy of modern corals is important! Her research is looking at how carbonate growing organisms are adapting to our changing oceans - particularly ocean acidification.
The field of mineralogy as a stand alone study is dwindling. Dr. Farfan has a great explanation as to why the study of mineralogy is important and why geology programs should keep it included.
Go back to last week's GeoShort to learn how the Smithsonian Museum gets its minerals and gems!
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How Museums Get Their Gemstones: Preview to Interview with Dr. Gabriela Farfan (GeoShort) Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

Geoscience Across the Pond: Interview with Professor Chris Jackson Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

Curious about how Geoscience goes into the future? Have you ever wondered what causes tsunamis? Ever thought about what it's like to be a minority in the Geosciences?
Professor Chris Jackson has something for everyone! Join us for one of the most interesting discussions we have had on PlanetGEO!
Professor Jackson is an incredible communicator, scientist, and steward of Geoscience. Follow him on Twitter or on his many other public talks! Also, stay tuned for Prof. Jackson's upcoming podcast series called An Adult's Guide to the Earth!
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Website: https://planetgeocast.com
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What is Sustainable Geoscience? Preview to Interview with Professor Chris Jackson (GeoShort) Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

This week we have an amazing guest! Professor Chris Jackson joins us for a short discussion on Sustainable Geoscience, what it means to him, and where he sees the future of Geoscience going.
Professor Jackson is an incredible communicator and has so many insightful thoughts that they wouldn't all fit into one single episode. So, join us next week for the full interview and until then enjoy this discussion with one of the great scientists and communicators in our field!
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Website: https://planetgeocast.com
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The Geoscientific Method: Study Design and Mass Spectrometers Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Join us for a free-ranging conversation on how Geoscience Research happens (in one lab group at least)!
Today we talk about a mass spectrometer design project that Jesse is working on, how scientists typically need to fix and modify their own instruments to get them working perfectly, and touch on how scientific inquiry can be better taught to students!
We also describe the basics of a mass spectrometer, the device that has allowed geoscientists to determine the age of the Earth, the rates of plate tectonics, and even determine when supercontinents existed back in time!
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Website: https://planetgeocast.com
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Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com

Are Continents Growing? (Geoshort) Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

This is a GeoShort followup discussion based on our previous Episode on the origins of continents and Bowen's reaction series! While Bowen's reaction series explains many things — like why is Hawaii different from Yellowstone? — it makes some very interesting predictions!
Chris wonders, does the distillation of continents during Bowen's Reaction Series mean that continents are always growing? In other words, when water gets driven off a subducting slab, it generates magma that is chemically similar to continental crust. Since subduction is so common, the continents must be growing over geologic time. And, this opens up a large discussion with very few answers. Jesse offers up two theories on how continents get destroyed over time. Listen today and follow us on social media and our new webpage!
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Website: https://planetgeocast.com
Instagram: @planetgeocast
Twitter: @planetgeocast
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Email: planetgeocast@gmail.com

Why Continents Exist: Bowen's Reaction Series Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss a fundamental principle in geology: Bowen's Reaction Series. This concept is taught in every introductory geology class as it provides answers to important questions such as why continents exist on Earth.
Bowens Reaction explains the relationship between certain minerals and the temperatures in which they form. He found that some minerals are commonly found together in igneous rocks while other minerals are excluded. In short, Bowens Reaction lays out an order in which minerals form as magma cools and also an order in which they melt as rocks are heated.
Also, knowing that minerals are most stable in the conditions in which they form, Bowens Reaction Series also explains mineral stability at the surface of Earth.
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Website: https://planetgeocast.com
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