Sun entering weakest cycle...

since 1928 according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA.) More here.

Wise words...

It is never too late to have a happy childhood.

— Tom Robbins

Truth about rabies...

More people (children) are injured by shopping carts on an annual basis than contract rabies from bats. So why the hysteria about rabid bats? Shouldn't our government do more to protect our citizens from the lurking hazards related to rogue shopping carts?

When comets attack...

you better watch out, especially if the "Tunguska event" of 1908 is any indication. Here's a new twist to the long accepted idea that a fragment of a comet or asteroid exploded in the atmosphere over Siberia, leveling ~ 800 square-miles of forests, in what was the largest non-nuclear explosion in recent history.

Hint: a big part of the object still exists. Guess where it is?

An image of Earth...

from space showing Upheaval Dome in Canyonlands National Park, Utah (click to enlarge.) The origin of this enigmatic 5.5 km diameter structure has puzzled geologists for decades, with various hypotheses being proposed that include a salt dome, a pinched-off salt diapir, volcanism, and a relict impact crater. Recent evidence in the form of microscale deformations of the rocks and minerals around this structure are consistent with a high-energy impact event.

This is a standard stop on my field trips to this area, and an excellent place to discuss multiple working hypotheses. There's a wonderful trail that circumnavigates the perimeter of the structure that I can highly recommend if you've got a full day to explore.

Image credit: NASA, ISS015-E-5983, acquired May 1, 2007.

Carbon-based lavas...

are flowing from Tanzania's Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, arguably the world's most unusual. When this type of lava crystallizes it forms a rare and peculiar volcanic rock termed carbonatite. Key bit:

"The lava expelled from the volcano is highly unusual in that it contains almost no silica and greater than 50 percent carbonate minerals. Typically lavas contain high levels of silica, which increases their melting point to above 900°C (1652°F). The lavas of Oldoinyo Lengai volcano erupt as a liquid at approximately 540°C (1004°F). This low silica content gives rise to the extremely fluid lavas, which resembles motor oil when they flow."

I've got to put this place on my "to do" list, after all, life is just one big geology field trip.

UPDATE: Here's an additional link with images about this bizarre volcano.

Hubble servicing mission 4...

to launch in less than a week. While we're waiting, here's a FAQ about the work to be performed on the aging space telescope.

Washington State observes...

Volcano Awareness Month in May. The USGS news release also announces the publication of Professional Paper 1750 on the renewed eruptions of Mount Saint Helens during 2004 to 2006.

"Crackpot geologist" Charlie Steen...

became enormously wealthy and influential by discovering uranium on the Colorado Plateau in the Moab, Utah area during the 1950s. His colorful life is summarized in this article and, despite the fame and fortune he enjoyed in his early years, his story ultimately ends in bust.

If you read and enjoy the linked article, I recommend Uranium Frenzy as a good summertime read.

Swine flu fizzles...

or so you would like to believe. The graph shown above (click to enlarge) is the history of the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918. Note the initial blip in the mortality rate in July 1918 but the real spike came the following flu season. The same pattern may occur with the swine flu, and here's an article about a potential second wave. We're not out of the woods yet.

For those detractors that say the H1N1 outbreak has been over-hyped by officials and the media, what exactly would you have preferred be done in the initial days of this event? It's easy to criticize in retrospect. Moreover, I look at it as a fire drill - to test our medical response to a modern pandemic - because some day we're really going to need it.

The Bu bro agrees: "The real test will be in the fall/winter."

Pig Latin interface...

for the Google search engine.

Unnyfay!

Postnatural environmentalism...

Op-Ed: Stop Trying to Save the Planet

Indeed, the Earth has never, ever been a static environment through all of time. So why do some expect it to remain the same forever? Perhaps they need to take a GEOL 100 course!

Hat tip: BH

Treasure trove of trilobites...

found in Portugal includes some of the largest specimens and assemblages ever discovered.

Try saying the header to this post three times - quickly.

Wise words...

I am what I am and that's all that I am.

-- Popeye (the Sailor Man)

Google engages a publicity stunt...

to divert attention from the enormous carbon footprint of its search service. The lawns at corporate headquarters were cropped by a herd of 200 eco-friendly goats, rather than being trimmed by conventional carbon-spewing lawnmowers. (Gee, I wonder how the goats got there?)

Eco-hypocrites?

Porcine pestilence update...

from the WHO and CDC. Interestingly, the CDC has confirmed the Kootenai County, Idaho swine flu case but is dragging its feet with the two suspected H1N1 patients in Spokane County. Why?

Meanwhile, as the situation develops, I recommend the following:

This book is a treasure: The Porcine Canticles. For pig lovers, by a pig lover (I particularly like the poem Racehogs.) And remember to support the pork industry!

UPDATE: Spokane County has one confirmed case (just announced this afternoon now that Bloomsday is over.)

Image credit CDC/James Gathany

World's oldest landform...

has been identified in the Negev desert in Israel. Geologists fix the age of the desert pavement surface at 1.8 million years! The long term persistence of this ancient landscape is only possible because of the arid climate and tectonic stability of the region.

How'd they date it? Why cosmogenic radionuclide dating, of course.

Ground rules...

for the meeting with EWU president Arevalo next Tuesday, 12 May, at noon in SCI 143.

Hat tip to the Bu bro for this pic.

Student wins lawsuit against teacher...

who disparaged creationism in the classroom. Admittedly, the California high school teacher's comments were more than just a little over the top.

Thank goodness for tenure!

Hat tip: CO

In recognition of Cinco de Mayo...

it seems appropriate to post a short note on some aspect of Mexican geology. So here it is:

I just lectured on human-caused land subsidence in Mexico City in my geohazards class, an on-going problem there and in other places (e.g. Las Vegas, Nevada; central valley area, California.) This occurs where rapid withdrawal of groundwater in fine-grained aquifers causes the framework to collapse and the land surface to lower in direct response.

Now go out and have a margarita and impress your friends and family with this new found knowledge.

UPDATE: It's the end of the day and I'm at home, preparing to mix a michelada. Be warned - it's muy spicy. Mmm.

"Preemptive denial"...

is a developing strategy used by climate researchers who are proponents of anthropogenic global warming (AGW) in response to conflicting data. Perfect example: the quiet Sun and potential global cooling.

Ironically, the linked article contains this concluding quote:

"There are many uncertainties," said Jose Abreu, a doctoral candidate at the Swiss government's research institute Eawag.

"We don't know the sensitivity of the climate to changes in solar intensity. In my opinion, I wouldn't play with things I don't know."

Funny. Couldn't the same thing be said of the advocates of AGW?

I'm shocked...

to learn that "distractions while driving, such as using cell phones or texting, can be dangerous."

Speechless, in fact.

Signs along the road...

on the Oregon coast.

The most prolific geologic mapper...

of all time has got to be legendary California geologist Tom Dibblee, who during his 60 year career, mapped 550 quadrangles. Wow.

I bet he was good at coloring within the lines after his first couple hundred quads.

Rare Atlantic tsunami...

may have washed ashore 2,300 years ago in the New Jersey and New York area based on evidence in 20 drill cores. The causative mechanism is not known, and speculation ranges from a megastorm to a submarine landslide to an impact event.

It could happen again.

Wise words...

Creationism is wrong; totally, utterly, and absolutely wrong. I would go further. There are degrees of being wrong. The creationists are at the bottom of the scale. They pull every trick in the book to justify their position. Indeed, at times they verge right over into the downright dishonest. Scientific Creationism is not just wrong, it is ludicrously implausible. It is a grotesque parody of human thought, and a downright misuse of human intelligence. In short, to the believer, it is an insult to God.

— Michael Ruse

Multiple moons...

on a summer field trip to Mount Rainier National Park. What the heck are they lookin' at?

Wolfram Alpha...

might give Google a run for the money in Internet search technology. The new search site launches later this month and I look forward to giving it a test drive.

Emerald Creek Garnet Area...

near Clarkia, Idaho is featured in the Spokesman-Review today. Though I've not been there I hear it's a fun activity and most diggers leave with nice finds.

More obfuscation...

and less clarity seems to be the rule these days, especially to push something that's not selling. Case in point: It's not global warming, but "our deteriorating atmosphere" according to marketers hoping to influence environmental legislation.

As a scientist I can tell you that this is extremely frustrating.

Words. Have. Meaning.

Mugshot of H1N1 virus...

from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Influenza Laboratory. It also goes by the alias "swine flu" but apparently we shouldn't use that term anymore. Link to latest info from the WHO and CDC.

US Forest Service closing caves...

to combat white-nose syndrome in bats. The fungus causing the large number of bat deaths may be carried from cave to cave by human visitors, on their gear or clothing. I wonder if they've done any actual testing of boots or clothing before implementing these restrictions? Regardless, the caves, and bats, could use a rest from visitation.

Link to previous related post. Remember: bats need friends.

EWU geology alumnus...

Charles Gulick passed away earlier this week.

Chuck earned his M.S. degree in geology about the time I joined the faculty, and he subsequently worked as a geologist for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. He is author/co-author of a number of state publications, and most recently he was heavily involved in mined land reclamation.

I remember Chuck as being an amiable fellow with a good sense of humor, a respected professional, and a big supporter of the geology program. I am greatly saddened to learn of his passing.

Time lapse from space...

Don Pettit, a NASA astronaut, shot these time lapse videos of views outside the International Space Station (ISS.) Awesome.

Footage courtesy of Don Pettit. Music courtesy of SYNTHAR.

Last flight to Hubble...

to launch in nine days, on Monday, 11 May, at 11:01 am PDT.

Wake up and smell the flowers...

on a Native Plant Society sponsored walk through Drumheller Springs Park in Spokane - at least that's what I'm doing this morning at 10 am. The walk is being led by a buddy of mine who is a geotechnical engineer, and he has identified well over 100 species of plants in the 12 acre urban wildland.

Be sure to celebrate Native Plant Appreciation Week (May 3-9, 2009.)

Thanks, plants, for being green and attractive, and for scrubbing CO2 and making oxygen. Much appreciated!

Everett Ruess found after 75 years...

of uncertainty surrounding his mysterious disappearance in the 1930s in southern Utah. Link to article describing the science behind the identification.

No spoilers here - you'll have to read the articles. I became more familiar with the Reuss mystery by reading this book as my love affair with southern Utah grew.

Update on Arctic sea ice extent...

this first day of May from the National Snow and Ice Data Center. This graph updates on a daily basis (click to enlarge.) By any measure the recovery of the Arctic ice pack is extraordinary, yet the media have yet to tell this story. Hmm.

UPDATE: The same trend of rapidly growing ice mass is also true in Antarctica as this graph shows:No story here folks. Keep moving along.

Miracle in the kitchen!

Diners report seeing Virgin Mary in food griddle.

I particularly like the "masked Mexican wrestlers" part of the story. Now you're interested, eh?

Messages from Mercury...

via the MESSENGER spacecraft reveal an interesting planet, dominated by volcanism and a titanium oxide-rich regolith. The tiny planet also possesses an oddly behaving magnetic field.

Link to NASA's MESSENGER mission home page.