Green Gabbro

Drill, Baby, Drill... for Geothermal!

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:28:18 -0500

A week ago, the USGS updated its official estimates of U.S. geothermal energy resources for the first time in over 30 years. During the past three decades, we've made significant progress on technology to exploit geothermal energy in areas where there's plenty of heat in the ground, but no natural hydrogeologic plumbing system to help us exploit it. In other words: We are much better at cracking rocks underground than we used to be.

Assuming that this type of rock-cracking technology (aka "enhanced" geothermal systems) continues to work out as well as expected, the new study estimates that the equivalent of 50% of the nation's current electricity supply is just sitting around in the ground in the Western U.S. That's less than the 150% of current electricity that we could get if we blanketed the windiest 6% of the nation in windmills (source), but it is still nothing to sniff at.

Here's where we should be drilling:

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

In Which I Want Your Money: Donors Choose Challenge 2008

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:25:18 -0500

I've seen the geoblogosphere periodically erupt in harrumphing about the way geology is treated (and by "treated" we usually mean "ignored") in K-12 education. Well, now's our chance to fix that. Budget cuts and the No Child Left Behind Act mean that science is getting squeezed out of elementary school classrooms. Teachers know that their students love science, and are determined to keep them engaged, but they don't have the resources they need.

That's where you come in.

Donors Choose is a nonprofit organization designed to help you help schools tackle the projects you think are important. They gather proposals from public school teachers, and handle all the money stuff; you pick out the proposals that seem most compelling, and provide students with desperately-needed educational resources.

I've highlighted several projects that will bring low-tech hands-on Earth science to kids across the country: rock and mineral kits, stream tables, and basic lab supplies like notebooks and safety goggles.

All of the projects are at "high poverty" schools - at least 40% of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, meaning that their families earn 130% or less of the federal poverty line. And by "federal poverty line" I mean "supporting a family of 4 on a grad student's salary". These are not classrooms where parents will chip in to buy the latest educational doohickeys; these are classrooms where parents can barely afford pencils.

Since my partner's grad student salary only supports two people right now, and not four, I figure we can spare ten bucks. If we can spare ten bucks, so can you - and if everyone who reads this blog throws $10 into the pot, we can bring several hundred kids ~~to the Dark Side~~ the joys of geology.

Seed Media Group, the ScienceBorg corporate mothership, has put up matching money for the past two years' challenges. I don't have details about matching funds for this year's challenge, but I am assuming that some will be forthcoming. Moreover, a few projects on my challenge slate have also been sponsored with matching funds from other charitable foundations. Pick one of these, and your $10 will turn into $30! That's a much better deal than the $5 special at your local greasy noodle emporium; pack sandwiches for the rest of the week, and give your lunch money to support public schools.

I'll be writing much more in the coming month about the individual projects you should support, the glory that will accrue to the geoblogosphere as we create a nation of budding young geoscientists, and the fabulous prizes you can win by donating (save your donation thank-you email!). For now, though, please take a few moments to browse through some of the projects that need funding. Which do you like? Are there any listed by Donors Choose that you think I should include in the challenge?

Read the comments on this post...

New Accretionary Wedge!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:19:18 -0500

This month's geoblog carnival is on Geologeeeee.... innnn... SPAAAAAAACE!!1! - you simply must click through to see the cover.
If you need more geoblog goodness, Lutz at geoberg.de is working on a complete list of the entire geoblogosphere! See it in English or German. There are currently 101 blogs on the list, more than twice as many as covered by Callan's geoblogosphere survey results. Guess it's time to update my blogroll... (h/t: NOVA Geoblog)
Conversely, if you need a perspective check from non-geologists, go read what freelance writers think is interesting about a volcano photograph.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

Reminder: Seattle Millionth Comment Party Today

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:58:14 -0500

TODAY! TODAY TODAY! Come party with me, Sandra, Dave, and GrrlScientist in the upper mezzanine at Ozzie's, 105 W. Mercer St. just behind the Space Needle*.

Some of the Seattle Skeptics are showing up, and later on, a few folks from the Pacific Science Center. Meet lots of people who care about science and science education, and drink beer (or orange juice, you know, if you're into that sort of thing) on Seed's dime! We'll buy the first couple of rounds, at least, and keep going until we run out of budget.

We'll start at 4 and carry on until... um, I'm not sure how long we'll carry on, but I promised my Science Center friend that we'd be there until at least 6:30.

Hope to see you there!

*I refuse to call it Seattle Center. Dumbest name EVAR, especially for something that is decidedly off-center from downtown.

Read the comments on this post...

What Planet is my Clafoutis From?

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:38:46 -0500

Like so many moments of culinary inspiration, this plum clafoutis is nothing like what I was thinking of prior to actually wandering into the kitchen to make dinner.

I was going to make pancake dome pancakes.

Pancake domes are features on Venus. They are so named because they look like pancakes:

Actually, they are volcanoes.

It would be trivial to make a batch of ordinary pancakes, point out the uncanny resemblance, and call it a day; it would also be cheating. Pancake dome pancakes should erupt. This, from Stofan et al. 2000 ¹, is roughly the mechanism I wanted:

Moreover, I wanted to do this with ingredients I had on hand that needed to be used up. This led me to think of using kale leaves to encourage the formation of a central vent, with some kind of watery homemade applesauce concoction as the lava. Except I wasn't sure about getting the applesauce to boil and erupt before the bottom of the pancake burned - maybe it would help if I used vodka and/or egg and/or baking soda and vinegar in the applesauce? With more kale on the bottom?

The longer I thought about it, the more delicious the pancake dome pancakes became - and by "delicious" I mean "horrifying".

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

Carnival of Feminists #65

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:08:50 -0500

Welcome to the 65th biweekly showcase of the feminist blogosphere! Here's just a taste of what's inside:

Owning privilege is not about feeling ashamed, it is about acknowledging the benefits that one receives without having to work for them.
And now today an excited colleague announced that he had just discovered this totally new concept on the internet: white privilege! Even though I've been teaching the idea for over a decade, and it's even discussed in our textbook, it was news to him.
Not a lesbian, not homosexual, but 'gay' with such venom I swear her eyes turned red, smoke came charging out of her ears and she was probably trying to get god to strike me down to hell where I stood.
Given that, one would have to wonder, what would a chimp do with human breasts?

But First: Internet Community Service

This is from Zuska:

I received an email from Dr. Kimberly Fairchild, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Manhattan College, asking for help in recruiting participants for a survey she is conducting. Kimberly is interested in the relationship between early experiences with catcalling and current experiences. The survey she is currently conducting is an extension of her dissertation work. The survey is women-only, completely voluntary, and should only take about 20 minutes to complete. Kimberly has promised to report back to me with the final results next spring, so hopefully I can share them with you here.

If you would like to participate, the link is here. Please remember this is for women only and is voluntary. Kimberly asks me to thank any of you who are willing to take time to participate in this short survey. If you have any comments about the survey, they should be sent to

stranger DOT harassment DOT survey AT gmail DOT com

Please do NOT post them in the comments here, so as not taint others' responses.

And if you are a woman who has left the academic science pipeline after completing a Ph.D., Shelly Heller wants you.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

Minarrrralogy for Pirates

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:08:15 -0500

Shiver me timbers, I almost forgot! What five minerals would a pirate want to know?

pyrite
arrrsenopyrite
arrragonite
cinnabarrrr
feldsparrrr

Read the comments on this post...

5 Minerals Every Dabbler Should Know

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:42:50 -0500

While I was away, the rest of the geoblogosphere spent some time creating a list of 50 minerals to see before you die, and then ticking off which ones they've done; Dave Schumaker put together a neat tag cloud to display the results.

Intimidated by the length of this list, Callan, Kim, EffJot, Geology Happens, and Silver Fox have come up with shorter, more focused lists of the 5 minerals they would introduce to earth science n00bs. They are mostly focused on minerals that are "important" in the sense that they play significant roles in geological processes.

As a geophysicist and mostly-physical hydrogeologist, I do most of my thinking about the Earth and other planets without reference to minerals. Occasionally I need to consider them because they possess particular physical properties, like slipperiness, a tendency to flocculate, or the ability to conduct seismic waves faster in one direction than another. Usually, though, the mineralogy of a sample is a source of shiny curiosities whose significance is best interpreted by someone else.

As a geophysicist/physical hydrogeologist who impersonates a real geologist on the Internet, I am often called to reach well beyond my mineralogical expertise, usually by people who have a mystery rock in their hands. So the minerals I think are important to be familiar with are those that are (1) visible and interesting in hand samples, and (2) likely to be useful when I'm engaged in ~~blatant lies~~ ~~bluffing~~ educated speculation.

After the jump: Five minerals that will make you sound smart.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

The Rusty King of All Metals

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:01:58 -0500

Sometimes Google Books throws up some interesting results:

The knowledge of Geology seems to be requisite in all states and pursuits of life. The artisan and the mechanic, are benefited by the mineral products of the earth; without Iron alone, (the rusty king of all metals,) man could not exist in a civilized state, for, from the weighty hammer and the delicate needle comes most of the power, that man possesses in the mechanical arts. The agriculturalist is assisted by a knowledge of the rocks, which compose the base of the material of the soil which he is cultivating - practical men have often found out that soil which is the most congenial to the plants they intend to raise, but with the knowledge of Geology, their strength would be supported, and their practice made more perfect. [...]

Even to the well-digger, a certain knowledge of the dip and make of the rock is requisite, that he may know how deep he must descend, and whether water can be obtained, and if attainable at all, at what spot. [...] To the miner, as it gives him the dip and the strike of the rocks, and may show him when the mine will be flooded, the knowledge of this science is of the foremost importance, whether it is intended to mine for coal, the ores of metals, or even in quarrying stone. Many more instances might be adduced, to show the usefulness of Geology; but as it expands the mind, being a matter of fact study, this alone, is sufficient to recommend it more generally.

-- Issachar Cozzens, Jr., 1843, A Geological History of Manhattan or New York Island

You can download the PDF yourself, if you're so inclined.

Read the comments on this post...

Blogosphere Administration (and bonus liquid nitrogen recipe)

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:24:08 -0500

A few more announcements while I'm catching up with the blogonets:

I will be hosting the next edition of the Carnival of Feminists on September 24. Please send me your best recent women-in-science posts (or non-sciencey feminist-oriented posts, if you must) by the 22nd, using the carnival submission form or regular ol' email.
Geobloggers! Please take Callan Bentley's survey, if you haven't already. He needs your input by Monday - and I am super-curious to see results from as complete a sample as possible.
From my favorite nerdy haute cuisine blog, a recipe for liquid nitrogen rum raisin balls... except that they cook off the alcohol before freezing it, for some reason.

Read the comments on this post...

Attention Seattle (and everyone else)

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:40:48 -0500

For those of you who don't actually read any other ScienceBlogs (hi, Mom): We're approaching the one meeeellionth comment here at the ScienceBorg! This means there's a contest! If you submit a comment with a valid email address between... um, whenever the contest started, and whenever it is that the millionth comment is posted, which is coming up pretty darn quick now... you will be entered to win a trip for two to New York City, including dinner with your favorite ScienceBorgling and other geeky adventures courtesy the Seed Mothership. Here are the official contest rules.

For those of you who do not win, there will still be parties - and yes, that means free beer.

I will be partying with Sandra Porter, Dave Bacon, and Grrl Scientist on September 27th. The shindig starts at 4pm at Ozzie's, which is located near-ish the Space Needle at 105 W. Mercer St.

Seattle readers, please let me know if you think you will make it - if we have enough people we get our very own bartender. Non-Seattle readers, there might still be a free booze readerfest near you - check here for information about other parties worldwide.

If you still need to enter the contest, feel free to speculate about the nature of my participation in the institution of marriage. I threw a couple of choice wedding photos below the fold to get you started.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

You Know You're Marrying a Geologist When...

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:42:18 -0500

You scour eBay looking for zircon engagement rings. Zircons are forever.
During the wedding portraits, you keep hearing the words "for scale"
Who knew REI had a bridal section?
Altar? I thought you said meet me at the outcrop!
She asks the musicians to slow down at any interesting unconformities exposed in the Canyon in D
Your gift registry has its own GSA or AGU session
Your vows include a promise not to take each other for granite
You suggest following that up with a promise not to be fault-finders with each other, and she nearly dumps you
She keeps asking if you've tried licking it
She asks you to rub it against your teeth
You honeymoon in Hawai'i without ever seeing the beach... because you are at the active flows or the summit caldera the whole time.

I'm getting hitched today. Comment moderation will be nonexistent for the next week - the honeymoon is sadly not in Hawai'i, but it is far away from the Internets.

And I know there should be something in there about a Brunton, but couldn't quite figure out where. Anyone? Bueller?

Read the comments on this post...

The Science of Deliciousness

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:00:48 -0500

It might be Labor Day, but summer isn't really over until the blackberries are gone. Since it's harvest season and I'm still on leave from the workforce, I've been spending my time figuring out clever things to do with the bountiful produce of my neighborhood's back alleys. (Tonight: lemon verbena drops and blackberry meringue pie.)

Hoping to bring a little more order to the proceedings after a failed blackberry fish sauce, I cracked open Kitchen Mysteries: Revealing the Science of Cooking, written by one of the gurus of high tech haute cuisine, Hervé This.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

The Sedimentary Geology of Ice Cream

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:53:25 -0500

I had to finish off the series. Happy Friday, everyone.

Read the comments on this post...

The Metamorphic Petrology of Ice Cream

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:39:25 -0500

I was struck by the similarity of these two images. Which one does your dentist want you to eat?

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...