The Dolomite Problem: 2023 year in geo-review: Hello from Austin! With the city shut down due to icy conditions, I thought it a good time to dust off some of my favorite geologic items from last year, including an incredible scientific discovery, an undercovered news story, and, of course, some favorite books. And if this is your first time reading
Jan. 15, 2024, 5:35 p.m.
The Case for Geoengineering: Solar Radiation Modification as a Necessary Climate Solution: Welcome to the twenty-one new subscribers who have joined Unearthed since the last post! Today, we have a doozy lined up: Geoengineering. Geoengineering entails the intentional modification of earth’s climate for human purposes, such as stopping global warming or preventing an ice age. But, dear reader, this is not a topic for polite cocktail party chatter, because an intentional intervention into the Eart
April 27, 2023, 1:15 p.m.
The goblin metal: cobalt and the "curse" of electrification: It’s a story that practically writes itself: the metal that powers our glimmering screens and sleek electric cars has a dark side lurking in the depths of the Congo, where cobalt is mined under truly horrific conditions. The underbelly of electrification is the same bleak hinterland of Conrad and Kurtz, the very country ravaged by King Leopold of Belgium, where today the Congolese people still pay the price for our insatiable thirst fo
Feb. 27, 2023, 1:33 p.m.
2022 Year in Review: Books, Music Algorithms, and AI Art: Welcome to the 132 folks who have subscribed since my last post! Whenever I am forced to introduce myself in an awkward big group, I like to say that, in addition to being a geologist and a Texan, I am a big reader. Last year I read 42 books, and my readers may find some of them relevant. So, I have chosen a few to surface to you, along with some self-indulgent highlights of the music and AI art I consumed this year.
Jan. 16, 2023, 3:13 p.m.
The boogeyman of oil and gas subsidies : Is oil and gas subsidized or taxed? For every dollar spent on production, two dollars are paid to governments. On average, fossil fuels are taxed to the tune of $1.3 TRILLION per year. The truth is, oil and gas production unlocks tremendous value -- most of which is captured by governments.
Dec. 22, 2022, 2:58 p.m.
Bad news for birthday balloons: the global helium shortage and its geologic origins: You likely don’t know it unless you work in the balloon department at Party City, but we are currently in the middle of a global helium shortage. On January 5th, Russia’s Amur processing plant exploded, removing significant global supply of the gas. With sanctions keeping western European engineers from entering the country, the plant has been left unrepaired, and helium prices have spiked. Undoubtedly most read
Oct. 25, 2022, 11:25 p.m.
What Formed the Swimming Holes of the Texas Hill Country?: Every summer, my friends and I, like many Austinites, take shelter from the sweltering heat by submerging ourselves in one of the area’s many swimming holes. Sitting in that cool, spring-fed water, underneath leafy cypress trees, it’s hard not to feel your troubles melt away.
Oct. 15, 2022, 9:15 p.m.
