Don't Panic Geocast

We're hitting the open road — geologically speaking. This episode kicks off our new state-by-state series covering the most fascinating, scenic, or just plain weird geologic stops in the U.S. We’re g…

What makes a mineral a favorite? In this fun and down-to-earth episode, John and Shannon swap stories about the minerals they love most — and why. Along the way, they unpack cool crystal habits, form…

We're back from summer break - Shannon taught field camp, John travelled for work and got hailed on, and more!

• John’s Hail Storm

Fun Paper Friday

• How does modern AI stack up against a cognition…

This week we talk about how we power our instruments in the field and all of the weird and wonderful ways they fail. Including getting turned into charcoal by lightning!

Fun Paper Friday

• Why does …

This week we talk hail, Vesuvius, volcanic bombs, and vitrified brains.

• Scandone, Roberto, Lisetta Giacomelli, and Mauro Rosi. "Death, Survival and Damage during the 79 AD Eruption of Vesuvius whic…

Shannon's class took a trip to study catestrophic sedimentation... and they found it! John switched back to a Mac after 5 years. Join us for these and other exciting updates!

Fun Paper Friday

• Find…

• Turner Falls, Oklahoma

  • A rare waterfall that grows outward due to travertine deposition instead of eroding backward.
    
  • Formed by spring-fed Honey Creek flowing through Ordovician limestone, creati…

This week we talk about snow forecasting as the winter season starts to wrap up and try to figure out if you're really happier in the morning or not!

Fun Paper Friday

• https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/…

Ever wondered how geologists figure out when a landslide happened? Or how ancient river terraces and glacial deposits get dated? This week, we dive into the detective work behind dating geomorphic fe…

We just wrapped up our first-ever on-site GEARS Workshop at UTEP and it was a massive success! 🎉 Tune in as we break down the highlights, what we learned, and how this hands-on geoscience training is…

This week, it's time for our 2025 resolutions show, where we see how we can improve this year and discuss everything that's changed in the past year!

Fun Paper Friday

• We are all overloaded with su…

This week we wrap up our finding faults show started oh so long ago! Learn how to identify faults in the field and then relax with a coffee with a physicist! A perfectly spherical coffee on a frictio…

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Joshua Pearce to the show! We dive into the world of open-source hardware for academic labs, the challenges and rewards of open-sourcing projects, and the excitin…

Shannon went to AGU and we're updated on the meeting and what cool new science things she saw!

Fun Paper Friday

• He, Yu, et al. "Superionic iron alloys and their seismic velocities in Earth’s inner…

Faults are fractures in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred, creating features that are critical to understanding geological processes. In this episode, we explore how to recognize fault zo…

Lithium, often called "white gold," is a critical resource powering modern technologies like electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and more. This week, we explore lithium's geological fo…

Gold has been a symbol of wealth, beauty, and power for millennia, but its importance extends far beyond jewelry and currency. From its formation deep in the Earth’s crust to its critical uses in ele…

Ever wondered how silver journeys from ancient rock formations to the tech in your pocket? In this episode of Don't Panic Geocast, we dig deep into the fascinating world of silver—the metal that's sh…

This week, we dive into the fascinating world of coal—its origins, types, and the role it has played in shaping economies, past and present. We discuss coal’s formation in ancient swampy environments…

Throughout human history, certain minerals have held immense power, shaping economies, societies, and entire civilizations. In this economic rocks series, John and Shannon discuss how essential miner…