Don't Panic Geocast

By John Leeman and Shannon Dulin

John Leeman and Shannon Dulin discuss geoscience and technology weekly for your enjoyment! Features include guests, fun paper Friday selections, product reviews, and banter about recent developments. ... more

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FAQs about Don't Panic Geocast:

How many episodes does Don't Panic Geocast have?

The podcast currently has 413 episodes available.

Don't Panic Geocast episodes:

February 14, 2025Episode 411 - "TSA Does Not Care About Your Data "
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 features! 🌍🔬 From tree rings to cosmic rays, we explore the fascinating methods geologists use to reconstruct Earth’s history and assess natural hazards.
Why Dating Landslides and Other Features is Hard
Landslides can reactivate multiple times, fluvial deposits get reworked, and glacial features have complex histories.
What are we really dating—the event, the material, or the last exposure?
Dating Techniques in Geology
Dendrochronology 🌲 – Tree rings reveal landslides, floods, and debris flows.
Radiocarbon Dating 💀 – Organic material like charcoal and buried soil horizons provide time markers.
Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) 🌞 – Measures when quartz grains were last exposed to sunlight.
Cosmogenic Nuclide Dating ☄️ – Tracks surface exposure using cosmic rays.
Other Methods – Lichen growth, volcanic ash layers, and earthquake trenching.
Fun Paper Friday
Ever wondered if your favorite neon-orange snack has hidden superpowers? This study explores how strongly absorbing molecules, like those found in food dyes, can reduce light scattering in biological tissues—making them temporarily more transparent! Researchers applied tartrazine (a common food coloring) to live mice and were able to see internal structures like blood vessels without invasive procedures. The discovery could improve biomedical imaging, but we’re mostly just fascinated that Dorito dust might have unexpected side effects!
Ou, Zihao, et al. "Achieving optical transparency in live animals with absorbing molecules." Science 385.6713 (2024): eadm6869.
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
46min
February 07, 2025Episode 410 - "GEARS OIL UTEP"
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 evolving for the future.
Fun Paper Friday
Can paranormal lights actually be tied to earthquakes?
Hough, Susan E. "Haunted Summerville: Ghostly Lights or Earthquake Lights?."
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
49min
January 24, 2025Episode 409 - "Resolutions"
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 surveys and requests, but can a chocolate bar increase the response rates?
Jamtvedt, Gro, et al. "Chocolate bar as an incentive did not increase response rate among physiotherapists: a randomised controlled trial." BMC research notes 1 (2008): 1-4.
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
1h 8min
January 17, 2025Episode 408 - "Everywhere there's cottonwood trees"
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 frictionless plane that is!
Fun Paper Friday
Bossart, Aleksi, Romain Fleury, and Benjamin Apffel. "Science of a coffee cup: a physicist walks into a bar..." arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.01180 (2025).
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
42min
December 27, 2024Episode 407 - "If you like dragons, that's important to you" Joshua Pearce
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 exciting opportunities it creates for researchers and the general public alike. Tune in for a fascinating discussion about innovation, making, and the future of accessible technology!
Joshua Pearce
Open-Source Lab: How to Build Your Own Hardware and Reduce Research Costs
Create, Share, and Save Money Using Open-Source Projects
To Catch the Sun: Inspiring stories of communities coming together to harness their own solar energy, and how you can do it too!
Feeding Everyone No Matter What: Managing Food Security After Global Catastrophe
@ProfPearce
Fun Paper Friday
This Study Was Hailed as a Win for Science Reform. Now It’s Being Retracted.
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
1h 13min
December 21, 2024Episode 406 - "Taking in all the really interesting things"
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 core." Nature 602.7896 (2022): 258-262.
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
58min
December 07, 2024Episode 405 - "Getting Tensor"
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 zones in the field, examine their widths at different depths, and analyze the breakage patterns and deformation features that define them.
Definition of faults and why they matter in geological studies: USGS - Earthquake Glossary
Importance of identifying faults for earthquake research and infrastructure planning: Seismic Hazard and Risk - IRIS
Indicators such as fault scarps, offset layers, and linear valleys: Geology.com - Recognizing Faults
Explanation of slickensides and fault breccia: Fault Surface Features - ScienceDirect
How vegetation and water accumulation signal fault traces: Hydrology and Fault Zones - Nature
Observing stratigraphic offsets and deformation in rock layers: Structural Geology Basics - USGS
Characteristics of shattered rock zones and mylonites: Mylonites in Fault Zones - Geological Society
Narrow zones in brittle rocks vs. wider zones in thrust faults: Fault Zone Width Variability - ResearchGate
Examples of strike-slip vs. thrust faults: Geological Features of Faults - Springer
Discussion of fault core and damage zone broadening: Deep Fault Zones - ScienceDirect
How depth impacts fault geometry: Fault Depth Behavior - Wiley Online
Fault breccia and gouge as indicators of brittle behavior: Fault Breccia Properties - GeoscienceWorld
Hazards like landslides and slope instability: Fault Zone Hazards - USGS
Fun Paper Friday
Are those Christmas puddings good for you?
Wallach, Joshua D., et al. "Association of health benefits and harms of Christmas dessert ingredients in recipes from The Great British Bake Off: umbrella review of umbrella reviews of meta-analyses of observational studies." bmj 383 (2023).
## Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
57min
November 29, 2024Episode 404 - "So Many Paperclips"
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 formation, mining, processing, and its growing importance in the energy revolution. We also dive into exciting developments in Arkansas, which could make the U.S. a major player in domestic lithium production.
Learn More:
Pegmatite Geology - USGS
Lithium in Clays - Nature
Lithium Triangle Overview - Mining Technology
Hard Rock Lithium Mining - Geology.com
Lithium Extraction from Pegmatites - Minerals Education Coalition
Brine Extraction Methods - International Energy Agency
Clay-Based Lithium Extraction - ScienceDirect
Lithium in Batteries - Energy Storage Journal
Environmental Impacts of Lithium Mining - Earthworks
Arkansas Lithium Resources - USGS
Direct Lithium Extraction Explained - Mining Journal
Arkansas Mining Projects - Reuters
Fun Paper Friday
Can geomagnetic storms change flight characteristics and drag on satellites? This week we find out.
Parker, William E., and Richard Linares. "Satellite Drag Analysis During the May 2024 Geomagnetic Storm." arXiv preprint arXiv:2406.08617 (2024).
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
51min
November 22, 2024Episode 403 - "My Dad Caught my Mom's Pants on Fire"
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 electronics, medicine, and aerospace, this episode explores the fascinating journey of gold and why it continues to captivate us today.
Learn More:
Gold - Royal Society of Chemistry
Gold's Physical and Chemical Properties - Geology.com:
Gold Formation - USGS
Orogenic Gold Deposits - Earth Science Reviews
Gold Mining Methods - World Gold Council
Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASM) - UNEP
Applications of Gold - Royal Society of Chemistry
Gold in Medicine - The Lancet
Environmental Impacts of Gold Mining - Earthworks
Fun Paper Friday
Can pee be used to 3D print homes on the moon?
Pilehvar, Shima, et al. "Utilization of urea as an accessible superplasticizer on the moon for lunar geopolymer mixtures." Journal of Cleaner Production 247 (2020): 119177.
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
51min
November 15, 2024Episode 402 - "Shoes in a dryer on turbo"
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 shaped economies, inspired legends, and powers modern technology. From its formation in Earth’s crust to the precise science of extraction and refining, we’ll explore how silver’s unique properties make it indispensable in everything from solar panels to medical tools. Tune in to learn why this shiny element is more valuable—and more complicated—than you might think!
Hydrothermal Ore Deposits - Earth Science Reviews
Geology of Silver - US Geological Survey
Sedimentary Ore Deposits - Journal of Geology
Mining Methods - Open Pit and Underground - Minerals Education Coalition
Underground Mining Techniques and Risks - World Coal Association
Froth Flotation Process - Journal of Chemical Engineering
The Leaching Process in Silver Extraction - Environmental Chemistry
Merrill-Crowe Process for Silver Recovery - Mining Engineering
Electrowinning Process in Silver Extraction - Metallurgy and Mining Review
Smelting and Refining of Silver - International Smelting Association
Electrolytic Refining of Silver - American Journal of Chemistry
Conductivity of Silver in Electronics - IEEE Transactions on Electrical Engineering
Silver in Solar Panels - Solar Energy Journal
Medical Applications of Silver - The Lancet
History of Silver in Currency - Economic History Journal
The Role of Silver in Photography - Journal of Photographic Science
Economic Significance of Silver - World Silver Survey
Environmental Impacts of Silver Mining - Environmental Science & Technology
Supply and Demand of Silver - International Silver Council
Antimicrobial Properties of Silver - Journal of Applied Microbiology
Fun Paper Friday
Can seeing a bad (dad) joke actually make you funnier? This week’s Fun Paper Friday dives into the surprising effects of both funny and unfunny examples on our ability to create humor. It turns out that even groan-worthy jokes can fuel creativity—though they might make you work harder for the punchline!
Shin, Hyelim, et al. "Creative fixation is no laughing matter: The effects of funny and unfunny examples on humor production." The Journal of Creative Behavior 54.2 (2020): 487-494.
Contact us:
Show
Support us on Patreon!
www.dontpanicgeocast.com
@dontpanicgeo
[email protected]
John Leeman
www.johnrleeman.com
@geo_leeman
Shannon Dulin
@ShannonDulin
...more
45min

FAQs about Don't Panic Geocast:

How many episodes does Don't Panic Geocast have?

The podcast currently has 413 episodes available.

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