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!

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin

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, the journey from mining to electricity generation, and the transition we’re witnessing as the world moves toward renewable energy sources. We wrap up with a Fun Paper Friday that challenges the classic "Infinite Monkeys Theorem"—could monkeys really type out Shakespeare if given enough time?

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin

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 minerals like salt, gold, and coal influenced historical events and continue to impact modern geopolitics. This week we start with salt and how it is essential to many aspects of our day to day.

This week's Fun Paper Friday features a study on the leaf-mimicking abilities of Boquila trifoliolata. The vine is capable of changing the shape and size of its leaves to resemble those of neighboring plants, potentially as a form of camouflage against herbivores. But the most surprising part? It can even mimic artificial plastic leaves. This finding challenges existing theories that leaf mimicry is driven solely by chemical signaling or genetic exchange between plants, suggesting instead that Boquila may possess a form of plant vision through specialized light-sensitive cells called “plant ocelli.” This discovery opens new possibilities for understanding plant sensory and adaptive behaviors.

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin

In our 400th episode, we take a moment to reflect on some of our favorite past episodes and Fun Paper Fridays that have brought joy, knowledge, and a good laugh to the show. From memorable guests to quirky science papers, this episode is a tribute to everything that makes the Don't Panic Geocast special. Join us for this nostalgia-packed episode where we look back at the highlights of 399 episodes!

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making its way into academic research and writing, offering a range of tools that can help streamline workflows, enhance creativity, and improve productivity. In this episode, John and Shannon dive into some of the AI tools they’ve been experimenting with and discuss broader questions about fairness, disclosure, and the evolving role of AI in academia.

So if AI takes over the world, what would it take to destory it? A solar flare should do it, and maybe us, in.

This week, we delve into the fascinating world of the ancient dwelling mounds—terps—of the northern Netherlands. These man-made mounds served as elevated homes for communities living in low-lying, flood-prone areas. Join us as we explore the geology of these mounds, why they were essential for survival, and how modern technology is used to monitor soil subsidence and preserve these unique archaeological sites.

In this episode’s Fun Paper Friday, we discuss B.F. Skinner’s “Pigeons in a Pelican.” The paper recounts the story of "Project Pigeon," a World War II experiment that explored using pigeons to guide missiles by pecking at visual targets. Though the project faced skepticism and was never implemented in combat, it highlighted the potential of animal training and laid a foundation for behaviorist research. The study is a testament to how creative ideas can push the boundaries of science, even if they seem outlandish at first.

Skinner, B. F. (1960). Pigeons in a Pelican.

This week John and Shannon summarize the GEARS 2024 workshop, lessons learned, and talk about a record air pressure that was just a fluke.

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin

Learn about the explosion at Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin site and what it means for the park. We also talk about drunk fruit flies and what they are teaching us about alcoholism.

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin

This week we look at a geological oddity in Turkmenistan and see how getting a puppy can give you the blues.

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin

We went to watch Twisters and review it from the standpoint of two people who have chased storms professionally. Also what do philosophers have to say about the original movie and its mythological reconsiliations?

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John Leeman

Shannon Dulin