Best Geophysics Podcasts (2024)

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233: Unveiling the Earth's Critical Zone through a Geophysics Lens 22:56

23h ago22:56

22:56

"The critical zone are the things that impact humans and animals on the earth, more so than a lot of other parts that geophysicists might study."Kamini Singha explores the fascinating world of the Earth's critical zone. This episode uncovers the significance of this thin skin of the Earth and its profound impact on human and ecological systems. In …

1
Colossal 'jets' shooting from a black hole defy physicists' theories 34:13

3h ago34:13

34:13

In this episode: 00:45 The biggest black hole jets ever seen Astronomers have spotted a pair of enormous jets emanating from a supermassive black hole with a combined length of 23 million light years — the biggest ever discovered. Jets are formed when matter is ionized and flung out of a black hole, creating enormous and powerful structures in spac…

1
Ocean voyages and disease spread 10:06

1h ago10:06

10:06

How pathogen stowaways traversed the oceans Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broa…

1
Ancient DNA debunks Rapa Nui ‘ecological suicide’ theory 41:41

7d ago41:41

41:41

In this episode: 00:45 What ancient DNA has revealed about Rapa Nui’s past Ancient DNA analysis has further demonstrated that the people of Rapa Nui did not cause their own population collapse, further refuting a controversial but popular claim. Rapa Nui, also known as Easter island, is famous for its giant Moai statues and the contested idea that …

1
The baseless stat that could be harming Indigenous conservation efforts 14:29

7d ago14:29

14:29

The often repeated claim that "80% of the world's biodiversity is found in the territories of Indigenous Peoples" appears widely in policy documents and reports, yet appears to have sprung out of nowhere. According to a group of researchers, including those from Indigenous groups, this baseless statistic could be undermining the conservation effort…

1
Episode 396 - "Please Don't Call the FBI" GEARS 2024 53:34

7d ago53:34

53:34

This week John and Shannon summarize the GEARS 2024 workshop, lessons learned, and talk about a record air pressure that was just a fluke. Fun Paper Friday Bureau of Meteorology says quality checks reveal air pressure record not broken, miscalculations published online Contact us: Show Support us on Patreon! www.dontpanicgeocast.com @dontpanicgeo d…

1
Long-sought 'nuclear clocks' are one tick closer 31:24

9d ago31:24

31:24

In this episode: 00:45 Why a 'nuclear clock' is now within researchers’ reach Researchers have made a big step towards the creation of the long theorized nuclear clock, by getting the most accurate measurement of the frequency of light required to push thorium nuclei into a higher energy state. Such a timekeeper would differ from the best current c…

1
First Word - September 2024 6:45

9d ago6:45

6:45

Summary On the first of each month, GBA Executive Director Joel Carson provides an inside look at the latest GBA member resources, events, and news. These short and information-packed videos will make you and your firm smarter, stronger, and more successful! Links to resources referenced in this video: 2025 GBA Annual Conference New Mine Tailings S…

1
Why twisters target the United States 10:44

13d ago10:44

10:44

Why “Tornado Alley” is unique to North America Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a b…

1
Audio long read: So you got a null result. Will anyone publish it? 17:44

14d ago17:44

17:44

The 'file-drawer problem', where findings with null or negative results gather dust and are left unpublished, is well known in science. There has been an overriding perception that studies with positive or significant findings are more important, but this bias can have real-world implications, skewing perceptions of drug efficacies, for example. Mu…

1
Covert racism in AI chatbots, precise Stone Age engineering, and the science of paper cuts 20:40

16d ago20:40

20:40

In this episode: 00:31 Chatbots makes racist judgements on the basis of dialect Research has shown that large language models, including those that power chatbots such as ChatGPT, make racist judgements on the basis of users’ dialect. If asked to describe a person, many AI systems responded with racist stereotypes when presented with text written i…

1
Episode 395 - "Pressure Finds a Way" 39:47

21d ago39:47

39:47

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. Fun Paper Friday Heberlein, Ulrike. "Genetics of alcohol-induced behaviors in Drosophila." Alcohol Research & Health 24.3 (2000): 185. Contact us: Show Support us on Patre…

1
Empowering Science Communication through Storytelling, One Quilt at a Time: An Interview with Prof. Laura Guertin, Penn State Brandywine University 28:47

21d ago28:47

28:47

Summary Professor Laura Guertin, a marine geologist and earth science educator, combines her passion for science with quilting to create science storytelling quilts. These quilts serve as a unique and engaging way to communicate scientific data and concepts to non-STEM audiences. By incorporating data sets into the quilts, Laura is able to captivat…

1
Can ageing be stopped? A biologist explains 30:43

26d ago30:43

30:43

For millennia, humanity has obsessed about halting ageing and, ultimately, preventing death. Yet while advances in medicine and public-health have seen human life-expectancy more than double, our maximum lifespan stubbornly remains around 120 years. On the latest episode of Nature hits the books, Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan joins us to discus…

1
AI can't learn new things forever — an algorithm can fix that 19:50

23d ago19:50

19:50

00:46 Old AIs can’t learn new tricks An algorithm that reactivates dormant ‘neurons’ in deep learning based AIs could help them overcome their inability to learn new things and make future systems more flexible, research has shown. AIs based on deep learning struggle to learn how to tackle new tasks indefinitely, making them less adaptable to new s…

1
Creating culturally inclusive schools 10:00

25d ago10:00

10:00

Creating culturally inclusive school environments Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus …

1
Episode 394 - "Gates of Hell" Darvaza Gas Crater 43:52

27d ago43:52

43:52

This week we look at a geological oddity in Turkmenistan and see how getting a puppy can give you the blues. Video of the Burning Crater Fun Paper Friday Ståhl, Aada, et al. "Development and validation of the puppy blues scale measuring temporary affective disturbance resembling baby blues." npj Mental Health Research 3.1 (2024): 27. Contact us: Sh…

1
The mystery of Stonehenge's central stone unearthed 22:49

30d ago22:49

22:49

00:48 The mystery of Stonehenge’s Altar Stone Stonehenge’s central stone came from Northern Scotland, more than 600 miles away from the monument, according to a new analysis of its geochemistry. It is commonly accepted that many of the rocks that make up the iconic neolithic monument came from Wales, 150 miles from the site. Previously, it had been…

1
ChatGPT has a language problem — but science can fix it 36:50

1M ago36:50

36:50

AIs built on Large Language Models have wowed by producing particularly fluent text. However, their ability to do this is limited in many languages. As the data and resources used to train a model in a specific language drops, so does the performance of the model, meaning that for some languages the AIs are effectively useless. Researchers are awar…

1
Where weird plants thrive: aridity spurs diversity of traits 26:09

1M ago26:09

26:09

00:48 Plant trait diversity in drylands A study reveals that, unexpectedly, plants display a greater diversity of traits in drier environments. Trait diversity is a measure of an organism's performance in an environment and can include things like the size of a plant or its photosynthetic rate. Whilst there are good data on this kind of diversity i…

1
232: Shaping the Future of Humanitarian Geoscience 20:31

1M ago20:31

20:31

"How could you apply your own personal knowledge of geoscience, whatever specialty it is, to help solve humanitarian problems, no matter what the scale is?"Join host Andrew Geary as he speaks with Beth Burton to explore the newly formed Geoscientists without Borders (GWB) Technical Review Subcommittee (TRSC). This episode delves into the TRSC's his…

1
How redlining affects biodiversity 10:27

1M ago10:27

10:27

How redlining affects biodiversity Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range o…

1
First Word - August 2024 9:52

1M ago9:52

9:52

Summary On the first of each month, GBA Executive Director Joel Carson provides an inside look at the latest GBA member resources, events, and news. These short and information-packed videos will make you and your firm smarter, stronger, and more successful! Links to resources referenced in this video: New Member Site Video: How to Log in to Your P…

1
How light-based computers could cut AI’s energy needs 32:37

1M ago32:37

32:37

00:45 Increasing the energy efficiency of light-based computers Computer components based on specialised LEDs could reduce the energy consumption of power hungry AI systems, according to new research. AI chips with components that compute using light can run more efficiently than those using digital electronics, but these light-based systems typica…

1
Episode 393 - "Fujiwhara Effect!" Twisters Movie Review 1:10:57

2M ago1:10:57

1:10:57

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? Fun Paper Friday King, Geoff. "The scientist as pioneer hero: Hollywood's mythological reconciliations in twister and contact." Science …

1
Audio long read: Hope, despair and CRISPR — the race to save one woman’s life 23:04

2M ago23:04

23:04

In India, a group of researchers raced to develop a CRISPR-based genome editing therapy to save the life of a young woman with a rare neurodegenerative disease. Despite a valiant effort, the pace of research was ultimately too slow to save her life. While many are convinced that these therapies could offer hope to those with overlooked genetic cond…

1
231: Previewing IMAGE '24 - The Largest Technical Program Yet 21:59

2M ago21:59

21:59

Get ready to immerse yourself in cutting-edge geoscience technologies and connect with industry experts. In this episode, Wenyi Hu and Ken Tubman join host Andrew Geary to discuss the upcoming IMAGE '24 conference, which promises the largest technical program to date with over 1,200 presentations.In this episode, we talk about:> The expansion and e…

1
Rapid sepsis test identifies bacteria that spark life-threatening infection 34:57

2M ago34:57

34:57

00:48 A rapid way to identify serious bacterial infections A newly-developed method that can rapidly identify the type of bacteria causing a blood-infection, and the correct antibiotics to treat it, could save clinicians time, and patient lives. Blood infections are serious, and can lead to the life-threatening condition sepsis, but conventional di…

1
Outing the Real Age of the Colorado River: An Interview with Dr. Shannon Dulin, University of Oklahoma 25:06

2M ago25:06

25:06

Summary The Colorado River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, has been the subject of a joint study by the US Geological Survey and several universities. The study reveals that the river is younger than previously thought, with its grand debut occurring between 4.8 and 4.63 million years ago. The research used paleomagnetics and magnetostratig…

1
230: Celebrating Sven - A Legacy of Innovation and Mentorship in Geophysics 31:50

2M ago31:50

31:50

"Sven showed us that the goal of a presentation is to transfer knowledge and insight, not to show people how smart you are."In this heartfelt episode, we honor the legacy of Sven Treitel, a beloved figure in geophysics and at SEG. Kurt Marfurt and Sam Gray join host Andrew Geary to reflect on Sven's profound impact on their work and the field.In th…

1
The plastic that biodegrades in your home compost 28:21

2M ago28:21

28:21

01:04 A gel to safely transport proteins A gel that encases proteins could be a new way to safely transport medicines without requiring them to be kept cold, according to new research. To test it, the team behind the work posted themselves a protein suspended in this gel, showing that it was perfectly preserved and retained its activity, despite be…

1
Animal's eye view of the ocean 8:55

2M ago8:55

8:55

Animal’s eye view of the ocean Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus a broad range of sc…

1
Episode 392 - "Revisions" 44:42

2M ago44:42

44:42

This week we talk about when and how things get revised from classes to papers to theories. Also we read a paper about a curious cure for poisoning. Fun Paper Friday Sasanami, Misa, et al. "Oral ethanol treatment for ethylene glycol intoxication." Cureus 12.12 (2020). Contact us: Show Support us on Patreon! www.dontpanicgeocast.com @dontpanicgeo do…

1
229: From Barriers to Belonging - Building Strong Companies & Teams in Geophysics 26:59

2M ago26:59

26:59

"Understanding the problem is sometimes more important than getting to a solution."In this episode, Dr. Eileen Martin, winner of the 2024 J. Clarence Karcher Award, shares actionable advice and resources to help you make a positive impact in your professional environment.In this episode, we talk about:> The definitions of justice, equity, diversity…

1
Breastfeeding should break down mothers' bones — here's why it doesn't 27:21

2M ago27:21

27:21

00:45 In situ editing of the gut microbiome Researchers have developed a method to directly edit the genes of specific bacteria in the guts of live mice, something that has previously been difficult to accomplish due to the complexity of this environment. The tool was able to edit over 90% of an E. coli strain colonising mice guts, with other work …

1
228: Key Trends That Will Shape the Oil and Gas Industry w/ Sophie Zurquiyah 20:43

2M ago20:43

20:43

"Energy transition is everywhere. It is an underlying trend, and sustainability is something that we have to incorporate into every company's strategy."Sophie Zurquiyah, CEO of Viridien, discusses the transformation of CGG into Viridien.In this episode, we talk about:> The reasons behind CGG's rebranding to Viridien> The significance of technology …

1
These frog 'saunas’ could help endangered species fight off a deadly fungus 36:31

3M ago36:31

36:31

00:47 Searching for dark matter in black holes Researchers have been scanning the skies looking for black holes that formed at the very beginning of the Universe — one place where elusive and mysterious dark matter is thought to be located. If these black holes did contain dark matter, they would be especially massive and so researchers would be ab…

1
Understanding Seismic Risks through Historical Data: An Interview with Prof. Kenji Satake, AOGS, Japan 26:00

2M ago26:00

26:00

Summary Professor Kenji Satake, a renowned seismologist and tsunami researcher, discusses his research on historical earthquakes and tsunamis using interdisciplinary approaches. He emphasizes the importance of combining geophysical, geological, and historical data to understand the timing and magnitude of these natural disasters. His work has uncov…

1
Inequitable exposure to wildfire smoke 10:40

3M ago10:40

10:40

Inequitable wildfire smoke exposure in California Science Sessions are brief conversations with cutting-edge researchers, National Academy members, and policymakers as they discuss topics relevant to today's scientific community. Learn the behind-the-scenes story of work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), plus …

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Geophysics Podcasts

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