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 (https://pubs.usgs.gov/pegmatite-geology) Lithium in Clays - Nature (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25989-0) Lithium Triangle Overview - Mining ..read more

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 (https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/79/gold) Gold's Physical and Chemical Properties - Geology.com (https://geology.com/minerals/gold.shtml): Gold Formation - USGS (https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/17/) Orogenic Gold ..read more

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 ..read more

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? How Coal Forms and Coal Types - World Coal Association (https://www.worldcoal.org/coal/what-coal) Energy D ..read more

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. Learn More History of Salt in Ancient Civilizations (https://www.historycooperative.org/salt-history-ancient-civilizations/) - Learn how salt became an essential part of trade, diet, and religion in ancient Chin ..read more

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! Highlighted Episodes Episode 350 - "Borehole to Hell" (https://www.dontpanicgeocast.com/350) Episode 49 - "Would it blow your mind if I told you Africa is 14x larger than Greenland?" (https://www.do ..read more

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. Elsevier’s Policy on Generative AI in Writing (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/the-use-of-generative-ai-and-ai-assisted-technologies-in-writing-for-elsevier) Research Rabbit (https://www.rese ..read more

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. Learn More: Wierdenland Museum (https://www.museum.nl/en/museum-wierdenland-ezinge): Information about the museum and its exhibits on dwelling mounds. Late-Holocene sea-level reconstruct ..read more

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 (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-05/bureau-of-meterology-air-pressure-miscalculation/104063982) Contact us: Show Support us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/dontpanicgeo) www.dontpanicgeocast.com (http://www.dontpanicgeocast.com) @dontpanicgeo (https://twitter.com/dontpanicgeo) dontpanicgeocast@gmail.com John Leeman - ww ..read more

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. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6709738/) Contact us: Show Support us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/dontpanicgeo) www.dontpanicgeocast.com (http://www.dontpanicgeocast.com) @dontpanicgeo (https://twitter.com/dontpanicgeo) dontpanicgeocast@gmail.com John Leeman ..read more