Published December 10, 2009 | 
When a geologist tells you to get out of the way, do it. This stunning landslide footage shows a roadcrew working to clear debris from a previous slide. They got out of the way when state geologist Vanessa Bateman warned them that they were in danger.
As Geographile points out, learning geology can save your life. So can feminism. What if the roadcrew had refused to listen to a female expert?
Posted in current events, geology, heroes, Natural History, scientists | 
landslide, Tennessee, video | 
Leave a commentPublished December 8, 2009 | Very Top Five: Very Top Five… Ways to name a chemical element.
This fun article goes well with the deliciously different Periodic Table of Cupcakes. Note the snide reference to an element named after Stanford University. There isn’t one. Berkeley has four.
Published December 7, 2009 | 
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Originally uploaded by EBRPD Public Affairs
This picture was taken in a park a few miles east of my house and about 600 feet higher. Naturally, the park is closed for the day; there might be 3 to 6 inches of snow. This sounds silly to my winter-toughened Northeastern self, but most Bay Area Californians can’t even drive in the rain, much less snow. Also, we have no snowplows.