The Core of Everything

Kathy is an award-winning cinematographer and director for natural history documentaries and an Associate Professor at California State University Sacramento.We talk about the Greenland ice sheet, a secret Cold War Base, if documentaries are the best way to inspire action against global warming, and much more.Her new documentary is called The Memory of Darkness, Light and Ice. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @coepod or X @thecoepod Enjoy the episode!Image - Herz Frank

Professor Brendan Buckley is a dendrochronologist at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University.We discuss what tree rings can tell us about past climates, how to read a tree stump, how they have been used to identify the rise and fall of civilisations, and much more.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @coepod and Twitter/X @thecoepod#geology #podcast #science #earthscience #climatechange #trees #treerings

In this episode, we interview the amazing Dr Kate Marvel.We cover her background from drama to physicist to climate modeler and travel back in time to discuss how fear of the changing climate gave rise to witchcraft and religious phenomena. We finish with the present-day and future climate, including the role of fear but also courage, hope and above all, love.Kate is an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. She has appeared on numerous podcasts and TV shows, as she famously gave a Ted Talk in 2017 discussing Can clouds save us from Climate Change?Pre-order her new book, Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet now!! See below:https://a.co/d/etDAhnsAs always, follow us on Instagram and TikToK @coepod and X@thecoepod.

In this episode, we are privileged to interview Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Kolbert. We talk about her style of writing and why it is engaging for so many readers and discuss her book Under a White Sky, which tells stories of human solutions to climate change that have not quite gone to plan. In essence, we chat about people trying to solve problems created by people trying to solve problems. We finish with a reference to the new restrictions in climate funding by the Trump administration and what hope there is for our future fight against global warming. Elizabeth is an American journalist, author and staff writer at The New Yorker. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2015 for her book The Sixth Extinction. Her book Under a White Sky was one of the Washington Post’s ten books of 2021. Her new book is H is for Hope, in which she investigates climate change from A to Z. Follow us on Instgram or TikTok @coepod or X @thecoepodSee below for Elizabeth's new book, H is for Hopehttps://a.co/d/iAoPmUvEnjoy this amazing episode!

In this episode, we discuss the supervolcano that is Yellowstone.We uncover how it formed, massive eruptions in the past and, if it were to erupt today, what would we be facing? We also discuss the likelihood of a supermassive eruption in the future.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @coepod and X @thecoepod

In this episode, we discuss the fundamentals of human evolution stemming from Africa, in particular the East African Rift Valley. We talk about our first ancestors up to six million years ago, ancient hominins, interbreeding with Neanderthals, and the Cognitive Revolution.We also discuss why our brains expanded and how we know this expansion occurred through fossil records. Instagram/TikTok @coepodX @thecoepod#human #evolution #humanevolution #fossils #geology #Lucy #eastafrica #Dunbar #africa #geology #archeology #science #earthscience #podcast

In this episode, we welcome back Mark Boyd. He tells us about fulgurites and what happens to rocks when lightning strikes the Earth. We also discuss how pebbles leave trails behind them BUT no one has ever seen them move!Mark is currently working in the meteorites section of the Natural History Museum in London. He's also writing up his PhD thesis at Imperial College London.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @coepodTwitter/X @thecoepod

Professor Kris Karnauskas researches atmospheric science and physical oceanography at the University of Colorado Boulder. In this episode, we talk about the Galapagos Islands, which were made famous by Charles Darwin’s expedition on the HMS Beagle in 1835, aiding the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection. We discuss why the serendipitous location of the Galapagos Islands, in relation to ocean currents, has led to its incredibly diverse wildlife. Not only this, but this small archipelago is crucial in dictating the global climate. Link to Kris’s book https://www.amazon.com/Physical-Oceanography-Climate-Kris-Karnauskas/dp/1108423868 Follow him on X at @OceansClimateCU Follow us on X @thecoepod Instagram/TikTok @coepod instagram.com/coepod

Professor Olsen is a paleontologist and stratigrapher at Columbia University. In this episode, we cover the Triassic period. From the dawn of the dinosaurs to a mass extinction event, we cover what the climate was like, what dinosaurs were roaming the lands, and how 75% of all life forms were wiped off the face of the planet 200 million years ago. Follow us on X @thecoepod Instagram/TikTok @coepod

In this episode, I chat with Dr Jacob Anderson who is a postdoctoral researcher at the Lamont Doherty Observatory, Columbia University. Jacob's research focuses on the ice of Antarctica and Greenland. We discuss how permafrost, permanently frozen ground, can be used to inform us about past climates, including ice sheet retreat and the harmful release of frozen carbon back into the atmosphere. We also cover the preservation of DNA in these environments, which may be up to two million years old. We also discuss the possibility of harmful bacteria being re-released into the atmosphere as the ice melts, possibly leading to an apocalyptic global virus. #ice #icesheets #antarctica #greenland #earth #earthscience #globalwarming #climatechange #podcast #geology #newzealand #columbiauniversity #rocks #permafrost #DNA #microbes #bacteria #glaciers #carbon #carboncycle Jacob's Instagram is @jthanderson Our Instagram is @coepod TikTok is @coepod X is @thecoepod

This episode covers the geology of Stonehenge. It has long been believed that the rocks of Stonehenge originated from both Marlborough, 25 km from the site, and Mynydd Preseli in Wales. However, a recent discovery by Anthony Clarke of Curtin University, has identified that the Altar stone, Stonehenge's centerpiece, may have come from rocks 750 km away in Scotland. We discuss this brand new research and how the rocks were transported such vast distances at least 1500 BC. We also discuss the construction and transportation of similar rocky wonders from Easter Island, the Moai. Such research is vital for showing the organisational skills and ingenuity of societies thousands of years ago. Thanks to @eseimperial #rock #geology #podcast #curtinuniveristy #moai #stonehenge #geologicalsociety #altarstone #history #earth #unitedkingdom #wales #igneous #sedimentary #zircon #radiometric #radiometricdating #science #easterisland

In this episode, we discuss the Moon. A recent paper has provided evidence for the theory of a magma ocean during the Moon's formation. We discuss this, how the Moon's surface is comprised of the highlands and lunar maria, and why we only see the near side. For more episode info and cool geology, Earth and science facts, follow us on: Insta @coepod TikTok @coepod X @thecoepod

The fourth planet from the sun, Mars is the closest approximation to Earth that we have. In this episode, we discuss how liquid water has been discovered on Mars for the first time by the NASA InSight Lander. We also cover the geology of Mars, including its internal core, mantle and crust. We highlight that similar evidence for water has also been identified on the dwarf planet Ceres using the NASA Dawn spacecraft. For this week's "What in the world?" we use Roman mythology to uncover the origins of the word volcano and a love affair between Mars and Venus. For more Earth facts, follow us on Instagram @coepod, TikTok @coepod and X @thecoepod

In this episode we cover the oldest rocks on Earth, stretching to our planet's formation 4.54 billion years ago. We explain where the rocks are found and how we date them using radioactive elements, including the geology of Greenland, Canada and Australia. We also discuss a mythical rock that was used to summon troops by King Alfred the Great during the Battle of Ashdown in Britain in 871 CE. Remember to follow us on social media for all the latest episode info and cool Earth facts Instagram and TikTok @coepod X @thecoepod

In this episode, we discuss gold, including how it and massive gold deposits are formed and its journey through human history. We also ask if alchemy is possible, including some examples of failed (and possibly successful) attempts, and finish by suggesting that Olympic gold medalists may not want to put that medal in their mouths. For more cool geology and Earth facts follow us on Insta and Tiktok (@coepod) and X (@thecoepod).

Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element and has been proven to be a revolutionary source of renewable energy. In this episode, we discuss how using hydrogen generates electricity, how we produce hydrogen, and how natural reserves can be seen in the subsurface. We break down the types of hydrogen and how we can use rocks to store hydrogen underground until we need it. We also explain how billions of years ago, our atmosphere was much richer in hydrogen and depleted in oxygen, and how Earth’s magnetic field helped produce the oxygen-rich atmosphere we see today. We end by talking about the use of hydrogen in developing large balloons for reconnaissance during the American Civil War. This led to Abraham Lincoln establishing the Union Army Balloon Corps in 1861. Enjoy!

In this episode we discuss dunes. How do dunes form and what do they look like when preserved in rocks? What is the geology behind the recent Dune movies? What sounds do migrating sand grains make? We cover all this and more in our 20 minute episode. In this weeks edition of "what in the world?" we also play a very special geology version of the 1978 classic hit by The Police, "Roxanne". Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @coepod, or Twitter/X @thecoepod

In this episode, we discuss how and where earthquakes occur, including how they are measured and how we predict them using the animal kingdom. We also chat about the recent April New York earthquake and the devastating 2004 boxing day tsunami which killed approximately 230,000 people. We finish by discussing how earthquakes produce seismic waves that are used to provide information on the layers of Earth. Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @coepod, or Twitter/X @thecoepod

This episode focusses on diamonds. We cover how and where diamonds form, how geologists find them, what determines their value and what are the most valuable diamonds in the world. Topics include using sub-glacial streams or eskers to trace the source of diamonds upstream, the value of the largest diamond in the world, and the formation of diamond cores in dwarf stars. We also discuss diamonds that are older than our sun, and how it rains diamonds in Neptune and Uranus. #diamonds #kimberlites #geology #Cullinan

In this episode, we discuss one of the most famous geological sites in the world: Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. Lyme Regis is famous for some of best-preserved fossils in Europe, showing colonies of animals from the Jurassic period (200 million years ago). The alternating geology also gives insights into how the Earth's cyclical movements, or Milankovitch cycles, effect ancient climates and ecosystems. Lyme Regis was the home of the famous geologist, Mary Anning, who changed the face of UK geology and was also the inspiration for a famous tongue twister... #geology #Earth #fossil #maryanning #LymeRegis

In this episode, we welcome back Banusha Kugabalan to discuss moons. There are 293 moons in our solar system, but here we focus on Io and Titan. We discuss how they form, their compositions, what it would be like to visit and so much more. We chat about how astronomers of the past have used moons to calculate the speed of light, the lunar and solar eclipse, and where the word lunatics comes from. We also introduce a new segment called ‘What in the world?’ where we chat random rock-related things. This episode focussed on the Venusian transit and the tragic tale of the world famous 18th century astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil. Enjoy the episode! #rocks #geology #moons #astronomy #earth #titan #io #saturn #jupiter

In this episode we have Dr Matt Genge on the podcast. Matt is a senior lecturer at Imperial College London in Earth and Planetary Science. It was a fantastic chat covering a broad range of topics. We discuss the recent Psyche mission to a metal-rich asteroid in space, how meteors that fell to Earth may be responsible for the first drops of water on the planet and the origins of life. We even discuss how a volcanic eruption may have contributed to the loss of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Matt is a world-renowned researcher in meteoritics and planetary science and terrestrial igneous petrology. He has appeared in numerous documentaries and TV programmes for History, BBC, and Sky news, and has written many feature articles for The Guardian. It was a pleasure to have him discuss his research and so much more. For more geology and Earth facts, as well as the latest updates on new episodes, follow us on Instagram @coepod and X @thecoepod

Our guest on this episode is Professor Dougal Jerram aka 'Dr Volcano' of the University of Oslo. He is the author of 7 books about geology and volcanology, including Introducing Volcanology, A Guide to Hot Rocks. Volcanoes of Europe, The Centre of the Earth: A Traveller’s Guide, and the children’s book Victor the Volcano. He has appeared in numerous media and television appearances, such as on Sky News, BBC’s ONE Show and National Geographic and has appeared as a presenter on Fierce Earth for CBBC. We discuss the basics of volcanoes, the recent 2024 Grindavík Iceland eruptions, the ‘billion dollar’ volcano that erupted in 2010, also called Eyjafjallajökull, and its neighbouring sleeping giant Katla volcano. Other features include Mount St Helens, Hawaii, and Stromboli, as well as references to continental drift and even Monty Python. He also teaches us how to spot rocks that have erupted from volcanoes, as well as give some insights into his media and academic endeavours. Enjoy this fascinating conversation. As always, follow us on Instagram @coepod, X @thecoepod, and TikTok @coepod.

In this episode we chat with Dr Lior Suchoy all about subduction zones. Lior is a Research Associate at Imperial College London with a background in Geodynamics. He specialises in the numerical modelling of large-scale tectonic processes (specifically subduction dynamics) using languages such as Python, C++ and MATLAB. We discuss how plates move, what happens at a subduction zone where one plate sinks under the other, how the Mariana Trench formed, the Ring of Fire, and much more. Enjoy the episode and don't forget to follow us on Instagram @coepod and X @thecoepod.

Today we focus on mountains. Is Everest actually the tallest mountain on Earth? What's the highest peak in our solar system? We also discuss Table mountain in South Africa and how it was once the bottom of a valley, the formation of the Hawaiian islands, and much more. As always, follow us on Instagram @coepod or X @thecoepod.

Caves: a hole lot of fun We discuss the types of caves and how they form, how dripping water forms structures up to tens of meters, how you can tell the difference between stalagmites and stalactites, and much more. We also discuss how some of our world's largest caves develop their own ecosystem, grow rainforests and may contain unique animal species that have evolved separately from the outside world. Follow us for more info on Instagram @coepod or X @thecoepod.

In our Christmas special, we discuss the journey of the Three Wise men, or Magi, who were guided by a star to the birthplace of Jesus. Although this does not seem related to geology, the star has been correlated to numerous astronomical events, from comets to supernovae, and a phenomenon called a conjunction. We also discussed where the Magi possibly sourced the gold, and how the gold formed in the first place. Merry Christmas Follow us on Insta @coepod, X @thecoepod, and TikTok @coepod.

Today we have Dr Fred Richards on the podcast. Dr Richards is a lecturer at Imperial studying how processes within the mantle affects Earth’s surface, including how the Earth's crust and upper mantle respond to the development and decay of icecaps. We discuss how icecaps have their own gravitational pull, how the sea level adjacent to melting icecaps actually falls, how the Earth's spin is slowing and causing our days to get longer, and so much more. Fred was awarded a Master's degree at Oxford and a PhD at Cambridge before becoming a research fellow at Harvard and then Imperial. He is now a lecturer at Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering. For any more info on Fred’s work please visit his website fredrichards.github.io As always, follow us on instagram (@coepod) or X (@thecoepod).

In part 2 of our episode on rivers, we discuss the power of rivers, including the distribution of major cities, the formation of the English Channel or La Manche, and megafloods. We also discuss Jonah's research, including how he uses petrified/fossilised wood and dunes to identify major ancient flooding events. We finish by discussing the major rivers on Earth, including their size and depth. For more cool geological phenomena, head to our Instagram page (@coepod).

This episode is part 1 of a two-parter all about rivers. We discuss the types of rivers, how we identify rivers in the geological record, how the flow directions of rivers can be identified through a feature called imbrication, and much more. Jonah McLeod is a PhD student at Imperial College London studying past and present rivers and how their response to climate change can inform projections of how sensitive fluvial (river) systems are to future changes in climate. His work has been published in Nature Communications, an exceptionally highly respected journal. It was a really interesting conversation that was too engaging to be condensed simply into a one-off 20 minute episode. As always, remember to follow us on Instagram @coepod or X @thecoepod

In this episode, we discuss impact craters, including how they are identified, the processes that occur within them, and how shockwaves from impacts can alter the magnetic characteristics of surrounding rocks. Banusha Kugabalan, a geophysics PhD student at Imperial College London, joins us. She researches the shock remanent magnetisation in rocks and meteorites. The remanent magnetisation is the permanent magnetism preserved in rocks. As rocks form, the magnetic moments within crystals align with the Earth's magnetic field which can be used to date key events, such as the timing of meteorite impacts. Enjoy!

In this episode, we outline the basics of plate tectonics. What are plates? What are the types of boundaries between them? What is the "Ring of Fire"? Found out all this and more. Follow us on Instagram @coepod and Twitter @thecoepod for episode updates and posts all about geology!

In this episode, we go through the hot topic of CO2. We discuss where CO2 comes from and how it is removed from the atmosphere through natural and anthropogenic influences. We also discuss the principles behind carbon capture and storage (CCS), including the geology required, its limitations, and how much CO2 storage is needed to reach climate targets. Enjoy the episode.

Hello friends, In this episode we go through the types of meteorites and the differences between asteroids, meteorites, meteors, comets, and so much more. We discuss the latest scientific journeys to the rocky remnants in outer space, and what we could do if an asteroid was heading straight for Earth. Enjoy! Twitter @thecoepod Instagram @coepod

Welcome to part 2 of Mass Extinctions. Today we discuss the death of the dinosaurs, including how one huge asteroid changed the fate of life on Earth and how floods of lava created a catastrophic global warming. We also discuss the possible mass extinction that is happening right now through human activities. Feel free to follow us on Twitter @thecoepod Instagram @coepod Enjoy the episode!

Earth's existence is full of dramatic events that have wiped out a huge portion of marine and terrestrial life. In this episode, we go through some of the major mass extinction events that have occurred, from asteroids and lava flows to extremely cold temperatures, the Earth has been through a lot. There is an established 'Big Five' mass extinction events, which include 1) Ordovician-Silurian (440 Ma) 2) Devonian (365 Ma) 3) Permian-Triassic (250 Ma) 4) Triassic-Jurassic (210 Ma) 5) Cretaceous-Tertiary (65 Ma) - goodbye dinosaurs. We also ask the question: are we currently going through a sixth mass extinction? In part 1 we cover the first four of these, including what are the geological time periods and should Jurassic Park be called as such. Enjoy part 1!

In this episode we journey to the centre of Earth and back again, discussing the solid and liquid layers that make up our planet. We talk about how the crust is the thinnest of layers floating on a ball of hot magma, and how interactions in the core generate a magnetic field that protects life on Earth and even changes the length of day. Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram @coepod or Twitter @thecoepod

Everyone knows what a rock looks like, whether it's a cliff face, a random boulder found on top of a hill, or your kitchen worktop. However, what actually are these weird and wonderful hard things? This episode covers what makes up the rocks around us, as well as the different rock types, how they interlink in something known as the rock cycle, and so much more...