November 8, 2018
Geologic Column: Light amid the darkness: Celebrations during the winter solstice
This year, the winter solstice falls on Friday, Dec. 21, marking the arrival of winter and the shortest stretch of daylight of the year in the …
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August 3, 2018
Geologic Column: "Collect Rocks Day" offers opportunity for inspiration
I have been intrigued by rocks since I was a kid. In fact, as I write these lines I am surrounded by rocks I have collected over the years. On my …
March 2, 2018
Geologic Column: Pie on Pi Day, and Einstein's lesser-known legacy
March hosts a number of special days: St. Patrick’s Day, Johnny Appleseed Day, the Spring Equinox and, one of my favorites, March 14, which is …
December 14, 2017
Geologic Column: Celebrating Old Rock Day
Move over New Year’s: There’s a new favorite holiday in January, at least for geologists. Jan. 7 marks “Old Rock Day.” No, this is not the day to …
August 16, 2017
Geologic Column: Musings on the autumn equinox
Last month, many of us in the U.S. celebrated a relatively rare event — a full solar eclipse. That event, and the fact that the metal roof of my …
February 15, 2017
Geologic Column: Rebirth on the vernal equinox
March is a particularly tempestuous month. The Anglo Saxons called it “Hrethmonath,” which translates as “rough month.” The name referred to …
December 27, 2016
Geologic Column: New Year's as we know it is new
Cuneiform clay tablets discovered in Iraq reveal that more than 4,000 years ago, Babylonians were celebrating a New Year’s holiday. The …
June 17, 2016
Geologic Column: The dog days of July
As months go, July has some distinctive qualities. For one thing, it is one of only two months in the Gregorian calendar named for a person; in …
November 2, 2015
Geologic Column: The beginning of "time" as we know it
As we approach the end of a year, my thoughts often turn to calendars and the measurement of time. Time is our window on the world; we use it to …