Chris Rowan
@allochthonous.bsky.social
I like rocks.
I think and talk about plate tectonics, geological hazards like earthquakes, the history of the Earth system, and how we silly humans can live sustainably on our amazing planet.
I think and talk about plate tectonics, geological hazards like earthquakes, the history of the Earth system, and how we silly humans can live sustainably on our amazing planet.
🧪⚒️ Not the focus of this excellent article, but I loved this quote:
“Anything that you study, you see much better than the rest of the world,” she said. “Suddenly, the landscapes and the rocks, they were talking to me.”
“Anything that you study, you see much better than the rest of the world,” she said. “Suddenly, the landscapes and the rocks, they were talking to me.”
The discovery that the continents are in continuous motion is fairly recent—dating back only to the late 1960s — and one woman was responsible for decoding what it meant for California and much of the West Coast.
buff.ly/2vAwspH
buff.ly/2vAwspH
Drifters and the introduction of plate tectonics - High Country News
How the San Andreas fault and Tanya Atwater’s theory changed geology.
www.hcn.org
January 5, 2026 at 11:25 PM
🧪⚒️ Not the focus of this excellent article, but I loved this quote:
“Anything that you study, you see much better than the rest of the world,” she said. “Suddenly, the landscapes and the rocks, they were talking to me.”
“Anything that you study, you see much better than the rest of the world,” she said. “Suddenly, the landscapes and the rocks, they were talking to me.”
Reposted by Chris Rowan
This is one of the wildest deep-sea mining stories to me.
Paleodictyon is a 500-million-year-old trace fossil from an unknown organism. In the last 50 years, we've found their honeycomb traces on the seafloor. There is a living organism that has been doing its thing for half a billion years.
Paleodictyon is a 500-million-year-old trace fossil from an unknown organism. In the last 50 years, we've found their honeycomb traces on the seafloor. There is a living organism that has been doing its thing for half a billion years.
Recovery of Paleodictyon patterns after simulated mining activity on Pacific nodule fields - Marine Biodiversity
Since the late 1980s, various experiments have been conducted in polymetallic nodule fields of the Pacific Ocean to assess the potential environmental impacts of future mining, specifically in two are...
link.springer.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:21 PM
This is one of the wildest deep-sea mining stories to me.
Paleodictyon is a 500-million-year-old trace fossil from an unknown organism. In the last 50 years, we've found their honeycomb traces on the seafloor. There is a living organism that has been doing its thing for half a billion years.
Paleodictyon is a 500-million-year-old trace fossil from an unknown organism. In the last 50 years, we've found their honeycomb traces on the seafloor. There is a living organism that has been doing its thing for half a billion years.
⚒️ The scale of these pictures is just mind-boggling.
A sensational guest post by Derek Cronmiller, Theron Finley Panya Lipovsky and Jan Dettmer of the Yukon Geological Survey: Photos and Preliminary Observations from an Overview Flight of the 6 December 2025 Hubbard Glacier Earthquake, Yukon Territory, Canada.
eos.org/thelandslide...
eos.org/thelandslide...
January 5, 2026 at 12:05 PM
⚒️ The scale of these pictures is just mind-boggling.
🧪 A fascinating discussion of the disjunct between biological systems and digital computation, that really emphasises the vast gulf between the neurons in our brains and the nodes in a computer-hosted neural network.
When we try to formalize a neuron computationally, we don't translate biology into code—we perform a violent collapse.
www.ocrampal.com/what-a-neuro...
#philosophy #science #psychology #AI #intelligence #physics #biology #philmind #philsci #philsky #philpsy #neurosky #neuroskyence
www.ocrampal.com/what-a-neuro...
#philosophy #science #psychology #AI #intelligence #physics #biology #philmind #philsci #philsky #philpsy #neurosky #neuroskyence
What a Neuron Teaches Us About Computation's Limits
When we try to formalize a neuron computationally, we don't translate biology into code—we perform a violent collapse. We lock causation into fixed arrows when biology lives in causal ambiguity. We sy...
www.ocrampal.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:11 PM
🧪 A fascinating discussion of the disjunct between biological systems and digital computation, that really emphasises the vast gulf between the neurons in our brains and the nodes in a computer-hosted neural network.
⚒️ Spectacular!
One of the best things that happened to me in 2025 was that we got a permit to visit The Wave in Arizona. Here are some photos from last Friday; needless to say, photos do not do justice to this place
January 2, 2026 at 12:38 PM
⚒️ Spectacular!
Reposted by Chris Rowan
Highly recommend this graphic novel for the young nerd in your life. The book is based on a wild but little known industrial accident in Louisiana in 1980, when drilling for an oil well intersected a salt mine... under a lake.
By it from your local bookshop: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
By it from your local bookshop: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
January 2, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Highly recommend this graphic novel for the young nerd in your life. The book is based on a wild but little known industrial accident in Louisiana in 1980, when drilling for an oil well intersected a salt mine... under a lake.
By it from your local bookshop: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
By it from your local bookshop: bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
I try really hard to keep my attention on people and off my phone during a family dinner, but I also love indulging our kids’ curiosity.
(I’m sure my mum wishes it had been that easy when I was the one asking random questions)
(I’m sure my mum wishes it had been that easy when I was the one asking random questions)
A new series for 2026: things @allochthonous.bsky.social or I have to fact check at dinner.
1/ how fast can an ostrich run? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastest...
1/ how fast can an ostrich run? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastest...
January 2, 2026 at 1:18 AM
I try really hard to keep my attention on people and off my phone during a family dinner, but I also love indulging our kids’ curiosity.
(I’m sure my mum wishes it had been that easy when I was the one asking random questions)
(I’m sure my mum wishes it had been that easy when I was the one asking random questions)
Reposted by Chris Rowan
A few months ago I got the story of a duck who aspires to curling greatness stuck in my brain and simply couldn't get it out until I did this
January 1, 2026 at 5:12 PM
A few months ago I got the story of a duck who aspires to curling greatness stuck in my brain and simply couldn't get it out until I did this
🧪⚒️ 🌋 It appears from a quick search that the visualisations have not been formally released yet, but there’s an animation and description about half-way through this nice AP story.
What’s inside Mexico's Popocatépetl? Scientists obtain first 3D images of the whole volcano apnews.com/projects/mexic…
What’s inside Mexico's Popocatépetl? Scientists obtain first 3D images of the whole volcano apnews.com/projects/mexic…
January 1, 2026 at 5:36 PM
🧪⚒️ 🌋 It appears from a quick search that the visualisations have not been formally released yet, but there’s an animation and description about half-way through this nice AP story.
What’s inside Mexico's Popocatépetl? Scientists obtain first 3D images of the whole volcano apnews.com/projects/mexic…
What’s inside Mexico's Popocatépetl? Scientists obtain first 3D images of the whole volcano apnews.com/projects/mexic…
Reposted by Chris Rowan
Fantastic news for paleontology that the Paleontological Research Institute in Ithaca NY is staying open this year! Intensive fund-raising was successful & enough to pay off the mortgage for their building, helping to preserve this long-standing institution for national & international science. 🧪
Holy shit I'm so relieved I could cry. A very happy new year to PRI!!! www.priweb.org/blog-post/pr...
PRI's Wonderful Life — Paleontological Research Institution
By Dr. Warren Allmon , Director of the Paleontological Research Institution December 30, 2025 The holidays are a time for “Christmas movies” in my house, and one that is always on our list is&nbs...
www.priweb.org
January 1, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Fantastic news for paleontology that the Paleontological Research Institute in Ithaca NY is staying open this year! Intensive fund-raising was successful & enough to pay off the mortgage for their building, helping to preserve this long-standing institution for national & international science. 🧪
Day 3 of browser detox. You should know that I'm not inflicting you with every tab I close - I've dealt with >100 at this point. The ones you're not seeing are mostly in the 'no idea why I opened this' or '30 seconds of reading would have shown it wasn't that interesting' categories.
#TabClosed2026
#TabClosed2026
28. A not terrible, but also not great, geo ed-focussed generative AI resource at SERC. #TabClosed2026
Pro: clearly delineates genAI & non generative machine learning.
Con: says "AI's capabilities could make it an important learning aid if used correctly" but doesn't say how (because you can't)
Pro: clearly delineates genAI & non generative machine learning.
Con: says "AI's capabilities could make it an important learning aid if used correctly" but doesn't say how (because you can't)
GeoAI
Project site exploring the integration of transformer-based generative AI in geoscience education, covering educator and student use, ethical considerations, disciplinary impacts, and community-shared...
serc.carleton.edu
December 31, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Day 3 of browser detox. You should know that I'm not inflicting you with every tab I close - I've dealt with >100 at this point. The ones you're not seeing are mostly in the 'no idea why I opened this' or '30 seconds of reading would have shown it wasn't that interesting' categories.
#TabClosed2026
#TabClosed2026
Reposted by Chris Rowan
I strongly agree, the correlation is curious, but the data has many flaws that are not even discussed.
I tried to map some additional biases below:
I tried to map some additional biases below:
This paper by Vasilyak and Shubralova makes an interesting observation that ELVES #TLE seem to be more likely to occur near tectonic plate boundaries.
However, with just 37 events, I'm skeptical of the statistical significance of their results which isn't addressed in the paper at all. 🧪🧵
However, with just 37 events, I'm skeptical of the statistical significance of their results which isn't addressed in the paper at all. 🧪🧵
We call the very upper-atmospheric lightnings elves and sprites (which is itself great), and these events don't appear everywhere. The analysis in this study argues that elves are mostly occur along the tectonic plates' boundaries, which is slightly crazy. 🧪⚒️
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
December 31, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I strongly agree, the correlation is curious, but the data has many flaws that are not even discussed.
I tried to map some additional biases below:
I tried to map some additional biases below:
If nothing else, the earthquake weather/precursor community are going to have a field day with this.
Just 37 events, no formal definition of ‘close’ to a plate boundary, and no discrimination between types of plate boundary; I’m unconvinced there’s anything to actually explain here.
Just 37 events, no formal definition of ‘close’ to a plate boundary, and no discrimination between types of plate boundary; I’m unconvinced there’s anything to actually explain here.
We call the very upper-atmospheric lightnings elves and sprites (which is itself great), and these events don't appear everywhere. The analysis in this study argues that elves are mostly occur along the tectonic plates' boundaries, which is slightly crazy. 🧪⚒️
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Link: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
December 31, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If nothing else, the earthquake weather/precursor community are going to have a field day with this.
Just 37 events, no formal definition of ‘close’ to a plate boundary, and no discrimination between types of plate boundary; I’m unconvinced there’s anything to actually explain here.
Just 37 events, no formal definition of ‘close’ to a plate boundary, and no discrimination between types of plate boundary; I’m unconvinced there’s anything to actually explain here.
Reposted by Chris Rowan
Is it a sculpture of a bird? No, it’s Remarkable Rocks, a tor on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, where the granite has been weathered into some incredible shapes.
December 31, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Is it a sculpture of a bird? No, it’s Remarkable Rocks, a tor on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, where the granite has been weathered into some incredible shapes.
Continuing my browser detox. Not going to express my progress as a percentage as it would be depressing. Also not going to think about how this can be viewed as a procrastination/distraction activity...
#TabClosed2026
#TabClosed2026
19. Me, quite some time ago: I should download all these freely available Tom Lehrer albums sometime.
Me, tonight: how about right now? Then let’s play ‘Poisoning Pigeons in the Park’ to check it worked.
#TabClosed2026
Me, tonight: how about right now? Then let’s play ‘Poisoning Pigeons in the Park’ to check it worked.
#TabClosed2026
Albums
An Evening (wasted) With Tom Lehrer:
stream MP3s
download RAR
Revisited:
stream MP3s
download RAR
That Was The Year That Was:
stream MP3s
download RAR
The Remains of Tom Lehrer (disc 1):
stream MP3...
tomlehrersongs.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Continuing my browser detox. Not going to express my progress as a percentage as it would be depressing. Also not going to think about how this can be viewed as a procrastination/distraction activity...
#TabClosed2026
#TabClosed2026
Reposted by Chris Rowan
NOAA water levels on Lake Erie for the past few days. Water has been pushed down the lake towards Buffalo due to strong winds. #Seiche
#LakeErie #GreatLakes #weather
#LakeErie #GreatLakes #weather
December 30, 2025 at 1:13 PM
NOAA water levels on Lake Erie for the past few days. Water has been pushed down the lake towards Buffalo due to strong winds. #Seiche
#LakeErie #GreatLakes #weather
#LakeErie #GreatLakes #weather
Reposted by Chris Rowan
Santa brought me Forest Shuffle, and I am in love. I can be so busy with side quests and grabbing cards with cool organisms, I don't even care that @allochthonous.bsky.social will win again with his horse chestnut monoculture. The 18 year old loves it too. Highly recommend.
December 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Santa brought me Forest Shuffle, and I am in love. I can be so busy with side quests and grabbing cards with cool organisms, I don't even care that @allochthonous.bsky.social will win again with his horse chestnut monoculture. The 18 year old loves it too. Highly recommend.
OK, inspired by @drspacejunk.bsky.social, I’m going to work to close some of the many, many, many tabs open on my various devices. Some on my current phone actually transferred over from my old phone!
Time to file, act on, or just close ‘em!
#TabClosed2026
Time to file, act on, or just close ‘em!
#TabClosed2026
December 29, 2025 at 2:53 PM
OK, inspired by @drspacejunk.bsky.social, I’m going to work to close some of the many, many, many tabs open on my various devices. Some on my current phone actually transferred over from my old phone!
Time to file, act on, or just close ‘em!
#TabClosed2026
Time to file, act on, or just close ‘em!
#TabClosed2026
This seems like an especially good idea now that iOS has taken to occasionally randomly rearranging my sprawling field of open tabs…
Friends, I have now closed 100 browser tabs, from across multiple windows. I did the thing the open tab required, or downloaded/filed it, or decided I didn't need it. #TabClosed2026 is going well! Now to start a fourth thread. You're welcome to make your own!
Well, 71 browser tabs closed so far in #TabClosed2026! And I've chosen a new wallpaper, from the Giancarlo Menotti opera A Bride From Pluto. So, on to my third thread of closed tabs. Trying to stay ruthless.
December 29, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This seems like an especially good idea now that iOS has taken to occasionally randomly rearranging my sprawling field of open tabs…
Probably more amused than I should be that the subtitles for Muppet Christmas Carol literally read ‘no cheeses for us “meeces” ‘.
Is that the transcriber’s equivalent of an eye-roll?
Is that the transcriber’s equivalent of an eye-roll?
December 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Probably more amused than I should be that the subtitles for Muppet Christmas Carol literally read ‘no cheeses for us “meeces” ‘.
Is that the transcriber’s equivalent of an eye-roll?
Is that the transcriber’s equivalent of an eye-roll?
It’s deeply disturbing to see the COVID pandemic becoming a Y2K bug-like myth where there was lots of fuss and panic over nothing - a falsehood pushed by people who blithely wave over a death toll of millions.
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
It’s deeply disturbing to see the COVID pandemic becoming a Y2K bug-like myth where there was lots of fuss and panic over nothing - a falsehood pushed by people who blithely wave over a death toll of millions.
Reposted by Chris Rowan
Reposted by Chris Rowan
Did you know that magma can ascend like rain through the upper mantle?
Learn more from this new #Geology paper by Changyeol Lee and colleagues: geosociety.co/4iHVNhk
#GSAPubs #IntraplateVolcanism #Geodynamics #Magmatic
Learn more from this new #Geology paper by Changyeol Lee and colleagues: geosociety.co/4iHVNhk
#GSAPubs #IntraplateVolcanism #Geodynamics #Magmatic
December 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Did you know that magma can ascend like rain through the upper mantle?
Learn more from this new #Geology paper by Changyeol Lee and colleagues: geosociety.co/4iHVNhk
#GSAPubs #IntraplateVolcanism #Geodynamics #Magmatic
Learn more from this new #Geology paper by Changyeol Lee and colleagues: geosociety.co/4iHVNhk
#GSAPubs #IntraplateVolcanism #Geodynamics #Magmatic
Reposted by Chris Rowan
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.
December 22, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I think we need a mega thread of everyone's craziest archive stories.