Author Archives: paleololigo

Scientist (Paleontology, Geochemistry, Geology); Writer (Speculative and Science Fiction, plus technical and non-technical Science); Mom to great boy on the Autism spectrum; possessor of too many hobbies.

Misconception – Continents Are the Same As Tectonic Plates

There are many misconceptions about geological concepts. There is a list here, developed by Kent Kirby of the University of Minnesota. This post is to debunk one of those misconceptions. There will be others. Find them here.

Misconception: The edge of a continent is the same thing as a plate boundary.Continue reading “Misconception – Continents Are the Same As Tectonic Plates”

Time Capsule – Old Skool

For my next installment in the Kickin’ it Old Skool Blog-a-thon, we are asked to prepare a time capsule, which I will do below.

I’m also participating in the National Blog Posting Month with BlogHer. The prompt for today is “Do you think you’re more or less likely to complete December’s NaBloPoMo?  Why?”Continue reading “Time Capsule – Old Skool”

Your Holiday Dinosaur

Most vertebrate paleontologists agree that modern birds evolved from dinosaurs. Many, including me, refer to birds as dinosaurs. Sometimes, we add the term ‘avian’ or ‘non-avian’ to the front of dinosaur, to distinguish between modern, flying birds and their relatives, and the big scary ones that went extinct 65 million years ago.

The interesting outcome is that what this means is that, at least in the United States, we traditionally have a huge family meal on the fourth Thursday of November, in which we consume vast quantities of roasted dinosaur meat.Continue reading “Your Holiday Dinosaur”

Cupcakeia and Apparent Polar Wander

Sometimes, we as professorial-types, come up with some goofy things to teach some fundamental lessons. Thus was born the continent of Cupcakeia, and its accreted terrane of Frosteringia.

A sketch of the hypothetical continenent of Cupcakeia. The northern part of the continent is marked by a chain of formerly volcanic mountains, Frosteringine Mountains.
A sketch of the hypothetical continenent of Cupcakeia. The northern part of the continent is marked by a chain of formerly volcanic mountains, Frosteringine Mountains.

Continue reading “Cupcakeia and Apparent Polar Wander”