We have all heard of DNA fingerprinting, where the DNA in a person’s blood is identified, for example, at the scene of a crime, or on a victim, leading to a criminal prosecution. But, what exactly is a geochemical fingerprint? Well, the same principle applies, but this time it concerns rocks. The geochemistry of a [...]
Archive for the ‘GEOLOGY’ Category
12 Mar
‘Fracking’ can end Ireland’s dangerous reliance on imported natural gas
Ireland is dangerously dependent on imports of natural gas. Bringing home-grown gas ashore and retrieving onshore reserves under western and northwestern counties can end this reliance and transform Ireland into a natural gas exporter. For more, read ‘Think Tank’ article published in The Sunday Times, below, on 11.03.2012
23 Nov
THE EARTHQUAKE DETECTIVE: Robert Mallett
The first photographs ever taken of the aftermath of an earthquake were taken of the Great Neopolitan Quake of 1857, which destroyed the village of Pertosa, pictured here, and many other towns and villages in southern Italy. The pictures were taken by a Frenchman called Grellier, and commissioned by Irish scientist and Dubliner Robert Mallett who [...]
2 Nov
The Irish Gold Frenzy
Famously, there have been gold rushes in California, Alaska, Australia and even Brazil. But, Ireland also had its own gold rush, in 1795, just before the United Irishman rebellion, following the chance discovery of a nugget in County Wicklow. Peader McArdle, the recently retired director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has written ‘Gold Frenzy’ [...]
10 May
The Volcanologist
Studying maths and maths physics as an undergraduate at UCD led Chris Bean into exciting and unexplored directions, such as finding himself atop a volcano in Costa Rica, being interviewed by a TV crew, as he ‘listened in’ to a volcano. Neither of Chris’s parents were scientists, and rather there was a strong interest in [...]
23 Feb
Introducing Palaeontology, A Guide to Ancient Life
Interview with Patrick Wyse-Jackson on 103.2 Dublin City FM, Broadcast 10th February 2011 Author: Patrick Wyse-Jackson, Curator of the Geology Museum, TCD. Publisher: Dunedin Price: €13:85 (Hodges Figgis, Dawson Street, Dublin)
23 Feb
Sea Floor Spreading, Fossils, Tectonic Plates
Science Spinning: ‘The Show with an Irish Spin on Science’, Presented and Produced by Seán Duke Broadcast on Dublin City FM, 10/02/2011 Sea Floor Spreading, Fossils, Tectonic Plates To contact the show email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie
8 Feb
Stone by Stone
Interview with Dawson Stellfox, on 103.2 Dublin City FM, Broadcast 3rd February 2011 Authors: Dawson Stellfox (Editor), Joanne Curran, Patricia Warke, Bernard Smith, and John Savage. Publisher: Appletree Press It may come as a surprise to some that Chinese granite was used by Dublin City Council in recent years to repair sections of the granite [...]
7 Feb
Geophysics, Nanotechnology, Irish Stone
Science Spinning: ‘The Show with an Irish Spin on Science’, Presented and Produced by Seán Duke Broadcast on Dublin City FM, 03/02/2011 Geophysics, Nanotechnology, Irish Stone To contact the show email: sciencespinning@dublincityfm.ie
11 Jan
Preventing volcanic ash damage to jet engines
Published in Jan-Feb 2011 issue of Science Spin We all remember the chaos caused by the eruption of the volcano in Iceland earlier in the year, and how fearful airlines were of the resulting ash cloud. Therefore, it is very timely that Ahmed Saeed, Seán Power and Craig Laurie, – pictured on the right – three [...]
