I admit, it is an ambitious task to comprehend just how old the universe is. Imagining what the world was like even 100 years ago is a challenge. Now try to visualize what the Earth looked like circa 300 million years ago. Or maybe even 4 billion years ago. In total, the Earth is a staggering 4.6 billion years old! For example, humans (specifically Homo sapiens), have only existed for around 200,000 years. That’s roughly 0.007% of Earth’s entire history….
There were two thoughts prevailing in my mind as we lined up for the shuttle bus heading into Zion National Park. Number one: wow, it is dark out! Number two: wow, it is really cold! I had heard stories in the past that the parking lot at the Springdale Visitor Center fills up incredibly early, so it made sense how we parked there when it was still pitch black out. Using a mix of iPhone flashlight and dimly illuminated guide…
Cascadia’s Fault by Jerry Thompson is perhaps one of the most detailed chronicles of the Pacific Northwest’s geologic history that I have ever seen or read. This comprehensive record starts off through telling the tales of the region’s geologic past, transitions to educating readers on the present, and then concludes by scientifically prophesizing what is to come. The book itself is thorough while still retaining a scientific vocabulary paired to the general reader. This makes Cascadia’s Fault an important and…
Upon reading the most simple bits of geology, anyone can deduce that the Puget Sound region is heavily geologic. We sit right next to a major tectonic subduction zone and the entire region itself was sculpted by glaciers. During the last ice age – around 17,000 years ago – massive glaciers covered the region, carving out the Puget Sound and even shaping the Cascade Mountains. For example, that is why the west side of the Cascades are far more “rocky…
Let’s be honest. Seattle is a victim of countless weather stereotypes, especially in the wintertime. Seattle could be nicknamed “The City of Rain.” The story continues. If you’re not cold from the weather, you’ll get hypothermia from the metaphorical “Seattle Freeze.” Legend has it that we drink absurd amounts of coffee in order to experience some form of warmth during these harsh months. As a proud Seattleite, I have to speak to the contrary. This is not true. Although most…
For the last semester, my entire science curriculum was devoted to an overview of prehistoric Earth. This ranged from the formation of the planet itself to the last ice age around 10,000 years ago. Here is the presentation on the origins and entire history of the Earth. I hope you enjoy! Thank you for watching!
Although homeschooling is more widely accepted in 2021 than previous years, there are still many misconceptions and questions about the homeschooling world. When it comes to stereotypes, they tend to be equally positive and negative, divided evenly between off-the-grid traditionalists and ultra intelligent prodigies. However, most of these misconceptions are most likely people just curious about homeschooling. For this post, I will ask myself and answer a series of questions and misconceptions about homeschoolers. Question: Do homeschoolers have any homework?…
One of my semi-frequent writing assignments include summarizing articles and/or stories. Some of my favorite stories come from National Geographic. Through both personal narratives and some of the world’s best photography, they can passionately tell any story to the world. This is a summary of the National Geographic article, “The World’s Highest Gold Rush,” written by Barbara Fraser and Hildegard Willer. Nestled in the shadow of Mount Ananea, La Rinconada in Peru is the world’s highest permanent settlement. At 16,732…
Over the course of the last few months, I had the opportunity to learn about the most famous blues artists in music history. These such artists included King of Delta Blues Robert Johnson, Chicago Blues icon Muddy Waters, and Texas Blues rock star Stevie Ray Vaughan. Recently, one of my writing assignments was to write a biography on any one of the bluesmen I learned about. For the assignment I chose Robert Johnson. Here is the biography… Probably one…
From walking up a sand dune to standing in the middle of an expansive desert playa, I have formed an infinite amount of memories over the summer. During the many excursions to every corner of the Pacific Northwest, I also made sure to take plenty of photos. Lots of them! The last trip to Eastern Oregon involved importing over 1,400 photos onto my computer. Every photo I have shown on the blog is my own photography. During the summer, I…