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Bedrock: Earth's Earliest History: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Dylan Wilmeth
This podcast starts at the beginning of Earth's prehistory and works forward through time. Bedrock will explore the first 90% of Earth’s past, a time known as the Precambrian Era. Before humans, before dinosaurs… there was the Precambrian. The Earth was an incredibly alien world, but not a dead one. Along the way, you will build a mental toolkit to see the world like a geologist. You will never look at a mountain, the moon, or pond scum in quite the same way again. Welcome to Bedrock. For transcripts, visuals, and references, check out https://www.bedrockpodcast.com
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- Feb 19, 20264 min
Life Update: Medical Hiatus
This brief update explains the long pause in episodes. A month ago, my girlfriend had a major, sudden hospital visit. The operation went smoothly, but there are many more hospital visits in the next few months. Episodes will return, but probably not until March. As always, thank you for your patience and well wishes!If you want to donate:One-off donations on PaypalMonthly donations on Patreon
- Jan 8, 202645 min
52: The Thing in the Ice
Until now, all the clues for ancient life have been microscopic, beyond the realm of sight. Today, that begins to change. Ten years ago, a team of scientists showed the world a weird, lumpy rock that they claimed was the oldest microbial colony. Like a sci-fi movie, this specimen was found under melting ice in the high Arctic, unveiled from 3.7 billion years ago. But is it actually a fossil? Welcome to the debate that has defined my corner of geology. Extra Credit: Check your house for hard water damage, or watch The Thing (1982). Want bonus content? Check out the Patreon!
- Dec 22, 202551 min
Hometown Geology Pilot: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Here's a new monthly podcast that Dylan's releasing on Patreon! Hometown Geology focuses on cities/locations around the world, chosen by patrons. This pilot episode highlights Dylan's current hometown of Grand Rapids, MI, home of gypsum mines, coal forests, and mastodon skeletons. Want to hear next month's episode on Asuncion, Paraguay's capital, or to pick your own destination? Click here to sign up on Patreon!
- Dec 17, 202531 min
51: The Latest News on the Oldest Life
This episode, we focus on just one special boulder from the Greenland tundra, a rock that might have Earth's oldest fossils. Over the past 10 years, scientists from around the world have used the latest technology to reveal this rock's secrets, including research published this year. What have they found? Extra Credit: Make a time capsule or play a record.Patreon for monthly donations One-off donations
- Dec 10, 20255 min
Bedrock Patreon Is Up Now!
Visit patreon.com/bedrockpodcast for bonus perks like new episodes, voting rights, and topic selection! P.S. Thanks to a bad cold, both my voice and the audio quality are not on par today. P.P.S. The cold has also delayed Episode 51, which will be up later this week.
- Nov 26, 202542 min
50: The Oldest Evidence for Life?
Donate to support the show- anything is appreciated!Finally, 3.7 billion years ago, we reach some of the strongest evidence for life on Earth yet. It takes a while to find, and it only looks like a few dark crystals, but it's better than anything else we've seen so far. Along the way, we'll meet three scientists who helped define the quest for Earth's oldest fossils, including one of my old bosses.Extra Credit: Sharpen your pencils, spackle some cracks, or thank a mentor in your life.
- Nov 19, 202515 min
50th Episode Fireside Chat: What's Next?
In this casual chat, Dylan talks about the show's growth, the upcoming end of Season 2, a potential career shift to science communication, and other podcast recommendations. Thank you all for bringing this show to 50 episodes- here's to 50 more!Donate to support the show- anything is appreciated!
- Nov 5, 202531 min
49: The Fossil Quest
Many folks have claimed to find Earth's oldest fossils in the Greenland rocks, 3.7 billion years old. Before we meet and judge these contenders, we need to learn what counts as a fossil. This early in Earth history, nothing has any bones or teeth or shells, so researchers need to search for other clues. Today, I'll show you four ways to look for fossils in Earth's oldest rocks, including my personal field of study: fossilized bacteria. Extra Credit: Find different types of organic carbon in your day, or eat a burger.
About Bedrock: Earth's Earliest History
This podcast starts at the beginning of Earth's prehistory and works forward through time. Bedrock will explore the first 90% of Earth’s past, a time known as the Precambrian Era. Before humans, before dinosaurs… there was the Precambrian. The Earth was an incredibly alien world, but not a dead one. Along the way, you will build a mental toolkit to see the world like a geologist. You will never look at a mountain, the moon, or pond scum in quite the same way again. Welcome to Bedrock. For transcripts, visuals, and references, check out https://www.bedrockpodcast.com
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