When particle physicist John Huth was briefly lost at sea, he started to wonder how the people around the world who navigate vast oceans figured their way around. What started as an afternoon activity gone awry led him to a years-long research journey, meeting many Pacific Islanders, expert navigators, and other researchers, hoping to crack the puzzle of open ocean navigation. And the key to all of it lies in these ancient stick charts, a non-writing form of communication passed down for generations. Here’s how these charts and the observations of expert navigators are teaching physics researchers all about the motion of the ocean.
Sinkholes sound scary – but are they? Peppered all along the Ridgeway in Dorset, sinkholes can be really concentrated in some areas, but not in others! So why’s that?
Well, today we explore the fascinating geology behind Dorset’s sinkholes, from small depressions only 20cm deep to HUGE features like Culpepper’s Dish. But spoiler, these natural ones around here are often not constantly collapsing and the majority are pretty stable and have been around for centuries (…With an occasional exception of course! Enough to warrant me saying please keep your distance, do not go near anything where you can see fresh air under soil and you should always be health and safety aware around these things!)
Along the way, we’ll also look at the barrows scattered across the landscape and how these ancient monuments sit within an area shaped by collapse and erosion. Mainly because they’re pretty huge, incredibly old (in human terms, not geological) and it’s rude not to talk about them when they’re so interesting and right there! More info on those here! https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/sites/de…
Modern geologists and engineers still face challenges when it comes to building on or near dissolvable landscapes. Understanding the geology of sinkholes isn’t just an academic exercise – it’s essential for managing the risks in the present day. So just because this spot is rural and relatively low risk, doesn’t mean everywhere that gets sinkholes is!
msamba 