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Reposted by Gareth Funning

EarthScope Consortium @earthscope.org · 7d

EarthScope is excited to be undertaking operations of the NSF National Geophysical Facility, as of October 1. Curious what this means in terms of geophysical research and education support? Check out these helpful FAQs.
⬇️
https://ngf.earthscope.org/

Graphic with text "Powering geophysics, empowering a resilient society" with the NSF and National Geophysical Facility logos over a red to purple landscape gradient

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Reposted by Gareth Funning

Hugo van Schrojenstein Lantman @hugolantman.bsky.social · 8d

Since kyanite made it to the final of Mineral Cup, I decided to contribute. Vote kyanite!

Not only is kyanite gorgeous, it's also a key metamorphic index mineral and thus one of my favourite minerals to find. Here are a few examples I've come across.

See alt text for details

#MinCup25 #kyanite

A single crystal of blue kyanite on a matrix of white quartz. From the Betic Cordillera, Spain

A green-blue kyanite eclogite with a reddish vein of garnet, bordered by more dark blue kyanite. From Pohorje, Slovenia. 2 euro cent coin for scale.

Bright blue specks of kyanite in a gray-white matrix. These rocks are originally granulite of the Baltica basement, locally transformed to eclogite. From Holsnøy, Norway

One of the most confusing samples I have ever found, this rock consists entirely of white kyanite, muscovite and quartz - here pictured on top of a red notebook with a mechanical pencil as scale. The orange colour seems to be iron oxide from the surroundings. Before finding this, I did not know that kyanite could be white! From the Betic Cordillera, Spain.

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FrankenGardner @glacierpique.bsky.social · 8d

I’m voting for the indicator mineral #Kyanite and the information it provides about metamorphic temperature and pressure, shown here with its pseudomorphs, Sillimanite and Andalusite.
#MinCup25

Image of a knife-sized blade of Kyanite next to a faceted Kyanite gemstone from mindat’s “Best of “ article, copyright Tony H Gill.

Cruciform Andalusite crystals in a brown rock. Image from Wikipedia.

Elongate Sillimanite crystals have square cross sections. Image from mindat.org. Copyright F. Kruijen & G. Blass

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 8d

It'll be Saponite all the way

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 8d

As a founder member of the Campaign for Real Minerals (CAMRM), there can only be one winner – the one I've actually heard of. Kyanite all the way. #VoteBlue

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 8d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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Reposted by Gareth Funning

Toshokanin @toshokanin.bsky.social · 8d

Kyanite has fought long and hard these many years! Let’s get that win so it can retire with honour!

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 8d

#MinCup25 Final: After a month of learning and laughter, we’re at the final match to determine the 2025 Mineral Cup Champion! We have blue blades of #kyanite up against optical magician #tugtupite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r5...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in 2025 Final Match — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Kyanite vs Tugtupite Photo credits: John Sobolewski and Parent Géry

www.mineralcup.org

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Reposted by Gareth Funning

SpacePolicyOnline @spacepolicyonline.bsky.social · 10d

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), top Democrat on Senate Commerce Cmte, is out with a Democratic staff report: "The Destruction of NASA's Mission: Whistleblowers Reveal OMB's Unconstitutional Plot to Gut the Agency."
www.commerce.senate.gov/services/fil...

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 10d

It's gotta be the metamorphic mineral for me, Clive. Forms under mountains, pressure/temperature indicator, high grade. Also, it's blue. #VoteBlueNoMatterWho #VoteKyanite

Mineral Cup #MinCup25 @mineralcup.bsky.social · 10d

#MinCup25 Semifinals 1: It's a battle of classic minerals for red #hematite vs blue #kyanite.

Vote: www.mineralcup.org/2025/vote/r4...
Results: www.mineralcup.org/2025/results...

Vote in Semifinal 1 — Mineral Cup

Click here to vote in Hematite vs Kyanite Photo credits: John Sobolewski

www.mineralcup.org

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 10d

Well it was gorgeous, and the lighting was spectacular! They played all of Pure Phase, and then Cop Shoot Cop for an encore!

Jason Pierce (J. Spaceman) of Spiritualized playing guitar and being lit by radiating beams of green light (courtesy of a mirrorball behind the cellist at the back of the stage)

The full band lit by three mirrorballs in a triple starburst effect, of white light this time

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 10d

Since I love Spiritualized, and since Pure Phase was the first album of theirs I bought, and since it's a perfect title for someone who does InSAR and GNSS, and since they are here in LA, and since Jen got us tickets...

The neon sign of the Orpheum in Los Angeles, announcing: Spiritualized Live Pure Phase Performed live in its entirety

The curtain at the Orpheum stage has the design for the album cover projected onto it: Pure Phase Spiritualized Electric Mainline

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Reposted by Gareth Funning

Science Magazine @science.org · 12d

NSF today released instructions for the next round of applicants to its Graduate Research Fellowship Program. A key group—second-year Ph.D. students—is no longer eligible, and students who are still able to apply will face an unusually narrow timeframe. https://scim.ag/3KlQkQk

‘Completely shattered.’ Changes to NSF’s graduate student fellowship spur outcry

The announcement comes months later than usual, leaving many would-be applicants stranded

www.science.org

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 13d

However, for LCD Soundsystem (pictured) I definitely do not remember the *second* time, also at the Hollywood Bowl. If someone (thanks, Cari!) gets you and all your friends (and Bunny's mom) into a Champagne festival and it's just up the road, and it ends an hour before concert, what do you expect?

The Hollywood Bowl stage from a long way away, LCD Soundsystem performing.

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 13d

(For the record, I think this was the fifth time.)

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 13d

Pulp: "Do you remember the first time?"

Me: "I think it was 1996! Fuck I'm old."

My view of the stage for Pulp at the Hollywood Bowl, up in the gods. You can just about make out Jarvis Cocker on the screens. I think this was during 'Common People'.

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 16d

Nah, they were all about it this morning, you just missed it.

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 18d

I'll allow it

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 18d

Where are you? We're in the nearest brewery!

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Reposted by Gareth Funning

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 19d

This is amazing.

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 21d

If this is Thursday, I must be in... Boston?

Picture of the back of one of the scoreboards at Fenway Park in Boston, the home of the Red Sox

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 22d

This is a fantastic affirmation of the high-quality work that the EarthScope staff have been doing for years, and the vision and mission that they and their leaders communicated in the proposal! Congratulations to all involved! Proud to be a part of it!

EarthScope Consortium @earthscope.org · 22d

In June 2024, EarthScope Consortium submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to operate the National Geophysical Facility (NGF). We are thrilled to announce that EarthScope has been selected as the operator of NSF NGF.

➡️ https://loom.ly/gfaXxQ8

Graphic announcing EarthScope Consortium as operator of the NSF National Geophysical Facility

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Reposted by Gareth Funning

EarthScope Consortium @earthscope.org · 22d

In June 2024, EarthScope Consortium submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to operate the National Geophysical Facility (NGF). We are thrilled to announce that EarthScope has been selected as the operator of NSF NGF.

➡️ https://loom.ly/gfaXxQ8

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 26d

Our museum scientist took the lead on these, and solicited suggestions at the start of the summer. It just takes one person!

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Reposted by Gareth Funning

William H. Grover @wgrover.bsky.social · 26d

❤️❤️❤️ these posters in the Geology building at UC Riverside ❤️❤️❤️

Seriously, why aren't we putting messages like these everywhere? I'd happily chip in some pro-NSF and pro-NIH billboards? 🧪

The internet is the
greatest single scientific innovation of the 20th century
Brought to you by NSF

NSF Funds
Supercomputing
Facilities
Bringing You:
Weather Forecasts
Heat Advisories

NSF and NASA
Maintain GPS
Satelites
Bringing You:
Navigation Apps

NSF Funds
Supercomputing
Facilities
Bringing You:
Surf Forecasts
Severe Weather Alerts

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 26d

Throwing tea into a harbor? Going on a horse ride in the middle of the night?

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Gareth Funning @gfun.earth · 26d

Surely "fluids" is the explanation for everything we don't understand in geoscience?

xkcd Bot @xkcd-bot.bsky.social · 26d

Mantle Model
https://xkcd.com/3141/

(alt-text too long for a BlueSky message, see image alt-text instead)

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3141

Mantle plumes explain Hawaii, Yellowstone, Iceland, the East African Rift, the Adirondack uplift, the Permian extinction, the decline of Rome, the DB Cooper hijacking, and the balrog in Moria. Those little hills of sand in your yard are caused by antle plumes.

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