Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Aug 20

My latest for @quantamagazine.bsky.social, a Q&A with @karenlloyd.bsky.social on the hidden worlds living within Earth's crust.

Favorite new word: aeonophiles, in reference to microbes that may live for 100,000s or even **millions** of years, just riding out the waves of geologic events 🤯.

Karen Lloyd @karenlloyd.bsky.social · Aug 20

Great new article about the cool stuff we're finding (improbably) alive deep inside Earth's crust! Nice work, @laurapoppick.bsky.social at @quantamagazine.bsky.social www.quantamagazine.org/the-pursuit-...

The Pursuit of Life Where It Seems Unimaginable | Quanta Magazine

A decade ago, Karen Lloyd discovered single-celled microbes living beneath the seafloor. Now she studies how they can survive in Earth’s crust, possibly for hundreds or thousands of years, and push li...

www.quantamagazine.org

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Reposted by Laura Poppick

Curious Reading Club @readcurious.xyz · Aug 1

📣 Our book of the month for August is... STRATA: STORIES FROM DEEP TIME by @laurapoppick.bsky.social

We loved this detailed, deliberate overview of geoscience—and its mixture of lyrical prose and detailed profiles of researchers and the things they study.

newsletter.readcurious.xyz/p/announcing...

Deep thoughts on deep time with August's book of the month

Laura Poppick's "Strata" takes the long view on geology.

newsletter.readcurious.xyz

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Aug 20

Honored that @pointreyesbooks.bsky.social selected Strata for their summer subscription! And also love that they have a subscription service, what a great idea. 🤩

Thanks Point Reyes Books and all of the other small independent bookstores helping to get this thing in the hands of readers 🙏.

Point Reyes Books @pointreyesbooks.bsky.social · Aug 20

We're excited to announce our summer Thinking Like a Mountain subscription pick: Laura Poppick's 'Strata: Stories from Deep Time'. @laurapoppick.bsky.social

To learn more about our subscription club, visit ptreyesbooks.com/TLAM.

Four copies of Strata: Stories from Deep Time in a carton

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Reposted by Laura Poppick

Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · Aug 4

In 2024, researchers reported a startling finding: deep-sea rock formations—known as polymetallic nodules—may be producing oxygen in total darkness. The phenomenon, dubbed “dark oxygen,” challenged assumptions about life-supporting chemistry in the deep ocean.

Watch the full video: bit.ly/4foQbHp

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Aug 1

Thanks @literaryhub.bsky.social for listing Strata's cover as one of the best of July!

So grateful to Steve Attardo and the whole team at @wwnorton.com for designing this beauty that captures the essence of the book while also offering a real feast for the eyes.

lithub.com/the-11-best-...

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 28

Thanks for the shout-out @literaryhub.bsky.social!

And such company to be in, my summer reading list is piling up too quickly.

manage.kmail-lists.com/subscription...

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 28

Thank you @drymeadow.bsky.social, ‪so glad that you enjoyed!‬

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 25

Hah, and that compliment means a lot! If I've changed the way one reader views mud, I have achieved at least part of what I have set out to accomplish :).

I also LOVE that your cat's name is Strata...!!

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 24

"Earth itself shaped humankind as we have shaped the planet in return - a relationship that requires repair but that could be rehabilitated with a little more recognition of where we came from."

Thank you, @restingdinoface.bsky.social, for this beautiful review of Strata in @science.org today.

Riley Black 🦕 🏳️‍⚧️ @restingdinoface.bsky.social · Jul 24

Strata: Stories From Deep Time is a beautifully-written book that enthuses over geology in delicious analogies.

Here’s my review in Science.

Stone and its stories

A journalist pens a love letter to geologic history

www.science.org

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 23

Delighted to have this excerpt from Strata out in @literaryhub.bsky.social this week 🧊 🎉

Lit Hub @literaryhub.bsky.social · Jul 22

@laurapoppick.bsky.social explains why glacial ice isn’t just a product of climate, but a force that shapes it.

How an Ancient Ice Age Froze the Entire Earth—And Helped Humanity Flourish

When you think of ice, maybe your mind first goes to an object. An ice cube, an icicle, a slushy. Something inert, a thing that can be handled. At a certain scale, ice does behave this way. But pil…

buff.ly

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 23

"...it would not only erase all current limits on greenhouse gas pollution from cars, factories, power plants and other sources. It would prevent future administrations from trying to tackle climate change, with lasting implications."

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...

E.P.A. Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change

www.nytimes.com

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 23

Thanks so much @mounty.bsky.social! I've been encouraging my Maine friends to find a beach to read it on, or some other sedimentary environment :).

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · Jul 22

New book day! Can’t wait to dive into this tonight, written by my friend and fellow Mainer, Laura Poppick. Congrats @laurapoppick.bsky.social!

A new hardcover book titled “Strata: Stories from deep time”

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 21

Oh my goodness @bengoldfarb.bsky.social 😍. Youngest and sweetest reader yet! Love that the cover matches her binky.

Ben Goldfarb @bengoldfarb.bsky.social · Jul 21

Letter of rec: reading about deep time aloud to a baby. Thanks to @laurapoppick.bsky.social for helping me start Flo’s fluvial geomorphological education early (she already has the name for it!).

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 18

NYC, see you Monday?

Grab yours tickets to my convo with the brilliant @slaskow.bsky.social at Books Are Magic ✨ 📚

A ticket gets you either a book, or a gift certificate to the store!

Sarah Laskow @slaskow.bsky.social · Jul 16

I will be hanging out with the excellent @laurapoppick.bsky.social next Monday at Books Are Magic to talk about the stories found in the ground. And also MUD.

Come by! Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/in-store-l...

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 18

In addition to an excerpt I have out in @nautil.us this week (nautil.us/the-stories-...)

...I also had a lot of fun writing this 3 Greatest Revelations piece about what surprised me as I researched the book:

nautil.us/when-earth-h...

When Earth Had No Fire

Laura Poppick’s 3 greatest revelations while writing her book, Strata: Stories from Deep Time

nautil.us

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 18

Delighted to have an excerpt from STRATA out in @nautil.us this week! 🪨🌏💫

nautil.us/the-stories-...

The Stories Rocks Tell Us

Lessons for our current Earth from the geologic past

nautil.us

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 17

Thanks so much @katieholten.bsky.social!

Katie Holten @katieholten.bsky.social · Jul 17

Excited to dive into Strata: Stories from Deep Time by @laurapoppick.bsky.social. Happy pub day!

#booksky #naturewriting #earth

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Reposted by Laura Poppick

cara giaimo @cjgiaimo.bsky.social · Jul 17

cambridge/somerville/environs - hop over to
@harvardbookstore.bsky.social
tonight where we'll be traveling very deep into the past with
@laurapoppick.bsky.social
and her new book, STRATA: STORIES FROM DEEP TIME! www.harvard.com/event/laura-...

the new book "Strata: Stories from Deep Time," arranged on top of a pile of fabric swatches meant to resemble layers of Earth

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 16

Thank you @1juliarosen.bsky.social! Looking forward to holding your book in the not-too-distant future as well 📚🙏.

Julia Rosen @1juliarosen.bsky.social · Jul 16

Beyond excited for this book to be in the world! Congrats, @laurapoppick.bsky.social!! Get your copy here: wwnorton.com/books/strata And order prints of the stunning art by @sarahmgilman.bsky.social at www.etsy.com/shop/HiddenD...

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Reposted by Laura Poppick

Sarah Gilman @sarahmgilman.bsky.social · Jul 16

Buy Laura's book! I feel privileged to have art alongside her gorgeous prose. Also, that cover! Amazing work, whoever designed it (and listened to Laura's excellent insights and taste regarding the arresting beauty of vintage geologic diagrams.)

Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 15

STRATA is officially out in the world today!

Very grateful to @wwnorton.com for publishing this book, and to @sarahmgilman.bsky.social for gracing the pages with her beautiful illustrations.

So looking forward to sharing this with readers! Find upcoming events here:

laurapoppick.com

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 16

Come on out NYC!

We'll talk deep time and, indeed, MUD.

Sarah Laskow @slaskow.bsky.social · Jul 16

I will be hanging out with the excellent @laurapoppick.bsky.social next Monday at Books Are Magic to talk about the stories found in the ground. And also MUD.

Come by! Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/in-store-l...

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 15

Thanks @mainepublic.org for having me as a panelist on Maine Calling this morning!

Listen to the episode on deep time + rocks of Maine here:
www.mainepublic.org/show/maine-c...

Geology: Stories of Earth's Layers

We discuss a new book about how geology reveals Earth's deep history, and learn how Maine's geological history fits into the global picture

www.mainepublic.org

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Reposted by Laura Poppick

Zoë Schlanger @zoeschlanger.bsky.social · Jul 15

looking forward to reading this one

Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 15

STRATA is officially out in the world today!

Very grateful to @wwnorton.com for publishing this book, and to @sarahmgilman.bsky.social for gracing the pages with her beautiful illustrations.

So looking forward to sharing this with readers! Find upcoming events here:

laurapoppick.com

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Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 15

STRATA is officially out in the world today!

Very grateful to @wwnorton.com for publishing this book, and to @sarahmgilman.bsky.social for gracing the pages with her beautiful illustrations.

So looking forward to sharing this with readers! Find upcoming events here:

laurapoppick.com

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Reposted by Laura Poppick

cara giaimo @cjgiaimo.bsky.social · Jul 14

come see Laura teach me about my new favorite thing, ROCKS!!!!!

Laura Poppick @laurapoppick.bsky.social · Jul 14

Calling all Boston/Cambridge folks!

I'll be in conversation with the smart + funny @cjgiaimo.bsky.social this Thursday at Harvard Book Store to celebrate the launch of STRATA.

Please come on out! More info:

www.harvard.com/event/laura-...

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