Stories by Dana Hunter

A confirmed adorer of the good science of rock-breaking, Dana Hunter explores geology with an emphasis on volcanic processes, geology news, and the intersection of science and society. Her home away from SciAm is Dana Hunter's Unconformity

Natural DisastersDecember 28, 2016

Instant Peril: Flash Floods (and How to Survive Them)

Flash floods kill people worldwide. Find out how to survive

Dana Hunter

Image shows an open metal case that resembled a small, fat suitcase. It's lined with a knitted mesh. The interior has a large open space and a smaller rectangular case covered in the same mesh on the right side.

Space & PhysicsDecember 27, 2016

Marvels and Mysteries of the Moon

The moon's made of much tastier stuff than green cheese

Dana Hunter

Image shows a dropper putting liquid in a rack of test tubes, which are filled with various pastel-colored fluids on a blue background. The image is distorted and ripply.

PolicyDecember 26, 2016

Troubling Signs for Science under Trump

The next four years are looking grim for science in America

Dana Hunter

Image is a close-up view of a lump of black anthracite coal from Black Mesa Mine, Arizona.

EarthDecember 23, 2016

Geologists Have an Incentive to Be Naughty

Why you should never try to get a geology buff to behave by threatening them with coal in their stocking

Dana Hunter

Image shows a chalkboard with an eraser and chalk on the tray. Save Education is written on the board.

PolicyNovember 30, 2016

Trump's Presidency Will Be a Disaster for Public Education

The choices Trump is making bode ill for STEM education - and all public schools

Dana Hunter

CultureNovember 28, 2016

Cyber Monday Discounts - Get Gneiss Schist for Cheap!

Today only!

Dana Hunter

Space & PhysicsNovember 27, 2016

The Light of Science

Those who claim ignorance is bliss don't know a thing.

Dana Hunter

EarthNovember 24, 2016

The Real Story of Plymouth Rock

Learn about the erratic past of one of America's most famous rocks

Dana Hunter

EarthOctober 31, 2016

The Prettiest Rock: Blueschist Edition

In which I answer a reader's question and show you something spectacular

Dana Hunter

EvolutionOctober 27, 2016

Evolution and Our Very First Dinosaur!

We're finishing our visit to the Burke with a bang!

Dana Hunter

EarthOctober 20, 2016

A Delicious Selection of Mount Rainier Photos

Enjoy the fruits of our fall trip to one of the country's best volcanoes!

Dana Hunter

Image shows a ghostly moon in a blue sky

EarthOctober 13, 2016

Moon over Mount Saint Helens

An epic photo from an epic trip

Dana Hunter

Natural DisastersOctober 6, 2016

Is California About to Be Destroyed by a Killer Quake?

Find out why you shouldn't panic—but still prepare!

Dana Hunter

EarthSeptember 30, 2016

Ice Age Adventures!

We continue our tour of the Burke Museum, where we meet a mastodon and see some ancient art

Dana Hunter

Image shows a man in tan overalls and a white hard hat standing beside a large fracking well head, which basically looks like a Rube Goldberg device made from fire hydrants, pipes, and metal wheels, piled atop each other and sticking out of a hole in the

EnergySeptember 25, 2016

What the Frack Is Going On?

Is there any truth to the claim that fracking causes earthquakes? Answers are within!

Dana Hunter

EarthSeptember 20, 2016

July/August Best o' the Geoblogosphere

Thrills! Chills! Exploding mountains! And some of the prettiest images of the Grand Canyon you ever did see

Dana Hunter

EarthSeptember 14, 2016

Mud Mountain Dam: Good Clean Fun!

Mud Mountain Dam is a fascinating, record-breaking earthen dam—and right on the way to one of our favorite volcanoes!

Dana Hunter

Natural DisastersAugust 27, 2016

Tectonic Tragedy in Italy

The 2016 central Italy earthquake has claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed cities

Dana Hunter

EarthAugust 24, 2016

Discovering the Discovery Lab!

Today, we visit the Discovery Lab at the Burke Museum and get to act like a bunch of exploring kids!

Dana Hunter

EngineeringAugust 17, 2016

Rio 2016: Olympic Geology

If geology was an Olympic sport, Rio de Janeiro would probably take the gold

Dana Hunter

EarthAugust 4, 2016

Cascades, Volcanoes and Fantastic Fossils! Seattle's Burke Museum, Part 2

Welcome to the second leg of our Burke Museum visit! In this one we get to meet a very awesome sabre kitty, enjoy some of the prettiest rocks and fossils ever, and lie in the center of a volcano

Dana Hunter

EarthJuly 31, 2016

Gemstones and Dinosaurs--Oh My! Seattle's Burke Museum, Part 1

Visiting Seattle with kids? Want geology? In this installment of our occasional series on the subject, we're visiting Burke Museum, which has got plenty of hands-on geology and paleontology for the kids (and adults) to experience! It's a great place to take them on a rainy day. Come explore!

Dana Hunter

Space & PhysicsJuly 27, 2016

6 Reasons New Horizons Rocks

Join me for some icy-sweet geology in the outer solar system, and learn why New Horizons is a great way to spend just under a stadium's worth of money

Dana Hunter

Image shows a wet black schist slope with a white quartz vein running through it.

EarthJuly 24, 2016

What Kind of Rock Would You Be?

A bit ago, I had my En Tequila Es Verdad readers ask some simple geology questions, and they delivered! This is the first in a long series of reader-inspired posts exploring the lighter side of geology

Dana Hunter

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