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PODCAST

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

science earth sciences

All Episodes

31:16

49: The Fossil Quest

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/11/05

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

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31:11

48: The Impossible Rock

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/10/22

What is the hardest rock to make? Today's rock is very common in Earth's ancient past, and it should be everywhere today. However, it's nearly impossible to form in nature or the laboratory. Some experiments have tried for 32 years with no success! This rock is dolomite. Today, we address The Dolomite Problem, one of geology's longest-running mysteries. Along the way, we'll meet some smelly but helpful bacteria, sort a fruit stand, and learn about the cutting edge of geology research.Extra Credit:

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37:19

47: The Limestone Family

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/10/08

Donate to support the show- anything is appreciated!Today is a tale of two sisters: limestone and dolomite. Limestone is far more popular and well-behaved, one of the most common stones in nature and in architecture. Dolomite, though similar in many ways, is one of the most difficult rocks to make on Earth. Even dolomite’s name is a bone of contention. Today, we introduce both siblings to the show as we move forward in time, 3.75 billion years ago. Along the way, I’ll give you a real experiment to

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37:13

46: Rising From the Ashes

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/09/24

What types of volcanoes were erupting 3.8 billion years ago? Today, we meet a new type of rock and a new type of volcano, far more powerful and dangerous than those we've met so far. The old volcano is long dead, but the scars it left behind can still be seen across the Greenland landscape. Along the way, we'll learn how different types of lavas are made, why a few rocks can float in water, and learn about a field trip Dylan took to Iceland in 2010. Extra Credit: Eat a grilled cheese sandwich, blow

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27:52

45: As Above, So Below

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/09/10

What was Earth's mantle like 3.8 billion years ago, and how do we know? The mantle is a realm that humans have never visited, and examining it is only harder in the ancient past. Fortunately, the mantle sometimes gifts us with beautiful green rocks from the deep, souvenirs of an unknown underworld. Today, we learn how the mantle has changed over time, and its surprising connections to outer space. On the way, we'll meet the father of geochemistry, revisit old asteroid friends, and learn why you

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24:55

44: From the Abyss

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/08/27

What is the world's oldest slice of mantle, and how did it reach the surface? Today, we'll meet the first tangible piece of the world below the crust, a world humans still have not visited. Along the way, we'll meet an old mineral friend from Season 1, a researcher named Friend, and learn how diamonds can be a geologist's best friend when looking for slices of the mantle.Extra Credit: Clean your bathtub, or call an old friend.Donate to support the show- anything is appreciated!

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30:19

43: Postcards From the Edge

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/08/13

In 1971, two geologists traveled to the edge of Greenland's ice sheet. What they found were the oldest rocks known at the time, 3.8-3.7 billion years old. Shockingly, they were in decent condition, sparking a half-century of geology stories. Today we'll begin our tour of Isua, the final destination of Season 2. Along the way, we'll meet a Holocaust survivor who landed on top of the world, visit an iron mine surrounded by glaciers, and start to meet the highest-quality rocks of this season.Extra

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11:13

Audience Survey Results

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/07/30

Two months ago, I made an audience survey focusing on one topic: how would you like to support the show? Many folks answered, and here's what you said about donations, Patreon, ads, and merch. If you want to give your own opinion, take the survey here, put a comment below, or send a message to bedrock.mailbox@gmail.com.If you'd like to give a donation, you can click here- any amount is appreciated!

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31:23

42: The Question of Life

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/07/16

Donate to support the show- anything is appreciated!Click here for the audience survey!Click here to read Dylan's Nature paper!Nearly 30 years ago, one paper claimed to find the oldest evidence for life on Earth. How does that evidence hold up in 2025? Are these fossils or duds? Don’t panic, we’ll answer these questions to life, the universe, and everything in due time. Along the way, we’ll meet the most abundant mineral in the human body, an important fertilizer, and finish a trilogy of intense

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32:41

41: The Oldest Seafloor

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/07/02

In 1991, a mysterious, striped red and gray rock was discovered on a cold Greenland isle. Years later, this rock would rock the scientific world with multiple debates about the early oceans and life. What exactly is this rock, and why do we care? Stay tuned, and on the way, we’ll learn how scientists can officially argue with each other.Extra Credit: Eat something with peanut butter and chocolate, pet a large and a small dog, or make sure your vaccines are up to date!Donate to support the show-

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29:45

40: The Time War

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/06/18

How old is the oldest slice of Earth's seafloor? The answer is more contentious than you would think. Today, we visit one of the most debated locations in the show: a small island off the Greenland shore named Akilia. Everything about these rocks has been contested, and we'll meet three scientists who form cornerstones of the debates.Extra Credit: Watch something on an old CRT TV, or count tree rings in a stump.

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37:31

39: The Shattered Planet

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/06/04

Earth’s crust is shattered into dozens of moving plates, but many other worlds operate very differently. What are some alternatives to plate tectonics?Today, we’ll compare tectonics on Earth with tectonics on other planets, through the lens of 3.9 billion-year-old rocks from Greenland. On the way, we’ll visit the westernmost town in the USA, visit one of our cosmic neighbors, and learn about the Occam’s Razor of geology.Extra Credit: find today’s planet in the night sky, drop a pebble every day this

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32:18

38: Hidden Gems

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/05/21

This season's final arc is set in Greenland. Let's start with the most common rocks in the region: what are they and what stories do they tell about the world 3.9 billion years ago?Along the way, we'll weave a tapestry of stone, boil some rocks, and learn a bit about Dylan's birthstone. Extra credit: try the Play-Doh experiment from this episode, or make some stone soup.Click here for the audience survey!Donate to support the show- anything is appreciated!

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09:05

Bedrock Returns! How to Support the Show

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2025/05/20

We're back! After nearly a year, Dylan has updates about his life and the future of the show. Please take the audience survey in the link below to let Dylan know how you'd like to support the show! Also, please check out the donate button if you like what you've heard so far.Click here for the audience survey!Donate to support the show- anything is appreciated!

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02:35

Life Update: The Job Hunt

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2024/11/08

Hi folks,If you’re a long-term listener, you know this show often takes long, multi-week breaks. This break has been much longer than normal, and will likely continue for a few months. What’s going on?Right now, I have one goal on my mind: to find a new, permanent job.My three-year contract at Grand Valley State University will end in April. I knew this going in, and it’s public information, so don’t worry about any dirt being spilled. In the past three months I have applied for dozens of jobs, and

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02:34

Schedule Update: Iceland Field Trip

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2024/07/11

Hi folks! I've just been invited by my university to join a field trip to Iceland next week, one of the best spots in the world to study geology. This means there will be a slight hiccup in our programming. Episode 38 will drop early next week, while Episode 39 will hopefully drop the first week of August. If I have time and space, I might try some experimental episodes from Iceland itself, field diaries and interviews, but no promises. As always, thanks for your patience and support!

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29:07

37: Metamorphosis

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2024/06/27

Why are some ancient rocks well-preserved, while others are extremely messed up? Today, we'll take a side quest from our Greenland arc to learn more about metamorphosis, which changes rocks beneath our feet. On the way, we'll transform toast into cookies, take an elevator ride deep into the crust, and meet an ancient rock with a babyface. Extra credit: make some toast, or go looking for butterflies.

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22:44

36: The Ghosts of Greenland

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2024/06/12

What is the oldest *major* slice of rock, one that's relatively well-preserved, one that's fueled a half-century of research? The episode's name kinda gives it away, but stay tuned as we meet the last location of Season 2: a series of rocks near Greenland's capital. Along the way, we'll meet the different groups of people who have settled on this remote island, and a geologist from the other side of the world. I'll also take a brief detour into why I unfortunately can't talk about every single

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24:07

35: The Man in the Moon

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2024/05/29

How did the Man in the Moon form? What does the Moon's Far Side look like? Today, we'll learn about the most visible remnant of the ancient world- the pattern of dark lunar rocks that stares down on us each night. On the way, we'll hitch a ride with a flying fax machine, play a game with crystals in magma, and learn why bananas are slightly radioactive (and why that doesn't really matter). Extra Credit: Try to send me a fax, or just eat a banana.

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22:19

34: Bombardment

Bedrock: Earth"s Earliest History ·

2024/05/15

When did the Moon's craters form? Can they tell us any stories about the ancient Solar System? Today, we'll learn some early explanations for lunar features, meet a "lunatic asylum" of planetary geologists, and learn how the larger planets might have bullied their smaller neighbors. Extra Credit: Watch Apollo 13, or The Right Stuff.

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