BOOK SCIENCE Strata: Stories from Deep Time with Laura Poppick
In this episode of the Book Science Podcast, I talk with science and environmental journalist Laura Poppick about her book, Strata: Stories from Deep Time (Illustrations by Sarah Gilman). We explore the geologic lens, a way of seeing the world that transforms ordinary landscapes into a 4.5-billion-year narrative. From the Great Oxygenation Event to the surprising role of mud in Earth history, Laura explains how geologists decode the Earth through layered rock. We also discuss the her "lyric preludes", which use poetry to set the scene. We also talk about stratigraphy as a contemplative, almost meditative practice of paying attention to the planet's oldest archives.
Beyond the science, we delve into the human side of research and the personal sacrifices involved in field work. Drawing on our shared experiences of working abroad, and we reflect on how studying deep time provides a humbling perspective on our own lives. Whether discussing the literal taste of dinosaur bones or the ancient smell of prehistoric lakebeds, this conversation emphasizes that science is a powerful tool for connection, both with each other and with this our only home, the Earth.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The Great Oxygenation Event (2.4 billion years ago)
- Rise of plants and the evolution of mud/rivers (458 million years ago)
- The Ediacaran period (first visible life)
- Stratigraphy as meditation and mindfulness
- Deep time and Earth's history
- Field work in South Australia and Dingle, Ireland
Find Laura Poppick:
- Laura's website
- Laura's substack
- Laura on bluesky
- Laura's science book recommendations: View the List
Book Science:
- Website: TrippCollins.com
- Show notes & transcripts: https://www.trippcollins.com/episodes
- Check out the Book Science Book Shop on BookShop.org
- Instagram: @booksciencepodcast