In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Dana Skorupa, Assistant Research Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Montana State University. Dr. Skorupa explains what bioprospecting is and how Yellowstone's thermophiles could help human society! She also shares stories from her time conducting thermophilic research in Yellowstone's backcountry. We hope you enjoy the podcast, and we thank you for listening!

In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are again visiting with Dr. Bill Inskeep, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences here at Montana State University. Dr. Inskeep shares about his lifelong research searching for new life in Yellowstone! He explains his work on metagenomics, and how microbial life in Yellowstone could give us clues about both the origins of life here on Earth and how life might survive on other planets! We hope you enjoy the podcast, and we thank you for listening!

In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are visiting with Dr. Bill Inskeep, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences here at Montana State University. Thermophiles are the tiny microorganisms that are often responsible for the beautiful colors around many of Yellowstone's thermal features, and Bill has been researching them in Yellowstone for 30 years! He shares all about the diversity of thermophiles found in the park. Why do certain species grow in certain places and how do these tiny microorganisms create all the fantastic colors visitors enjoy in the park? Bill has the answers for us! We hope you enjoy the podcast and we thank you for listening!

In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are again talking with Dr. Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge, of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO). Dr. Poland shares the story of the July 23rd, 2024 hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin. He explains why hydrothermal explosions can be a risk to park visitors, and what YVO is doing to learn about them and hopefully reduce future risks from these geologic hazards!

*EDITOR'S NOTE – At 42:44, Dr. Poland discusses the temporary deployment of seismometers and acoustic sensors at Black Diamond Pool. This summer YVO was successful in permanently installing a camera and a seismic/acoustic station in the area.

If you are interested in learning more about YVO and Yellowstone's volcano and geology, you can check our Caldera Chronicles here:

https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/caldera-chronicles

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we thank you for listening!

In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge, of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO). Dr. Poland shares all about YVO and their role in monitoring the Yellowstone volcano and keeping the public informed about its activity. Dr. Poland is also pretty confident that the Yellowstone volcano won't erupt any time soon, and he shares why!

If you are interested in learning more about YVO and Yellowstone's volcano and geology, you can check our Caldera Chronicles here:

https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/caldera-chronicles

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we thank you for listening!

In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are again visiting with Mara Reed, a graduate student in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Mara shares her in-depth knowledge of Yellowstone's tallest geyser, Steamboat Geyser. Steamboat is perhaps Yellowstone's most sought after geyser for geyser gazers, erupting over 400 feet in the air. It's a fickle geyser though, often erupting months or even years apart. Mara highlights her research on why Steamboat might be so erratic and how research about Steamboat might inform other research about volcanoes. We hope you enjoy the podcast and we thank you for listening!

In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are joined by Mara Reed, a graduate student in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Geysers are Mara's passion, and she shares what makes geysers different from other thermal features in the park and how they work. We also talk about Mara's work with GeyserTimes, where geyser gazers collect and share data about all of Yellowstone's geysers! You can visit GeyserTimes here:

https://geysertimes.org/

We hope you enjoy the podcast and we thank you for listening!

In our second season of Bison Jam, we are focusing on the “hot side” of Yellowstone. In this episode, we are again visiting with Dr. Madison Myers, a volcanologist, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Montana State University. Dr. Myers talks more about the Yellowstone hotspot's recent history and her research team's work on previous eruptions. We explore the three major eruptions in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and her work mapping them. She even shares that there may have been smaller eruptions we are just learning about! We hope you enjoy the podcast and we thank you for listening!