Listen "Zanclean Megaflood"
Episode Synopsis
We discuss the Zanclean Megaflood, a massive flood event that filled the Mediterranean Sea in a remarkably short period. The episode dives into the geological events and evidence leading up to this flood, challenging the earlier gradualist theories and promoting a catastrophic model.We are joined by Mike Sowden, whose engaging Twitter thread about the Zanclean Megaflood reached over 10 million people. Sowden, a travel writer and science communicator, shares insights on his curiosity-driven approach to science writing and storytelling. They explore other massive geological events, the nature of scientific discovery, and the human stories behind scientific advancements.The episode is filled with fascinating facts, storytelling techniques, and a deep appreciation for the wonders of our planet.If you want to find out more about certain topics that come up, you can try these:Julian May Sci-Fi books.Roland Emmerich disaster films.Previous Al Humphreys and Brendan Leonard podcast episodes.Missoula Floods in the USA.Episode Summary00:00 Introduction and Hosts00:45 Introducing the ZanClean Megaflood01:43 Special Guest: Mike Sowden03:01 Mike Sowden's Journey and Writing Style07:29 The ZanClean Megaflood: Geological Background12:55 The Catastrophic Flood Event17:25 Speculations and Analogies22:33 Doggerland and Other Historical Floods23:43 The Storegga Slide and Doggerland Tsunamis24:45 Dating the Storegga Slide25:06 The Zanclean Megaflood27:23 The Role of Storytelling in Science Communication32:23 The Human Element in Engineering34:30 The Fascination with Scientists' Obsessions40:54 Geological Events and Their Impact45:53 The Process of Science Writing50:42 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAll music on this podcast series is provided by the highly talented Franc Cinelli Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More episodes of the podcast Sketchplanations - The Podcast
Family Tree Explainer
30/12/2025
Continuous Partial Attention
16/12/2025
The Pomodoro Technique
18/11/2025
Canal Locks with David Macauley
04/11/2025
Ordering Adjectives with Author Mark Forsyth
21/10/2025
Jevon's Paradox
09/10/2025
How to Instantly Feel Better
11/09/2025
The Virtuous Cycle of Exercise & Sleep
24/07/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.