MISSING NUCLEAR LINKS IN GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION

Natural nuclear processes are the ultimate origins of just about all geological materials and phenomena. They are therefore the glue that binds together all aspects of geoscience yet are barely mentioned in textbooks and curricula. Misguided concerns about their “controversial” emotional baggage prevent unbiased teaching of related subjects, with the small exception of radiometric dating. Examples of essential information most often missing from the standard canon include: (1) Nature alone compiled and operated the earliest known fission reactors on Earth, (2) Without nuclear processes, there would be little if any tectonics, magmatism, metamorphism, geothermal energy, etc., and (3) Background radioactivity much higher in the geologic past than the present quite likely contributed significantly to biogenesis and evolution. Real geologic literacy requires a fundamental re-evaluation of the nuclear foundations of our science and the incorporation of the missing links into the content taught future generations.