▪ Abstract Shock wave research was traditionally developed as an element of high-speed gas dynamics supporting supersonic flights and atmospheric reentry of space vehicles. However, recently its scope has expanded to the comprehensive interpretation of shock wave phenomena in nature and the artificial world. In particular, many aspects of volcanoes's explosive eruptions are closely related to shock wave dynamics. One hypothesis proposes that during asteroid impact events that took place millions of years ago underwater shock waves played a decisive role in mass extinction of marine creatures. Shock waves have been successfully applied to medical therapy. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was a wonderful success in noninvasive removal of urinary tract stones. Recently, shock wave therapy was further developed for the revascularization of cerebral embolism, drug delivery, and other interesting therapeutic methods. This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art interdisciplinary applications of shock wave research to geophysics and medicine.