Matt Smith

A bunch of people from the forestry industry replying to or quoting this post along the lines of, 'Don't believe your own senses, plantations of alien trees are actually great.'

My response?

"It's hard to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it."

*** 1 metre of rain ***

YouTube video by The YEARS Project Did Climate Change Cause This Hurricane?

Hurricane Melissa could be one of the most worst hurricanes on record for Jamaica...and it's a textbook example of how climate change is making hurricanes more dangerous: explosive intensification, slow movement, and massive rainfall.

If you know any there, please make sure they’re prepared 🙏

Have you noticed plane turbulence is getting worse?

It’s not your imagination. It’s climate change.

Aerobiologia Aerobiologia focuses on respiratory allergology, plant pathology, pest management, biological weathering and biodeterioration, indoor air quality, ...

To mark four decades of publishing cutting-edge research, Aerobiologia invites submissions to a special Topical Collection exploring the evolving role of Aerobiology within the #PlanetaryHealth framework.

Read more about the call link.springer.com/journal/1045...

Autumnal forest floor scene of leaves, red squirrel, fungi, nuts, jay in flight in distance and thrush, falling leaves, illustration.

🖼️ Tunnicliffe, What To Look For In Autumn, 1960.

I’m happy to announce the publication of a new paper in Aerobiologia. I managed to play a small part.

rdcu.be/eLpKZ

#aerobiology #pollen #fungalspores

University of Worcester to head study into arthritis in farmers Researchers will go to large agricultural shows and markets, developing contact with farmers.

Great to see this research into an important aspect of rural health, led by my former colleague Nick Evans @worcesteruni.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Two of the 4 Merveille du Jour caught last night in the moth trap. North Herefordshire SO24

25/10 sp last night, even with good conditions (cloud cover and mild). 4 Merv’s bumped the numbers up, Dark Sword Grass, Barred Sallow, Red-Green Carpet and Brown Spot Pinion creeping the new garden list up to 20. North Herefordshire #TeamMoth

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire.

Like pulling the plug of a bathtub: an incredible mass of #glacier ice disappearing at Griesgletscher (🇨🇭/🇮🇹) in one century.
It felt emotional to visit the exact same spot @swisstopo cartographers chose in 1919. The view was so different.
Simply unbelievable!!
@vaw-glaciology.bsky.social

A fairy ring of Fly Agarics was a wonderful surprise this afternoon. Instantly recognisable, Fly Agarics are so vivid they have an unworldly feel to them and to see so many really did seem magical, straight from the pages of a fairy tale!! 🍄🧚

WOW #FungiFriends! My favourite Amanita spot didn’t disappoint!!! I nearly lost my mind, a whole FAIRY RING of Fly Agarics, some as big as dinner plates!! 🥰🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🧚
#FungiFriday

RIP #JaneGoodall - one of the modern pioneers of profound interconnections between people, animals and ecosystems. Her life was lived through science, compassion and tireless advocacy for the multiple values of nature - leaving a legacy that will endure for people and planet.

The changing colors of autumn across the northeastern United States were captured in detail by NOAA-20.

I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA

10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)

No, a new one on me

Spotted dick and bread and butter pudding, the desserts of legend. This poor excuse for a wordsmith should be tarred and feathered and run out of town!

Climate change is not a con-job. If you want to know more about the evidence for and causes of #ClimateChange, head to our website: royalsociety.org/news-resourc...

“Climate change is real - the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities is resulting in fundamental changes to our planet. It is increasing the risk of extreme weather, warming the ocean and causing ice caps to melt resulting in sea level rise,” 1/3

It a shame these birds are so shy. Stunning adult male hiding itself within the Gorse.

A well hidden Ring Ouzel eating a Blackberry

1 Ring Ouzel was at the top of Happy Valley in between Table Hill & North Hill this afternoon. I was lucky to watch it eat some Blackberries before he become typically elusive. My 1st Ouzel of the autumn. Of note, 12 Stonechat. 4 Green Woodpecker. Kestrel & Sparrowhawk. #MalvernHills #WorcsBirds

I forgot to add that all birds ringed under licence

Make goldcrest (Regulus regulus)

A male goldcrest (Regulus regulus) caught this morning at Malvern during a post CES visit. The UK’s smallest bird, sometimes incorrectly called ‘ the king of the birds’ (that is obviously the wren) #ukbirding

Alan Kurdi, dead on a beach

It is very nearly the tenth anniversary of that brief moment when, for 2 or 3 days, British newspapers remembered refugees are desperate human beings who need our help, rather than scum that it's okay to threaten with violence.

Not seen a swift in Worcester for 2 weeks now.

As I travel through the British countryside I realise I love seeing solar and wind farms. They look cool and represent something hopeful and inspiring about a possible future of energy independence and resilience. Also I know they annoy Liz Truss and Donald Trump which is a bonus.

Kick Big Oil Out of Plastics Talks Fossil fuel companies want to keep flooding our home with plastic for profit. They’re trying to block action to tackle plastic pollution - we must stop them.

Sign the petition calling on the UN to ban fossil fuel lobbyists from the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. Companies like Shell make billions turning oil and gas into #plastic - so they’re trying to sabotage the talks act.gp/3YxOUXa

#plasticpollution #climatechange #climatecrisis #noplanetb

Open Planet launches new ocean collection #OpenPlanet has released thousands of cinematic clips for education and impact storytelling, including world-class footage captured by Open Planet Studios and Silverback Films during the filming of Ocean with David Attenborough.

Open Planet is doing some great stuff, and this is an incredible resource for anyone telling stories about the ocean:
thousands of cinematic clips themed around marine issues and environments available to everyone.

Seeing is believing, and this will help everyone see.

openplanet.org/news/...

Well done Matt for your correct answer! 👏 The mysterious figure hiding in the grass is indeed a brown hawker dragonfly, which is distinguished from all other dragonflies by its golden brown wings.

Good morning to you all! We hope you have had a wonderful weekend 😃

Our colleague Ion was recently trying to capture a photo of this critter when a blade of grass dashed his efforts at the critical moment. For this week's #MysteryMonday, can you tell us what's hiding behind the dastardly grass? 🔍

Take a long hard look at this graphic, the longest continuous direct measurement of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This is the famous Keeling Curve from the station atop Mauna Loa, Hawaii.
Trump and the GOP are closing the observatory.

scripps.ucsd.edu/bluemoon/co2...