Kersti Mitchell

Rainfall triggers extreme humid heat in tropics and subtropics Scientists believe they have found a way to improve warning systems for vulnerable communities threatened by humid heatwaves, which are on the rise due to climate change and can damage human health.

Research led by Dr Lawrence Jackson and Professor Cathryn Birch in collaboration with @ukceh.bsky.social reveals potential for improved humid heat early warning systems to help vulnerable people prepare for dangerous humid heatwaves.

environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

Researcher with incurable cancer takes on Everest Marathon A cancer and exercise researcher at the University of Leeds is set to run the Everest Marathon in May, just over a year on from her incurable breast cancer diagnosis.

Leeds researcher, Dr Shaunna Burke, is running the Everest Marathon to raise funds for cancer charities — while living with incurable cancer herself. An incredible story of resilience hope and purpose. 💙

👉 Read more: www.leeds.ac.uk/main-index/n...

Our friends at Nature Rich Miterdale need some help this Friday. If you fancy a healthy combo of practical conservation tasks, stunning views & occasional lounging in the sun, use the link below to book. Pls share.
@leedsleaf.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social

www.trybooking.com/uk/events/la...?

Soil conditions significantly increase rainfall in megastorm hotspots Large contrasts in soil moisture levels over a wide area can increase the size and intensity of so-called megastorms which cause flooding and mudslides in hotspots across the globe.

Large contrasts in soil moisture levels can increase the intensity of destructive storms ⛈️ which cause flooding and mudslides in hotspots across the globe, according to new research by @ukceh.bsky.social @johnmarsham.bsky.social @dougparkermeteo.bsky.social
www.leeds.ac.uk/main-index/n...

A child wearing a VR headset, with a member of staff explaining how it works

Be Curious, the University’s family open day is back on Saturday 17 May 🌟

Join us and get hands on with the research that happens here at Leeds, as campus transforms into a hive of family-friendly activities.

See the full programme and book your tickets👇
www.leeds.ac.uk/becurious

Mini rolling robot takes virtual biopsies A tiny magnetic robot which can take 3D scans from deep within the body, that could revolutionise early cancer detection, has been developed by researchers.

A mini, magnetic, rolling robot that can take 'virtual biopsies' has been created by a team of researchers, led by engineers from @universityofleeds.bsky.social. They believe it could revolutionise early cancer detection & eliminate the need for physical biopsies.
www.leeds.ac.uk/main-index/n...
🧵⬇️

Damaging UK winter storms driven by swirling polar vortex miles above Earth Powerful winter storms which led to deaths and power outages in the UK and Ireland were made more likely by an intense swirling vortex of winds miles above the Arctic, say scientists.

Researchers have pinpointed a reason for winter storm clusters such as Dudley, Eunice and Franklin, which hit the nation over one week in February 2022 – a stratospheric polar vortex.

environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

Mount Everest, with tents in the foreground, on a sunny day

Today marks the first ever #WorldGlaciersDay ❄️

Glaciers are the water towers of the world, supplying freshwater to over half of humanity, but they are at the frontline of the climate crisis.

Find out about the important research and glacier initiatives that Leeds academics are involved with 👇🧊

Working together to rewild This World Rewilding Day, we celebrate the faculty's collaborative research and practical projects that build understanding and action on rewilding for biodiversity, ecosystems and the climate.

Today is #WorldRewildingDay! 🌼

Our colleagues collaborate with communities, farmers and partners to support biodiversity, ecosystems and the climate in ways that benefit everyone.

Read about some of our research here: environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

We are looking for a dynamic Head of Student Communications at the @universityofleeds.bsky.social to engage our diverse student community with creative, impactful messaging.

Find out more and apply here: jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

Public invited to share views on park life Thousands of people living in Leeds and Bradford will be surveyed about how they use parks and green spaces to improve access for all.

Are you safe and included in your local green spaces? 🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏿🌳

Researchers are asking people in Leeds and Bradford to share their experiences with parks. They'll then work with the councils to help improve access for all.

Complete the survey: bit.ly/m/GreenAWARE

environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

Parasites are ecological dark matter – and they need protecting Save the pandas, sure, but what about the worms in their guts?

Parasites have a bad reputation, but they need protection from extinction too. 🦟
Timothy Brown and Dr Simon Goodman @bioscienceleeds.bsky.social and Professor Andrew Cunningham @zslofficial.bsky.social make the case for parasite protection in @theconversation.com:
theconversation.com/parasites-ar...

🚀 We’re celebrating 1,000 published articles in @uk.theconversation.com, written by researchers and academics at the @universityofleeds.bsky.social🎉

Check them all out here: theconversation.com/institutions...

Or keep reading for the top 10 most-read articles from the University🧵⬇️

Women are three times as likely as men to feel unsafe in parks – here’s how we can design them better How designing better parks can help gender equality.

"Simply having a park nearby is not enough – they must be welcoming and safe for all."
In this article for @uk.theconversation.com, @annabarker.bsky.social, @jenniegray.bsky.social and @vikkimaps.bsky.social explain why these spaces can feel unsafe for women. 🏞️
theconversation.com/women-are-th...

How we can better utilise data to tackle the national school attendance crisis - Dr Megan Wood We are facing a national school attendance crisis. Government figures show that nearly one in five of compulsory school-aged children are persistently absent - missing at least one school day every fo...

1 in 5 compulsory school-age children are missing a day of school every fortnight.
How can we tackle this crisis? The key is data, Dr Megan Wood explains in today's @yorkshirepost.co.uk ⬇️
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion...
@childofthenorth.bsky.social @policyleeds.bsky.social

Should love ever be behind a paywall? 💸

25% of UK dating app users pay for the services, contributing to £150m+ in yearly revenue. What if dating apps weren’t for profit?

Leeds lecturer Dr @lukebrunning.bsky.social explores the idea of a non-profit model in our latest podcast 👇

bit.ly/3WWr6vg

Great to see @domspracklen.bsky.social explaining this fascinating @universityofleeds.bsky.social study showing that reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands could help address the climate emergency 🐺

Read the full story 👇
bit.ly/4hFeNvM

A Timber Wolf in a woodland

A new Leeds study has shown that reintroducing wolves to the Scottish Highlands could help address the climate emergency 🐺

This reintroduction could lead to an expansion of native woodland, which could take in and store one million tonnes of CO2 annually 🌳

Read the full story 👇
bit.ly/4hFeNvM

A person uses a dating app on a phone with the words'How to fix...' and the University of Leeds logo

💌 Happy #ValentinesDay to app-avoiders and serial swipers!
In the latest episode of How to fix, find out how dating apps are changing our relationships.
🎧Hear from Dr @lukebrunning.bsky.social, Dr Natasha McKeever @clsrleeds.bsky.social and Dr Alessandro Biraglia:
listen.podmasters.uk/HTFDatingApps

Professor Adrian Crellin with a state-of-the art linear accelerator (LINAC) radiotherapy machine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Credit: University of Leeds. 

Professor Adrian Crellin CBE, one of the most senior radiotherapy experts, has shared his experience of being a researcher and cancer patient for #WorldCancerDay.

Professor Crellin was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2016 and awarded a CBE for services to radiotherapy in 2019.

Happy to report that this is a mere hop, skip and a jump from where I live. Nowadays it is home to frequent art exhibitions and even a bit of courtyard Shakespeare!

An elderly person wearing a jumper, gilet and fingerless gloves clutches a warm cup of tea

🎧 How can we stay warm during this cold snap and can we combine our needs for heating with our aims to decarbonise? @universityofleeds.bsky.social experts @undertheground.bsky.social @luciemidd.bsky.social provide some answers in our "How to fix..." podcast 👇👇👇
listen.podmasters.uk/HTFCleanAir?...

"If we don't change our agricultural food production processes, by the end of the century we will need land to the equivalent of two Indias to feed the population."
Food for thought in our latest podcast 👇

YouTube video by Channel 4 News As thousands desert Twitter, is this the end for Elon Musk’s X?

Why have so many users abandoned X? Are platforms like Bluesky calmer and less polarised? 🦋
@drmaximilian.bsky.social from Leeds University Business School gave expert commentary on Channel 4 News last night.
Watch the full report by @andrewmisra.bsky.social ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxKf...

Air Quality Stripes have long-term trends of air pollution in many cities across the world.

Here is London.

Nice work @jimmcquaid.bsky.social & @kirstypringle.bsky.social.

airqualitystripes.info/stripes/?con...

h/t @edhawkins.org

Some end of the day maths.....
A late afternoon request to do live interview to talk about the health impacts of wood burning at 8:35 pm tonight from @kerstimitchell.bsky.social

"Oh go on then" = "you're a legend!"

Green behaviour change is not about telling people what to do – climate advisers Around 10% of emissions cuts needed for 2035 climate targets come from diet and travel changes – but it is about making it ‘easy’, experts said.

How can the government encourage people to make sustainable choices and contribute to lowering emissions?

"Make it easy for consumers to do the right thing," says @piersforster.bsky.social.

www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Switching planes for trains to decarbonise holidays Up to 41% of Britons holidaying abroad could travel by rail instead of air to cut down on carbon emissions, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Leeds.

This is such an interesting debate and has certainly got me thinking about how I travel. Really enjoyed working on this one 🚝✈️

www.leeds.ac.uk/research-32/...

Hot off the presses this morning is @bsky.app sharing feature for our #AirQualityStripes (as ever thanks to Richard Rigby!) airqualitystripes.info/stripes/