Patrick Goymer

Happy #WorldWildlifeDay! Very happy that this year's focus is medicinal plants 🌿🌱🌷 Some of our most important medicines come from plants, including the species featured in the @plosone.org papers below! 🔬 #plantsci #plantscience

Medicinal Plants are the theme for #WorldWildlifeDay 2026. These @plosone.org articles explore domestication of opium poppy, salt tolerance in jujube, antibacterial activity in ginseng, and climate change effects on Himalayan rhubarb.

plos.io/3OL4TPF plos.io/4cjgFdM plos.io/4rLZXZg plos.io/4b6rBcp

Lakenheath Fen re-wets land the size of 168 football pitches Lakenheath Fen is helping wildlife to thrive again by rewetting a 296-acre plot of land.

Fenland re-wetting project at @rspb.bsky.social Lakenheath, aiming to benefit species such as lapwing, oystercatcher, redshank and water vole.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

March is #Endometriosis Awareness Month, and this Editorial by Alex Tosun (@atosun.bsky.social) discusses why greater awareness, education, funding and research for this systemic condition is imperative to redefining pain, equity, and investment in women’s health 🧪🌻 #Medsky
plos.io/4slvscE

David Marques was an amazing speciation genomics researcher, a passionate birder, and a wonderful friend, husband, and father. May he rest in peace. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are essential for both human health and ecological balance. They play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems by stabilizing soils, promoting biodiversity and providing essential resources for pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds.

➡️ wildlifeday.org/en

Assessment of Beauveria bassiana as an endophyte of maize and its effects on plant growth Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) is an insect pathogenic fungus that is well established as a microbial biopesticide. It occurs naturally in agricultural soil and…

A new study by Kropf and Gassmann finds that the microbial biopesticide fungus Beauveria bassiana can colonize maize endophytically (roots, stems, leaves) without affecting plant growth, offering insights into approaches to manage pests of maize.

AquaX: An enhanced and revised AquaMaps framework to model marine species distributions and biodiversity Marine biodiversity underpins ecosystem health and is critical for the provision of essential ecological services. Global efforts to mitigate biodiversity loss are underway but require comprehensive…

A new study by Reygondeau and colleague presents AquaX from @aquamaps.bsky.social, an enhanced open access modeling framework that improves global predictions of marine species distributions and biodiversity patterns at scales relevant to conservation.

plos.io/4tP4StT

New @plosbiology.org code sharing policy. In this Editorial, @npariente.bsky.social and Lauren Cadwallader explain the policy and offer guidance on compliance, noting that code sharing remains less well understood than equivalent requirements for data and ethics.

journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

Reimagining care of people living with rare diseases with artificial intelligence In this Perspective, Tudor Groza and colleagues discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform rare disease care when organized around the patient journey, outlining a patient-clinician-AI…

In recognition of Rare Disease Day, this Perspective by Tudor Groza & co discusses how AI can transform rare disease care when organized around patients, outlining a patient-clinician-AI triad spanning diagnosis, clinical trials, & individualized therapies🧪 #RareDiseaseDay

Rare Disease Day 2026: Diverse community, common challenges - EveryONE This blog was prepared and written by PLOS One Associate Editor Alejandro Torrado Pacheco. Since its inception in 2008, Rare Disease Day is observed…

My @plosone.org colleague Alejandro interviewed some of our amazing Academic Editors ahead of International Rare Disease Day, who talked about the importance of #openaccess and #openscience in this challenging field! Read more here: everyone.plos.org/2026/02/27/r... 🧪🔬🦠

Rare Disease Day 2026: Diverse community, common challenges - EveryONE This blog was prepared and written by PLOS One Associate Editor Alejandro Torrado Pacheco. Since its inception in 2008, Rare Disease Day is observed…

For #RareDiseaseDay, @plosone.org Academic Editors share their thoughts on the difficulty in obtaining diagnoses for rare disorders, the significant hurdle this poses to both clinical care and scientific understanding, and the importance of equitable access to scientific knowledge.

New @plosbiology.org code sharing policy. In this Editorial, @npariente.bsky.social and Lauren Cadwallader explain the policy and offer guidance on compliance, noting that code sharing remains less well understood than equivalent requirements for data and ethics.

journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

Bao et al call for the integration of natural solutions such as wetland restoration into the early phases of urban planning, to increase resilience and decrease flood risk.

Despite all the chatter, social media bans for teens lack evidence! New paper out in Nature Health.

(1) Harms from social media are real & serious.

(2) We need regulatory action but bans are not nuanced, do not empower youth, & are not supported by evidence.

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Exploring the bioherbicide and in vitro biofungicide effects of pistachio hulls for their use in sustainable agriculture Agriculture requires sustainable approaches for effective weed management reducing the negative consequences of synthetic herbicides. In this context, some agricultural by-products such as pistachio h...

I admit I've only just realised today is #WorldPistachioDay! Fortunately, given the amount and broad range of research we publish in @plosone.org, I can share this recent study looking at the potential of pistachio hulls for weed control in sustainable agriculture:

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Many flat‑faced dogs struggle more with breathing than we realize 🐶

A new @plosone.org study explores the risk of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) across fourteen short‑skulled breeds, shedding light on which features make breathing harder ⬇️

Exploring the bioherbicide and in vitro biofungicide effects of pistachio hulls for their use in sustainable agriculture Agriculture requires sustainable approaches for effective weed management reducing the negative consequences of synthetic herbicides. In this context, some agricultural by-products such as pistachio h...

I admit I've only just realised today is #WorldPistachioDay! Fortunately, given the amount and broad range of research we publish in @plosone.org, I can share this recent study looking at the potential of pistachio hulls for weed control in sustainable agriculture:

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

Coral spawning patterns in the Gulf of Thailand reveal synchronised annual daytime spawning, with a review of spawning patterns in Pavona corals across the Indo-Pacific Global documentation of coral spawning has been increasing, yet remains restricted to corals and reefs for which established patterns have largely been identified, being overwhelmingly associated…

A new study by @noxaspidea.bsky.social and colleagues reveals synchronised annual daytime spawning by Pavona varians and Pavona explanulata corals across over 450 km of coastline along the Eastern Gulf of Thailand and Cambodia.

Some dog breeds carry a higher risk of breathing problems Research reveals more short-snouted dogs besides pugs and bulldogs that struggle with breathing. Pekingese and Japanese Chins topped the study's list.

Smooshed “brachycephalic“ snouts such as those found in pugs and French bulldogs bring heightened risk of breathing problems. Scientists have quantified the severity across more than a dozen breeds.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/dog-breed-high-risk-breathing-problems

Five ways to spot when a paper is a fraud Science sleuths share their common-sense tips for sniffing out fishy articles.

@sjmelchor.bsky.social writes for @nature.com about how to spot dubious papers, interviewing @elisabethbik.bsky.social, @abalkina.bsky.social, @jabyrnesci.bsky.social, myself and and my fellow @cosig.net maintainers @solalpirelli.bsky.social and Yagmur Ozturk!

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Identifying avian influenza hotspots in wild birds in the Netherlands Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) threatens wild and domestic birds, mammals, and humans. The global spread of HPAI through wild birds requires timely, spatially accurate detection for…

A new study by Petie and colleagues used prediction models to identify spatial hotspots of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in wild birds in the Netherlands, helping to guide targeted surveillance and sampling efforts.

After years of hard work and casting a wide net of collaboration, we are happy to share the first consistent spawning of this kind from the northern hemisphere. This is a huge step for our regional conservation planning as we shift toward long term goals.

Link in the comments!
#MarineEcology 🌐🌏🪸🌊🦑

Mentoring Award: Escobar Briones | The Oceanography Society The Oceanography Society (TOS) has selected Dr. Elva Escobar Briones of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, as the recipient of the TOS Mentoring…

Congrats to Elva Escobar Briones for receiving the @tosoceanography.bsky.social Mentoring Award at #OSM26, with 'a deep commitment to expanding access to ocean science.'

Dr. Escobar Briones' research in @plosone.org: plos.io/4aDp9eE plos.io/4kRktoG plos.io/4aLeMEc plos.io/4aLU07l

buff.ly/qnYjC1e

ASLO honors Debbie Lindell with the 2026 G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award - ASLO Dr. Debbie Lindell is awarded the 2026 Hutchinson Award for her research on the role of viruses in shaping marine microbial ecology.

Congratulations to Debbie Lindell, who is giving the @aslo.org G. Evelyn Hutchinson Award plenary at #OSM26 today for increasing our understanding of the role of viruses in shaping marine microbial ecology.

@plosone.org study on the genome of P-SSP7 cyanophage: plos.io/4aJym3F

Coral larval aquaculture: Species-specific survival and microbial dynamics in flow-through systems To enable burgeoning reef restoration efforts, the production of coral larvae in captive aquaculture needs to maximize survival and yields. While current coral larval rearing methods are generally…

A new study by Ramsby and colleagues shows species-specific survival and microbial patterns in coral larval aquaculture, informing methods to boost yield for reef restoration.

AquaX: An enhanced and revised AquaMaps framework to model marine species distributions and biodiversity Marine biodiversity underpins ecosystem health and is critical for the provision of essential ecological services. Global efforts to mitigate biodiversity loss are underway but require comprehensive k...

RESEARCH: AquaX: An enhanced and revised AquaMaps framework to model marine species distributions and biodiversity. Co-authored by #GabrielReygondeau, #WilliamCheung, #NicolasBailly @aquamaps.bsky.social @ubccoru.bsky.social journals.plos.org/plosone/arti... via @plosone.org

Bacteriophage T4 gene 32 protein: Insights into its interaction with ssDNA, binding cooperativity, and conformational change The single-stranded DNA binding protein of bacteriophage T4, gp32, has important roles in replication, recombination, and repair. gp32 possesses three domains: the central (core) domain which…

A new study by Jules Guei and colleagues shows that structural variants of the bacteriophage T4 single‑stranded DNA binding protein gp32 alter binding cooperativity and conformation, advancing understanding of gp32–ssDNA interaction in replication and repair.

Terrible news that Hans-Dieter Sues has died. Way too young.
Hans (on the right) & Sasha Averianov (left) invited me to study Timurlengia with them. I'll always appreciate it.
Hans was eminent, always nice and cheerful to me, a man of ethics and faith. RIP.

Use as directed? A comparison of software tools intended to check rigor and transparency of published work The causes of the reproducibility crisis include lack of standardization and transparency in scientific reporting. Checklists such as ARRIVE and CONSORT seek to improve transparency, but they are not always followed by authors and peer review often fails to identify missing items. To address these issues, there are several automated tools that have been designed to check different rigor criteria. We have conducted a broad comparison of 11 automated tools across 9 different rigor criteria from the ScreenIT group. We found some criteria, including detecting open data, where the combination of tools showed a clear winner, a tool which performed much better than other tools. In other cases, including detection of inclusion and exclusion criteria, the combination of tools exceeded the performance of any one tool. We also identified key areas where tool developers should focus their effort to make their tool maximally useful. We conclude with a set of insights and recommendations for stakeholders in the development of rigor and transparency detection tools. The code and data for the study is available at https://github.com/PeterEckmann1/tool-comparison.

Eckmann et al* compare software tools for checking rigor and transparency in published work.

*incl. @aidybarnett.bsky.social @gcabanac.cpesr.fr @kaitlynhair.bsky.social @skmccann.bsky.social @martijnroelandse.dev @colbyvorland.bsky.social @tweissgerber.bsky.social

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...