Rage Against the Miocene

New paper with our long-term collaborators from CUG Wuhan (led by Xinyue Dang), showing a threshold response in soil moisture that induces an abrupt shift in soil microbial community and methane emissions. @ogu-bristol.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social @cabot-institute.bsky.social

Although our finding represents a small negative feedback on global warming, the larger message is that there are still profound unknowns with respect to the (non-linear) responses of the carbon cycle to climate change.

(And other systems, i.e. peatlands, will respond very differently.)

Changes in simulated natural grassland area and soil moisture under different SSP scenarios based on the outputs of the UKESM1 model. (A1) Spatial distribution of average natural grassland area percentages during the historical period (1950–2014), (A2) spatial distribution of average change in natural grassland areas under the SSP1-2.6 projection (2070–2100) compared to the historical period, (A3) spatial distribution of average change in natural grassland areas under the SSP5-8.5 projection (2070–2100) compared to the historical period, (B1) spatial distribution of average moisture in the upper portion of soil column during the historical period (1950–2014), (B2) spatial distribution of average change in soil moisture under the SSP1-2.6 projection (2070–2100) compared to the historical period, (B3) spatial distribution of average change in soil moisture under the SSP5-8.5 projection (2070–2100) compared to the historical period, and (C) percent of total global natural grassland areas with soil moisture in the upper soil column in excess of 10, 20, 30, and 40 kg/m2 during the historical period (1950–2014) and under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 projections (2015–2100) - all show decreasing trends. It should be noted that results are subject to model-specific uncertainties.

These findings have implications for future warming, mediated by hydroclimate-biogeochemical feedbacks. It is too soon to constrain those with certainty, but at least model simulations suggest this could be a negative feedback, with drier soils causing lower methane emissions or even uptake.

Sketch map of sampling sites. (A) The sketch map of Lake Qinghai and the location of sampling sites, (B) the location of all soil moisture gradient transects during two field trips, and (C) a picture of one of the soil moisture gradient transects.

Our results highlight the potential for abrupt feedback mechanisms that can alter the terrestrial methane cycle. As soil moisture increases above 30%, the microbial community and diagnostic archaeal and bacterial lipids in indicate a dramatic microbial shift.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

New paper with our long-term collaborators from CUG Wuhan (led by Xinyue Dang), showing a threshold response in soil moisture that induces an abrupt shift in soil microbial community and methane emissions. @ogu-bristol.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social @cabot-institute.bsky.social

Black Spleenwort, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum. Such a pretty fern. On the walls of St George's Brede, East Sussex. Its not rare at all but I don't see it much. I think that's because it often gets removed from church walls; probrably its main substrate. Well done St George's for leaving it.

And yet, as the EU considers a ban on non-essential uses of PFAS, the industry falls into hysterical predictions this will lead directly to the total collapse of medical systems. For the record, the ban would apply to non-essential uses only & firms have long transition times to find alternatives.

Mosses Play Key Roles in Ecosystems from Tropics to Tundra - Eos A global survey of mosses growing on soil found that the somewhat underappreciated plants cover a vast area and perform tasks such as sequestering carbon.

Mosses Play Key Roles in Ecosystems from Tropics to Tundra eos.org/articles/mos...

A Saudi official saying this on Al Jazeera, a Qatari media outlet, is far more telling than any nugget of information carefully leaked to an American media outlet.

This war will permanently alter the relationship of the Gulf states, the US, and Israel.

Australia’s data centre lobby stumbles in its dance to avoid real regulation Google's new data centre is entirely self-sufficient when it comes to power. Sounds like a good thing, right? Think again.

Australia's data centre lobbyists are suddenly facing the prospect of mandated social responsibility for the energy usage of their products, @ketanjoshi.co writes. www.crikey.com.au/2026/03/04/a...

When someone says „Scientists do not want you to know“ you can dismiss everything from there on. Scientists want you to know. They are desperate that you know. They can’t shut up about what they found out and want you to know.

Spark Space | Linktree A safe, fully-equipped workspace serving students & workers in Gaza.

I hope that we can break the stagnancy this week...Spark is a crucial project providing electricity, internet, & shelter to the community. Students can study, freelancers can feed their families.

Click "weekly" on a five, partner, or print a flyer: linktr.ee/sparkworkspace

She reported her professor. Then the Reddit comments poured in. Part one of an investigation into an online smear campaign that followed a complaint against a music school.

Smear campaigns in Reddit comments have become a fixture of celebrity legal dramas, but they aren't just affecting public figures. For @spitfirenews.com, I investigated anonymous online attacks against a woman who reported a music professor for sexual harassment.
spitfirenews.com/p/she-report...

You cannot placate a narcissist forever. You eventually are impaled on their insecurities and fragile ego. Always.

All you do through appeasement - as Starmer has done - is debase yourself, before the inevitable happens.

👋 Hello Bluesky

Bristol Naturalists’ Society has stopped using our “X” account.

This decision was made by our council members because of safeguarding concerns.

From now on you can find us here on this new Bluesky account, and on Facebook or Instagram, or via our website:

bristolnats.org.uk

"problem with letting billionaires decide how your country is run is that they..back whichever psycho promises..lowest taxes & least regulation, no matter how completely batshit and unfit that person is.."
-Corey Doctorow

Markets latest: Gas price soars 93% since start of conflict Drone strikes across the Middle East and Iran's effective closure of a key shipping route are spooking investors and traders. Follow the latest on the global markets.

This is a good moment for Europe & UK to remember that they can stick up wind and solar, insulates houses, far quicker than they can find new gas in e.g. North Sea

If you're chasing more gas, it's now a case of which unreliable regime you prefer to depend on

news.sky.com/story/market...

Revisiting Europe's temperate forests: Palaeoecological evidence for an herbivory-driven woodland-grassland mosaic biome
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Perched upright on a weathered stump, a small brown Wren tilts its head back mid-call against a soft golden backdrop, alert and vocal.

Many MPs claim to care about nature.

Tomorrow afternoon will be the test.

On Tuesday 3rd March there will be a debate in Parliament on red lines for nature.

We’ll be watching to see who shows up. Empty seats will say a lot.

Tell us who you expect to see there tomorrow. 👇

Tweet by Sam Coates of Sky News: YouGov / Sky News / Times voting intention *Greens leapfrog Labour into second place* RefUK 23% (-1) GRN 21% (+4) LAB 16%(-2) CON 16%(-2) LDEM 14%(nc)

Oh. My. Goodness. British politics just cracked wide open.

The cosy Tory-Labour duopoly that has lasted for over a century is now over.

Yes, it's "just one poll". But the first stone trickling down a hillside can still presage an avalanche.

Ignore at your peril.

For many in the US today, their beliefs are written first by their politics and only a distance second by their faith; and if the two conflict, they’ll go with ideology over theology any day.

Leaders like Leo help us see the difference: and I’m pretty sure they would call Jesus even worse things.

How Fossil Fuel Money Made Climate Change Denial the Word of God Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.

I firmly believe that if we take the Bible seriously, we’ll be at the front of the line demanding climate action – and many Christians are!

But the fact that so many in the US base their beliefs on politics explains why identifying as an evangelical is the top predictor of climate denial in the US.

At a visiting assistant professor position I was at, my email stopped the day after my last day – no forwarding of mail, no message to anyone emailing me. It became just a dead address.

I was in the middle of a few job searches and had to scramble to reconnect.

"A Reform UK council deputy leader [Darren Grimes, Durham County Council] has been caught using a fake AI-generated photograph to stoke tensions over housing and migration, exposing the shameless tactics deployed by politicians willing to deceive their own constituents"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus Advocacy group reports commanders giving similar messages at more than 30 installations in every branch of the military

EXCLUSIVE: At more than 30 installations, U.S. commanders told troops the war on Iran is a Christian war.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has been “inundated” with more than 110 complaints.

One NCO said they were told the U.S. war is to bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus…

Explaining what’s happening in the US to European colleagues invariably involves explaining the rapture and the tech rapture and then having them look at me like I’m a crazy man.

The blatant Islamophobia that Keir Starmer is demonstrating through smearing Mothin Ali would be shocking - but it's becoming a pattern.

Smearing a caring man of principle for standing up for peace.

Why not both??

Actually yes I am saying that you shouldn’t dehumanize anyone

No exceptions to the rule

🤷🏽‍♀️

Ted Cruz, with access to those briefings, said literally the opposite yesterday.