Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Gavin Foster

@thefosterlab.bsky.social

2.8K followers 800 following 460 posts

Palaeoclimatologist and isotope geochemist at the University of Southampton. Love/hate relationship with mass spectrometers. Researcher of climate science, coral reefs, biomineralisation, laser ablation, isotopes and geology. Views my own .. more

Environmental science 45%

Geology 24%

more

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · Apr 3

!New Paper Alert! Matrix independent and interference free in situ boron isotope analysis by laser ablation MC-ICP-MS/MS pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a.... In it we use our Neoma MC-ICPMS/MS to overcome the complexities of measuring boron isotopes by Laser Ablation in carbonates and other minerals. ⚒️🧪🌊🪸

Cross plots of d11B reference value vs. what we measure using Laser Ablation on our Neoma MC-ICPMS/MS. All the data lie on the 1:1 line showing that we can get accurate d11B data using laser ablation on a range of matrices from carbonate to silicate when normalised to NIST 612 glass.

Mass scans from m/z 9.7 to 11.1 for the Neoma MS/MS, base Neoma and Neptune when ablating carbonates. The Neptune shows an elevated background due to scattering of Ca and Ar 4+ ions. This is reduced in the base Neoma and entirely eliminated in the Neoma MS/MS. We think this is because the formation of Ca4+ and Ar4+ is reduced in this design of MS and scattering of this multiply charged ions is reduced once Ar and Ca are cut out by the pre-filter.

This shows the problem with laser ablation boron isotopes in carbonates on our Neptune MC-ICPMS. It shows a mass scan from m/z 9.7 to m/z 11.1 with peaks at the boron masses 10B and 11B. Rather than being a flat line - the baseline is elevated around boron 10 (and 11) due to scattering of 4+ Ar and Ca.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Kit Yates @kityates.bsky.social · 2h

"Universities have collectively announced more than 12,000 job cuts in the last year, new analysis from the University and College Union (UCU) suggests."

Make no mistake. Our university sector is in trouble.

Thousands more university jobs cut as financial crisis deepens

University workers will vote on national strike action this month over a 1.4% pay offer made in the summer.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 13h

“You can’t blame austerity on one hand, but then say it’s the immigrants. The immigrants haven’t caused austerity.”

Zack Polanski takes on Reform’s Zia Yusuf over spreading of misinformation on #BBCQT

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Gavin L. Foster, Michael J. Hicks , and 1 more Michael E. Mann, Gavin L. Foster, Michael J. Hicks, Tim Fish

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 14h

I knew Fox News was theater. I just didn't realize it was a repertory theater that recycles actors for different roles.

You'd think a company that had to pay $787,000,000 for deceiving its viewers would be a little more careful about blatantly continuing the practice.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Steve Peers

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 1d

Twelve Jobs Nigel has earned over £1 million in additional income since the general election.

To understand the scale of it, since the July 2024 election he's earned roughly £100k more as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion than Starmer gets as PM.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

Nigel Farage earns over £1m from 12 'second jobs' - check how much your MP earns

The Reform UK leader's most lucrative second jobs include hosting on GB News, serving as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion and recording videos for Cameo

www.mirror.co.uk

Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 1d

One for those in the Uk: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The Climate Question - What do ice cores tells us about climate change? - BBC Sounds

Uncovering the secrets of ice cores and our changing climate with two world experts

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Jussi T. Eronen

Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️ @obialik.bsky.social · 1d

Getting to >1000 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere is something we hope we never get to. But in the geological past, those levels were reached... so... what does that do to trees?
They take more carbon, release less water, but grow at about the same rate. 🧪

Link: bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/...

Net assimilation is mildly changed at 1600 ppm CO2 and increases at 6000 ppm, driving a major increase in water-use efficiency. Bar heights are means of 10 guava saplings subjected to different CO2 concentrations. Error bars represent standard errors. P values are from paired t tests, and * and ** indicate differences among CO2 levels at 0.01 and 0.001 significance levels. (a) Net assimilation was calculated from chamber CO2 dynamics. (b) Water-use efficiency was calculated as net assimilation divided by transpiration.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 1d

Who would have guessed

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...

Nigel Farage earns over £1m from 12 'second jobs' - check how much your MP earns

The Reform UK leader's most lucrative second jobs include hosting on GB News, serving as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion and recording videos for Cameo

www.mirror.co.uk

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 1d

We just hit 93,000 members.

We're polling on average higher than we have ever before.

Over 1000 people joining a day!

Join our movement.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

Join the Green Party

Join the Green Party from just £6 a year. Become a member today - join the only party standing up for people and planet.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Leicester UCU @leicesterucu.bsky.social · 1d

Week 2, day 3:
- more pickets!
- councillor Patrick Kitterick spoke in solidarity with staff raising key points about the importance of staff and the marketisation of education
- Bernard's teach out started an important discussion about the challenges for migrant workers.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 2d

Ocean heatwaves are breaking Earth’s hidden climate engine

Marine heatwaves are clogging the ocean’s carbon pump, threatening its power to fight climate change.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

Ocean heatwaves are breaking Earth’s hidden climate engine

Marine heatwaves can jam the ocean’s natural carbon conveyor belt, preventing carbon from reaching the deep sea. Researchers studying two major heatwaves in the Gulf of Alaska found that plankton shif...

www.sciencedaily.com

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Niels de Winter @nielsjdewinter.bsky.social · 3d

Clam shells as indicators of Atlantic Ocean stability: Very interesting study using growth increment width and isotopic composition in long-living shells to document changes in the AMOC and North Atlantic circulation over the last 150 years. doi.org/10.1126/scia...

Recent and early 20th century destabilization of the subpolar North Atlantic recorded in bivalves

Clams reveal North Atlantic destabilization in the early 20th century and at present.

Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 3d

youtu.be/qxt4HCjd7VA?...

Let's Make Hope Normal Again - Green Party Political Broadcast

YouTube video by Green Party of England & Wales

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Jenni Barclay

Scripps Institution of Oceanography @scrippsocean.bsky.social · 3d

🪐 On this Day of Action to Save #NASA Science, we’re highlighting how space and Earth sciences go hand-in-hand. Scripps Oceanography researchers partner with NASA to study how our planet is changing from sea to space. Here’s an out-of-this-world roundup of some recent projects. 🧵⬇️

A color image of Earth taken by NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC), a four megapixel CCD camera and telescope.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

coralmannie.bsky.social @coralmannie.bsky.social · 3d

@leicesterucu.bsky.social Our students deserve a big thanks for supporting us at the picket line every day, now in week 2. It means a lot to have the students backing for fighting the looming job cuts at University of Leicester in 6 schools

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott , and 4 more Gavin L. Foster, Steve Peers, Andrew Scott, Jonathan Hopkin, Stephen Jones, Feargal Cochrane, Tarik Abou‐Chadi

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 3d

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in part of Birmingham

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in part of Birmingham

Shadow justice secretary criticised for suggesting he could tell how integrated Handsworth was based on 90-minute visit Robert Jenrick complained about visiting an area of Birmingham where he “didn’t see another white face” and said it was not the kind of country he wanted to live in. After highlighting the lack of white people, the shadow justice secretary said it was not about “the colour of your skin or your faith” and he wanted people to live alongside each other. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 3d

Enhanced deep Southern Ocean stratification during the lukewarm interglacials

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Enhanced deep Southern Ocean stratification during the lukewarm interglacials - Nature Communications

Lead (Pb) isotopes from a ferromanganese crust reveal that during lukewarm interglacials before the Mid-Brunhes Event, stronger deep Southern Ocean stratification limited CO2 release, helping keep atmospheric CO2 levels lower.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 3d

🌊 How the Southern Ocean controlled climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide during the lukewarm interglacials

phys.org/news/2025-10...

How the Southern Ocean controlled climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide during the lukewarm interglacials

Earth's climate has fluctuated between cold and warm periods for millions of years. During the so-called "lukewarm interglacials"—warm phases between 800,000 and 430,000 years ago—atmospheric CO2 conc...

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 3d

Recent and early 20th century destabilization of the subpolar North Atlantic recorded in bivalves

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Recent and early 20th century destabilization of the subpolar North Atlantic recorded in bivalves

Clams reveal North Atlantic destabilization in the early 20th century and at present.

www.science.org

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Leicester UCU @leicesterucu.bsky.social · 3d

Tomorrow's teach out: meet the Modern Languages Team at 1.15 in SBB for their modern languages showcase.
Note the change in picket times!

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Leicester UCU @leicesterucu.bsky.social · 3d

Week 2, day 1: pickets in George Davies Centre, Dan Stewart's teach out on Ancient Greek and Roman strikes, and more picket dogs!

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Dr. Dawn Wright @deepseadawn.bsky.social · 4d

"Former Google CEO Will Fund Boat Drones to Explore Rough Antarctic Waters

Scientists have a lot of questions about our planet’s most important carbon sink—and a new project could help answer them."

www.wired.com/story/former...
🌊 🦑 🧪

Former Google CEO Will Fund Boat Drones to Explore Rough Antarctic Waters

Scientists have a lot of questions about our planet’s most important carbon sink—and a new project could help answer them.

Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 4d

I enjoyed the taste when I ate it.

Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 4d

Seems like a poor reason to me…

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️ @obialik.bsky.social · 4d

Let's start with the base fact that Neutron Tomography is a really cool thing. Fossils are also very cool (even if they're corals). Combining the two gives a very interesting way to look at diagenesis (or screen for it, if you're boring). 🧪⚒️

Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Comparison of neutron computed tomography (NCT) scans (a–c) with traditional X-Ray CT image (d) of the modern unaltered Porites sample from One Tree Reef. 3-D voxels measure 0.0395 mm3, sample thickness ca. 1 cm (a) 3-D NCT scan showing full neutron count range 0–65,535, (b) 3-D filter applied showing aragonite data range exclusive of porosity (ca. 12,000–65,535 NC). Histogram shows two distinct peaks representing porosity and aragonite ranges. (c) Cross sections V-V′ and XZ-XZ’ are 2-D slices of the 3-D NCT slab data (39.5 μm resolution) of V (vertical) and XZ (x axis and depth) profiles, respectively. Their positions are indicated by white lines in (a). (d) X-Ray CT image of the same slab used for photos (a, b) showing density variations and blurry low resolution coral morphology.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs (SPP 2299) @climatereefs.bsky.social · 4d

We are excited about the "Meeting & Status Seminar 2025" of the @dfg.de #SPP2299 Priority Programme "Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs", which starts Monday at @unibremen.bsky.social. 55 researchers, from 15 German institutions and international guests, will discuss latest research results

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 5d

Bolder. Effective.And surging!

Come on @greenparty.org.uk team.

Let's go!

Join.greenparty.org.uk

The party is louder and more left wing than ever.

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Gavin L. Foster

Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 5d

🌊 New study overturns the “permanent El Niño” idea for the warm Pliocene

Upwelling in the eastern equatorial Pacific has persisted for 5 million years, even under ~3°C warmer climates

Future upwelling may be more resilient than feared…

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Persistent eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean upwelling since the warm Pliocene

Upwelling generates a nutrient-rich “cold tongue” in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean (EEP), with impacts on global climate, oceanic biological productivity, and the carbon cycle. The cold tongue ...

www.science.org

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 5d

The before and after images showing glaciers vanishing before our eyes

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Before and after images show glaciers vanishing before our eyes - BBC News

They are melting like never seen before, changing landscapes around the world beyond recognition.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 5d

I always wondered about this - being vegetarian is so easy now. I have been vegetarian for >30 yrs & i still can’t understand why more people don’t see 1. The suffering of animals in the food industry and 2. Its climate impacts and not give it up. What’s so good about eating a dead animal?