Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by John Russell

Peter Brannen @peterbrannen.bsky.social · 22h

The fact that not only is the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is still increasing, but the *rate of CO2 increasing* in the atmosphere is still increasing is true nightmare stuff.

Ryan Katz-Rosene, PhD @ryankatzrosene.bsky.social · 22h

“[Last year] CO2 in the global surface atmosphere increased by 3.5 ppm, the largest one-year increase since modern measurements began... This increase was driven by continued fossil CO2 emissions, enhanced fire emissions and reduced terrestrial/ocean sinks… which could signal a climate feedback.”

63 120

Reposted by John Russell

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 22h

It's tough to explain exactly how nutty this new report from fossil fuel industry consultant Wood Mackenzie is, but I'm going to try in a short thread.

As you can guess: 1 trillion barrels of oil is...............................A LOT

archive.ph/grTVe

How AI can unlock an extra trillion barrels of oil
And deliver the volumes needed to meet resilient demand
15 October 2025 3 minute read
Share on LinkedInShare on BlueskyShare on XShare by email

Simon Flowers
Chairman, Chief Analyst and author of The Edge

Andrew Latham
Senior Vice President, Energy Research

Orla Marnell
Principal Data Scientist, Upstream

Josh Dixon
Senior Research Analyst, Upstream
Stronger-for-longer oil demand will heap pressure on the upstream industry to deliver new supply. I asked our subsurface experts, Dr Andrew Latham, Orla Marnell and Josh Dixon how artificial intelligence can identify opportunities to meet the challenge.
Why do we need to unlock new supply?
The slow pace of the energy transition means that oil demand is likely to be far more resilient than some thought just a few years ago. Wood Mackenzie forecasts annual consumption won’t peak until the early to mid-2030s, and cumulative demand will be almost 1,000 billion barrels through 2050.
Firm demand throws the spotlight onto where new supply can be sourced. Production from assets already onstream or justified for development will gradually decline under current investment plans from just over 100 million b/d today to 50 million b/d 2050, cumulatively 650 billion barrels. That leaves a huge supply gap of 300 million barrels.

14 86 220

Reposted by John Russell

Juraj Mikurcik @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social · 1d

☁️ These past few days were without any sunshine, so today we’ve put the towel rails on for the first time this heating season.

You still need *some* heating in a passivhaus after all 😉

In other news, the wildflower meadow has started to sprout 🌱

A very energy efficient single storey house with black facade and roof, within green landscape. New wildflower meadow starting to grow in the foreground

3 22

Reposted by John Russell

James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 20h

This is the loudest alarm bell imaginable. And yet it will still be ignored.

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 20h

The wet tropical rainforests of Queensland are now a carbon source because CO₂ emitted from trees dying and decaying outstripped the CO₂ taken up by trees growing. 😕

Australia's tropical trees emit more carbon than they absorb: study

Climate change is killing trees faster than they can be replaced leading to greater carbon emissions, according to a new study.

www.abc.net.au

1 11 43

Reposted by John Russell

Gaia Vince @wanderinggaia.bsky.social · 18h

How is this still happening?!

Jack Wallington @jackwallington.com · 1d

#welcometoyorkshire moors burnt releasing carbon into the atmosphere to create habitat for tens of millions of non-native birds released into the wild each year. Reducing habitat and food for native wild birds and animals. Passed 20-30 dead pheasants run over on roads. Some traditions aren't good.

2 6 20

Reposted by John Russell

Emma Pearson @emmapearson.bsky.social · 1d

Cars account for just 4.3% of journeys in Paris. So motorists may be 'living in fear' (although that sounds unlikely) but the vast majority of Parisians, far from seeing red, are pretty happy with expanded space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 1d

Paris sees red as mayor drives cars off the road

Motorists in the French capital live in fear of the tow truck and sky-high parking fines

Paris sees red as mayor drives cars off the road

www.thetimes.com

8 42 210

Reposted by John Russell

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 19h

"Polanski slammed” reports the Daily Express. The person doing that “slamming” is, err, Daily Express journalist Carole Malone.

And the reason? Because I want us to follow a science led public health approach to regulate drug use.

Polanski slammed over bid to legalise drugs

170 390 2K

Reposted by John Russell

Covering Climate Now @coveringclimatenow.org · 1d

Myths about climate change proliferate online. Journalists can strengthen their reporting by learning about the history of climate disinformation, by practicing strong accountability journalism, and by using solutions journalism to critically evaluate claims of “going green.” buff.ly/Dd7egGb

Upcoming event: October 22, 2025 at 12pm ET
Climate Blueprint: Myths & Disinformation Webinar

Myths about climate change continue to proliferate online, but such disinformation campaigns are nothing new. Journalists can strengthen their reporting by learning about the history of climate disinformation, by practicing strong accountability journalism, a necessary first step in truly tackling the climate crisis, and by using solutions journalism to critically evaluate claims of “going green.”

This is the latest in our webinar series on pressing climate journalism topics, inspired by “The Climate Blueprint for Media Transformation,” published in summer 2024 by Solutions Journalism Network and Covering Climate Now. In this, our third roundtable discussion, titled “Myths & Disinformation,” we’ll analyze climate disinformation narratives, discuss strategies for evaluating climate solutions from vested interests, and get tips for incorporating accountability into your reporting.

Panelists
Aaron Cantú, Reporter, Capital & Main
Dharna Noor, Fossil Fuels & Climate Reporter, The Guardian
Amy Westervelt, Executive Editor, Drilled Media
Breanna Draxler, climate and environmental justice editor and editor of the Climate Blueprint, will moderate.

10 19

Reposted by John Russell

Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 1d

With maybe 125,000+ invasive sika deer in Wicklow alone, this is what native forest creation looks like.

• No woodland flora can grow
• Oak aside, trees flop over once tube is removed, deer then kill tree
• Trees may not even be genuinely native

For our forests' sake, a LOT more deer must be shot.

Mike McKillen @mikemckillen.bsky.social · 1d

The pocket forest of native broadleaf tree established by Scouting Ireland at it activity centre at Lough Dan was only possible by using tubes to protect the saplings from bracken & deer/sheep grazing. My image from Aug shows bracken density.

4 10 32

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 23h

Tree protection tubes are designed to burst once the tree's trunk exceeds the tube internal diameter. That's the time to remove the remains of the tube. That's certainly what I did when I needed tubes to protect whips from rabbit and deer damage.

3

Reposted by John Russell

Audric Moses 🇨🇦 @audricmoses.bsky.social · 1d

JUST IN 🚨: Local fox says move to open-air, fenceless chicken coops makes sense.

#ableg #cdnpoli

5 10

Reposted by John Russell

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: “There is no doubting that the impact of Brexit is severe and long lasting” says Chancellor Rachel Reeves

It’s about time!

150 430 1.5K

Reposted by John Russell

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 1d

Do listen in. It became quite, ahem, heated.

The Francis Crick Institute @crick.ac.uk · 1d

NEW EPISODE: Will we survive climate change?

Join our expert panellists as they answer your questions about curbing rising global temperatures and what life could be like in a warmer world.

Listen on your favourite podcast platform: www.lnk.to/AQOSClimateBB

Panel of speakers with the title ‘Can We Survive Climate Change?’ from BBC Studios and The Francis Crick Institute.

22 83 320

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

In those cases we should make them have to apply for a licence + justify that need. We must not make it easy to opt for the inefficient option 🙂.
In my past I filmed tube bending machines which heated 400mm dia x 15mm thick steel tubes to red hot in seconds using electric induction coils.

1 1

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

Insulation and ventilation go hand in hand.
Insulating houses without managing moisture build-up is a route to disaster. The mechanism is so simple it can be explained to anyone in just a few hours (except maybe politicians seeking short-term fixes).

Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 2d

"98% of homes that had external wall insulation installed under the schemes set up by the previous government have problems that will lead to damp and mould if left unaddressed"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Tens of thousands of homes insulated under government schemes need repairs

Insulation programmes costing billions of pounds have led to widespread problems with damp and mould.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by John Russell

Alasdair Cameron @alasdaircameron.bsky.social · 2d

Tory insulation mess-up latest. Luckily the scheme was such a monumental failure that only 23,000 homes need repair, despite that being 98% of those installed. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Almost all external insulation fitted under Tory scheme needs repair or replacing, report finds

Homeowners who took advantage of government programmes left with cladding likely to cause damp

www.theguardian.com

6 27 39

Reposted by John Russell

Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 2d

I guess talking about Brexit damage is a start. But insisting we make this shitshow ‘work’ and forcing taxpayers to pay for some of the inevitable and ongoing loss feels like a wildly illogical response to the problem.

Photos of Wes Streeting above article and Farage below…

Text: It comes after The Independent revealed in March that Brexit had cost UK business £37bn a year as the result of a 5 per cent drop in trade with the EU.

14 69 250

Reposted by John Russell

Damian Carrington @dpcarrington.bsky.social · 2d

Towns may have to be abandoned due to floods with millions more homes in Great Britain at risk

- Every constituency projected to be at greater risk, with many areas likely to be uninsurable, Guardian investigation finds

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Towns may have to be abandoned due to floods with millions more homes in Great Britain at risk

Every constituency projected to be at greater risk, with many areas likely to be uninsurable, Guardian investigation finds

www.theguardian.com

2 27 44

Reposted by John Russell

ECIU @eciu.net · 2d

Marginal Gains: how wind is pushing gas out of the power market and cutting costs

Growth in British renewables cutting electricity prices by up to a quarter.
eciu.net/analysis/re...

Marginal Gains: how wind is pushing gas out of the power market and…

Growth in British renewables cutting electricity prices by up to a quarter.

eciu.net

3 6

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

I have no problem if it's used where nothing else will do the job better :-)

1 1

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

Looking over towards Yes Tor from the Ice Works.
3/3

Ominous clouds frame the landscape below Yes Tor, Dartmoor. The foreground where the sheep are grazing is in sunshine and the plateau below Black Tor is also lit up by the sun, with blue sky above, but the rest of the landscape is in darkness.

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

Near the old Ice Works, Sourton Tors.
2/3

Picture taken on Dartmoor today. The foreground grass and rocks are lit up with sunshine but the distant terrain is under heavy, dark cloud.

1 1

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

There was amazing light on Dartmoor today.
A thread.
1/3

View from Dartmoor looking towards Lydford and Bridestowe. Heavy cloud above patches of sunshine hit the distant hills.

2 1

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

That's the whole of North Devon under that cloud.
Boxing Day 2024. @seismatters.bsky.social

Looking north from Dartmoor. The whole of north Devon is underneath cloud due to temperature inversion.

1 6

John Russell @johnrussell40.bsky.social · 2d

I used to take my kids to Stanage Edge regularly when they were young and we lived in Nottingham. In fact my dad used to take me there when I was a kid and we lived in Sheffield in the '50s. Great place to visit :-)
Later I'll post a pic I took of a temperature inversion seen from Dartmoor 26/12/24.

1 1