Dave Hemprich-Bennett
@davehb.bsky.social
A bunch of stardust with ADHD. Scientist working on the ecology of bats, mosquitoes and malaria, based at Oxford Uni. Used to be @hammerheadbat on twitter. Runner, photographer, guitarist.
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Whenever I see pseudoscientific conspiracy theories about ancient aliens or giant petrified trees or ice age satellites or whatever it drives me crazy because THE EARTH IS COOL ENOUGH JUST AS IT IS! WE DON’T NEED TO REACH FOR REASONS TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING! HAVE YOU SEEN A TULLY MONSTER??!!
February 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Whenever I see pseudoscientific conspiracy theories about ancient aliens or giant petrified trees or ice age satellites or whatever it drives me crazy because THE EARTH IS COOL ENOUGH JUST AS IT IS! WE DON’T NEED TO REACH FOR REASONS TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING! HAVE YOU SEEN A TULLY MONSTER??!!
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
I wrote about the Olympics
defector.com/which-other-...
defector.com/which-other-...
Which Other Olympic Mascots Could Italian Stoats Tina And Milo Slaughter In Cold Blood? | Defector
Apologies to all otters, ferrets, badgers, ferret-badgers, weasels, fishers, polecats, wolverines, martens, and grisons, but the mustelid of the moment is the stoat. The mascots of the 2026 Winter Oly...
defector.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I wrote about the Olympics
defector.com/which-other-...
defector.com/which-other-...
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
This is such a good read. And a good listen - Inside Health, on Radio 4.
"I think the more we understand the mechanisms of how it can cause these effects, the more we can add to the pressure for policy makers to reduce exposure - because that's the answer in the end."
#AirPollution #Health
"I think the more we understand the mechanisms of how it can cause these effects, the more we can add to the pressure for policy makers to reduce exposure - because that's the answer in the end."
#AirPollution #Health
I inhaled traffic fumes to find out where air pollution goes in my body
BBC health correspondent James Gallagher gets his blood analysed to understand how air pollution is killing us.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 3:03 PM
This is such a good read. And a good listen - Inside Health, on Radio 4.
"I think the more we understand the mechanisms of how it can cause these effects, the more we can add to the pressure for policy makers to reduce exposure - because that's the answer in the end."
#AirPollution #Health
"I think the more we understand the mechanisms of how it can cause these effects, the more we can add to the pressure for policy makers to reduce exposure - because that's the answer in the end."
#AirPollution #Health
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
The law on universities and free speech prevents speakers from being *disinvited after they have been invited*. It does not require universities to provide a platform to whoever demands one.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
This is pretty menacing.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
Sarah Pochin wrote to Bangor's university student run debating society requesting that she attend to "answer questions from students."
When they said "no" Reform rolled all it's tanks onto the lawns and said they'll cut funding to the entire university if they win.
February 10, 2026 at 10:31 AM
The law on universities and free speech prevents speakers from being *disinvited after they have been invited*. It does not require universities to provide a platform to whoever demands one.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
Let's not mince words: the threat to cut funding to every university who disagrees with them is fascist.
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
always so funny to me when people are like “how am I supposed to explain Gay to my kids?” my kid asks me way harder shit all the time. “why did they build the road this way? why are some people bad?” I don’t know. please ask me about Gay
February 10, 2026 at 2:51 AM
always so funny to me when people are like “how am I supposed to explain Gay to my kids?” my kid asks me way harder shit all the time. “why did they build the road this way? why are some people bad?” I don’t know. please ask me about Gay
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
every single person writing credulously about "elon will put people on the moon" should have to pin this post to their monitor
February 9, 2026 at 10:11 PM
every single person writing credulously about "elon will put people on the moon" should have to pin this post to their monitor
(Join a union)
The Ford worker who heckled Trump during a visit to the company's plant still has his job and "has no discipline on his record," a union official said
Ford worker who heckled Trump keeps job, 'no discipline' for incident
The United Auto Workers union said TJ Sabula remains employed and called out the president for making an obscene gesture toward the worker.
www.detroitnews.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:13 PM
(Join a union)
Something about this weekly notification from instagram always really gives me the ick
February 9, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Something about this weekly notification from instagram always really gives me the ick
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Chance of #ElNiño forming in Pacific Ocean may push global temperatures to record highs in 2027
#climatecrisis
Story by @readfearn.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#climatecrisis
Story by @readfearn.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Chance of El Niño forming in Pacific Ocean may push global temperatures to record highs in 2027
One expert says 2027 could be even hotter than the last three years, which have been the top three warmest on record
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Chance of #ElNiño forming in Pacific Ocean may push global temperatures to record highs in 2027
#climatecrisis
Story by @readfearn.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#climatecrisis
Story by @readfearn.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
You’re not crazy. The anti-trans movement is not organic; it was funded by pedophilic billionaires like Jeffrey Epstein who backed a network of conservatives to accuse the same people they were sexually abusing of being the real danger. @madycast.com exposes the truth in our in-depth report.
Epstein Backed ‘Billionaires’ Dinner’ Network of Prominent Anti-Trans Figures
Lawrence Krauss, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker and other anti-trans influencers personally benefited from a right-wing academic social group backed by infamous human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, somet...
transnews.network
February 6, 2026 at 8:12 PM
You’re not crazy. The anti-trans movement is not organic; it was funded by pedophilic billionaires like Jeffrey Epstein who backed a network of conservatives to accuse the same people they were sexually abusing of being the real danger. @madycast.com exposes the truth in our in-depth report.
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Hey folks, if you like stories about your heroes turning out to be bad people, and uh, like wizards and shit, I have a book out now.
If you'd like to purchase the digital version now, I have it up on my shop:
blackmudpuppy.myshopify.com/products/the...
blackmudpuppy.myshopify.com/products/the...
The Unfamiliars - Digital Download - PDF and ePub Version
Save a tree and download The Unfamiliars in a glorious digital edition. This is a story for anyone who has ever had to deal with having to come to terms with their favorite creator being a less than a...
blackmudpuppy.myshopify.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Hey folks, if you like stories about your heroes turning out to be bad people, and uh, like wizards and shit, I have a book out now.
A rainy dawn in Oxford
February 6, 2026 at 9:41 AM
A rainy dawn in Oxford
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Wood burners may treble children’s exposure to pollution in homes, study finds
Wood burners may treble children’s exposure to pollution in homes, study finds
Research in Wales found that home, not outdoor travel, was largest contributor to children’s daily exposure
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Wood burners may treble children’s exposure to pollution in homes, study finds
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
How much temperate rainforest could there be in the UK and Ireland, and where? Despite campaigns calling for restoration in both countries, these questions have been difficult to answer. In our new paper we assess the evidence base 🌏🧪🌐🌳🌲 1/9
Comparison of three temperate rainforest climate envelopes for Britain and Ireland: Where could our rainforest be?
There are multiple methods for creating climate envelopes for temperate rainforest, and these climate envelopes result in different extents across Ireland and Britain. An awareness of these differenc...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:32 AM
How much temperate rainforest could there be in the UK and Ireland, and where? Despite campaigns calling for restoration in both countries, these questions have been difficult to answer. In our new paper we assess the evidence base 🌏🧪🌐🌳🌲 1/9
New insult overheard on the bus: “she gives ‘bellend-aura’”
February 2, 2026 at 5:52 PM
New insult overheard on the bus: “she gives ‘bellend-aura’”
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
February 1, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Discworld QOTD, from Jingo
January 31, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Jingo
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
my dad didn’t go to university and he was extremely happy to pay taxes for his four children to do so; and, indeed, for the doctors who treated him at Addenbrookes to have gone to university as well.
Rachel Reeves: "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to." I don't use local leisure centres and I don't drive, so will I be made exempt for taxation that pays for all that stuff? Or is it only education we'll be going after
January 29, 2026 at 10:22 PM
my dad didn’t go to university and he was extremely happy to pay taxes for his four children to do so; and, indeed, for the doctors who treated him at Addenbrookes to have gone to university as well.
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
My first book, Darwin and the Queer Origins of Life, will be published by Yale University Press on 11 August (UK) and 8 September (US). Please help spread the word! 🙏
UK: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... @yalebooks.bsky.social 🏳️🌈📚🐵
US: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300... @yalepress.bsky.social 🏳️⚧️ 🗃️🦋
UK: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... @yalebooks.bsky.social 🏳️🌈📚🐵
US: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300... @yalepress.bsky.social 🏳️⚧️ 🗃️🦋
January 30, 2026 at 10:21 AM
My first book, Darwin and the Queer Origins of Life, will be published by Yale University Press on 11 August (UK) and 8 September (US). Please help spread the word! 🙏
UK: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... @yalebooks.bsky.social 🏳️🌈📚🐵
US: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300... @yalepress.bsky.social 🏳️⚧️ 🗃️🦋
UK: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... @yalebooks.bsky.social 🏳️🌈📚🐵
US: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300... @yalepress.bsky.social 🏳️⚧️ 🗃️🦋
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
Science-Bluesky: I’m thinking of buying a handheld air pollution monitor as I’d like to map the air pollution where I live. Any recommendations of models/brands to buy/avoid? It needs to be able to log and later export information, taking data points quite frequently while I walk
🧪
🧪
January 29, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Science-Bluesky: I’m thinking of buying a handheld air pollution monitor as I’d like to map the air pollution where I live. Any recommendations of models/brands to buy/avoid? It needs to be able to log and later export information, taking data points quite frequently while I walk
🧪
🧪
A niche one but a rapper called P.O.S was one of my favourite musicians for a very long time. Made music that could’ve been tailor-made to my brain. And then I guess he lived up to the name
January 29, 2026 at 4:13 PM
A niche one but a rapper called P.O.S was one of my favourite musicians for a very long time. Made music that could’ve been tailor-made to my brain. And then I guess he lived up to the name
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Science-Bluesky: I’m thinking of buying a handheld air pollution monitor as I’d like to map the air pollution where I live. Any recommendations of models/brands to buy/avoid? It needs to be able to log and later export information, taking data points quite frequently while I walk
🧪
🧪
January 29, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Science-Bluesky: I’m thinking of buying a handheld air pollution monitor as I’d like to map the air pollution where I live. Any recommendations of models/brands to buy/avoid? It needs to be able to log and later export information, taking data points quite frequently while I walk
🧪
🧪
Reposted by Dave Hemprich-Bennett
every time i see a white guy in their fifties radicalized by the twitter algorithm into racism and extremism i think about how it's a total failure of the youtube algorithm to instead radicalize him into home brewing, elaborate A/V setups, or DIY solar
January 28, 2026 at 8:22 PM
every time i see a white guy in their fifties radicalized by the twitter algorithm into racism and extremism i think about how it's a total failure of the youtube algorithm to instead radicalize him into home brewing, elaborate A/V setups, or DIY solar