Howard Lee
@hlee.bsky.social
Geologist and Science Writer: If you want to see what climate change can do to the planet just look at Earth's past!
https://h-lee.com/
https://h-lee.com/
Reposted by Howard Lee
Bluesky is the new science Twitter, new study by @whysharksmatter.bsky.social and Julia Wester concludes!
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky
Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For
academic.oup.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Bluesky is the new science Twitter, new study by @whysharksmatter.bsky.social and Julia Wester concludes!
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
"Results show that for every reported professional benefit that scientists once gained from Twitter, scientists can now gain that benefit more effectively on Bluesky than on Twitter."
Reposted by Howard Lee
NEW: Health Secretary Kennedy's allies are pushing in states to repeal school-entry vaccine requirements.
Vaccine proponents view the effort as an escalation in dismantling the nation's vaccine system:
🎁 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/h...
Vaccine proponents view the effort as an escalation in dismantling the nation's vaccine system:
🎁 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/h...
Kennedy Allies Target States to Overturn Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:36 PM
NEW: Health Secretary Kennedy's allies are pushing in states to repeal school-entry vaccine requirements.
Vaccine proponents view the effort as an escalation in dismantling the nation's vaccine system:
🎁 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/h...
Vaccine proponents view the effort as an escalation in dismantling the nation's vaccine system:
🎁 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/h...
Reposted by Howard Lee
For #FossilFriday we have a Devonian stromatoporoid, Clathrodictyon. Stromatoporoids are now thought to be sponges, although they don't closely resemble modern forms. They were massive reef formers in the Silurian and Devonian seas, but were devastated by the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction. 🧪⚒️
February 13, 2026 at 9:55 PM
For #FossilFriday we have a Devonian stromatoporoid, Clathrodictyon. Stromatoporoids are now thought to be sponges, although they don't closely resemble modern forms. They were massive reef formers in the Silurian and Devonian seas, but were devastated by the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction. 🧪⚒️
Reposted by Howard Lee
I dare say this is the loveliest 1st day ever on this trip. Red Rock Canyon monkeyflowers and others showing out!
February 13, 2026 at 9:59 PM
I dare say this is the loveliest 1st day ever on this trip. Red Rock Canyon monkeyflowers and others showing out!
Reposted by Howard Lee
Great news today that the geology collection at Lyme Regis Museum has been awarded Designated Status by Arts Council England. Not only does it occupy the site of #MaryAnning 's childhood home, but her spirit lives on in the museum's collecting and research.
www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/designation/
www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/designation/
Lyme Regis Museum honoured with prestigious national award from Arts Council England - Lyme Regis Museum
Lyme Regis Museum honoured with prestigious national award from Arts Council England Lyme Regis Museum is delighted to announce its outstanding Jurassic Coast Geology Collection has been awarded Desig...
www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Great news today that the geology collection at Lyme Regis Museum has been awarded Designated Status by Arts Council England. Not only does it occupy the site of #MaryAnning 's childhood home, but her spirit lives on in the museum's collecting and research.
www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/designation/
www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/designation/
Reposted by Howard Lee
Check out this really great insight into work on board a research vessel and why you should care about hydrothermal systems in volcanoes by @sofiadellasala.bsky.social onboard the @ukri.org vessel RRS Discovery for the NERC funded HYRDOMOX project led by @noc.ac.uk
m.youtube.com/watch?v=leZ7...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=leZ7...
Life in the Field: Exploring the Seafloor
YouTube video by OxfordSparks
m.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Check out this really great insight into work on board a research vessel and why you should care about hydrothermal systems in volcanoes by @sofiadellasala.bsky.social onboard the @ukri.org vessel RRS Discovery for the NERC funded HYRDOMOX project led by @noc.ac.uk
m.youtube.com/watch?v=leZ7...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=leZ7...
Reposted by Howard Lee
Students: can you identify the paleo-"up" direction in this lovely fossil? ⚒️
#FossilFriday Cousins in life, companions in death. Belemnite guard by chance preserved in the body chamber of the ammonite Parkinsonia from the Jurassic.
February 13, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Students: can you identify the paleo-"up" direction in this lovely fossil? ⚒️
Reposted by Howard Lee
The discos are a great laugh. I've got glandular fever.
February 12, 2026 at 1:43 PM
The discos are a great laugh. I've got glandular fever.
Reposted by Howard Lee
“Paisley Caves and Monte Verde contained perishable items that predate the Younger Dryas.”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Complex perishable technologies from the North American Great Basin reveal specialized Late Pleistocene adaptations
Organic items from the Great Basin broaden understanding of complex technologies in the Pleistocene.
www.science.org
February 13, 2026 at 1:26 AM
“Paisley Caves and Monte Verde contained perishable items that predate the Younger Dryas.”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Howard Lee
Small note for journalists covering the Endangerment Finding repeal tomorrow: because of lawsuits, long time windows, and changes of administration, none of the EPA's regulatory actions based on the Endangerment Findings ever took effect.
February 12, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Small note for journalists covering the Endangerment Finding repeal tomorrow: because of lawsuits, long time windows, and changes of administration, none of the EPA's regulatory actions based on the Endangerment Findings ever took effect.
Reposted by Howard Lee
CBS News’ downward spiral continues. Variety reports it’s looking at another round of layoffs, at least 15% of the staff.
After the Washington Post layoffs, the hollowing out of US media is accelerating.
After the Washington Post layoffs, the hollowing out of US media is accelerating.
February 12, 2026 at 11:21 PM
CBS News’ downward spiral continues. Variety reports it’s looking at another round of layoffs, at least 15% of the staff.
After the Washington Post layoffs, the hollowing out of US media is accelerating.
After the Washington Post layoffs, the hollowing out of US media is accelerating.
Reposted by Howard Lee
Pam Bondi Thought That Went Pretty Well
February 12, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Pam Bondi Thought That Went Pretty Well
Would love to have heard how the Neanderthal worker swore when this happened 👇
Resharing for #FindsFriday and #FlintFriday, its a massive overstruck flake that took most of the core with it. An ancient Neanderthal accident and so a brilliant part of our teaching collection. #PaPa🦣🏺
Happy 200th Birthday to @ucl.ac.uk As part of the celebrations we will be posting 200 artefacts & objects from the IoA & @archsoutheast.bsky.social
Day 1: this c.200,000 year old Levallois flake from Baker's Hole in the Thames Valley.
#UCL200
Day 1: this c.200,000 year old Levallois flake from Baker's Hole in the Thames Valley.
#UCL200
February 13, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Would love to have heard how the Neanderthal worker swore when this happened 👇
Reposted by Howard Lee
The absolutely massive Patagotitan mayorum!! This sauropod is one of the largest known titanosaur species. It would have been amazing to see something so massive walking around. #FossilFriday ⚒️🧪
February 13, 2026 at 12:49 PM
The absolutely massive Patagotitan mayorum!! This sauropod is one of the largest known titanosaur species. It would have been amazing to see something so massive walking around. #FossilFriday ⚒️🧪
Reposted by Howard Lee
Reut Yamen, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Paragon, the Israeli spyware company, posted on LinkedIn an image of what appears to be Graphite, the surveillance software which Paragon licensed to ICE. Shows the information it picks up from a phone.
(H/t @peterallison.net)
(H/t @peterallison.net)
February 13, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Reut Yamen, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Paragon, the Israeli spyware company, posted on LinkedIn an image of what appears to be Graphite, the surveillance software which Paragon licensed to ICE. Shows the information it picks up from a phone.
(H/t @peterallison.net)
(H/t @peterallison.net)
Reposted by Howard Lee
When did humans start using drills? “A new study reveals that Egyptians were using a mechanically sophisticated drilling tool far earlier than previously suggested” (about 3250 BCE). It’s the oldest known rotary drill 🔩 you guys!
www.austriaca.at?arp=0x0041300e
www.austriaca.at?arp=0x0041300e
February 13, 2026 at 12:43 PM
When did humans start using drills? “A new study reveals that Egyptians were using a mechanically sophisticated drilling tool far earlier than previously suggested” (about 3250 BCE). It’s the oldest known rotary drill 🔩 you guys!
www.austriaca.at?arp=0x0041300e
www.austriaca.at?arp=0x0041300e
A small village in Suffolk, UK, earns Dark Sky status. I'm surprised Suffolk is dark enough
Read more about what it means at: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Suffolk hamlet is England's first International Dark Sky Community
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } A small hamlet in Suffolk has become the first community in England to receive in...
ras.ac.uk
February 13, 2026 at 12:46 PM
A small village in Suffolk, UK, earns Dark Sky status. I'm surprised Suffolk is dark enough
"European Onion"
Talk in Europe now is a "two-speed EU" or Coalitions of the Willing.
My Charlemagne this week is on how to turn the European Union into the European Onion—a multi-layered construct with a core and outer tiers.
Unity still matters. Getting stuff done matters more.
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
My Charlemagne this week is on how to turn the European Union into the European Onion—a multi-layered construct with a core and outer tiers.
Unity still matters. Getting stuff done matters more.
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
The European Onion is a joke whose time has come
A new model of European integration, without the tears
www.economist.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:39 PM
"European Onion"
890 pages of light reading... ⚒️
February 13, 2026 at 12:37 PM
890 pages of light reading... ⚒️
Reposted by Howard Lee
It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children, which is not true but is a really cute idea
February 13, 2026 at 11:26 AM
It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children, which is not true but is a really cute idea
Reposted by Howard Lee
In its ruling, the court said an earlier decision to ban the Pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was "disproportionate." n.pr/4aj00Ws
Britain's High Court says government illegally banned Pro-Palestinian group
In its ruling, the court said an earlier decision to ban the Pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was "disproportionate."
n.pr
February 13, 2026 at 11:29 AM
In its ruling, the court said an earlier decision to ban the Pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was "disproportionate." n.pr/4aj00Ws
Reposted by Howard Lee
February 13, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Reposted by Howard Lee
This article in today’s NYT is the real endangerment for US national security, climate action, prosperity, and meaningful work.
Stuck With an Empty Factory, Ford Seeks a New Market www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/b...
Stuck With an Empty Factory, Ford Seeks a New Market www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/b...
Stuck With an Empty Factory, Ford Seeks a New Market
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:26 AM
This article in today’s NYT is the real endangerment for US national security, climate action, prosperity, and meaningful work.
Stuck With an Empty Factory, Ford Seeks a New Market www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/b...
Stuck With an Empty Factory, Ford Seeks a New Market www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/b...
Reposted by Howard Lee
Today, the Trump administration repealed the endangerment finding: the ruling that served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules. Without it, we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change—all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.
WATCH: Trump, EPA's Zeldin announce end of scientific basis for U.S. action on climate change
The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the most aggressiv...
www.pbs.org
February 12, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Today, the Trump administration repealed the endangerment finding: the ruling that served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules. Without it, we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change—all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.
Reposted by Howard Lee
MISLEADING: A new academic paper by @qmul.bsky.social has attracted significant media attention by claiming that EVs & heat pumps deliver no proven carbon savings in UK ahead of 2030 clean power target - and should therefore be postponed.
Here is why this paper should never have been published.🧵
Here is why this paper should never have been published.🧵
February 12, 2026 at 3:10 PM
MISLEADING: A new academic paper by @qmul.bsky.social has attracted significant media attention by claiming that EVs & heat pumps deliver no proven carbon savings in UK ahead of 2030 clean power target - and should therefore be postponed.
Here is why this paper should never have been published.🧵
Here is why this paper should never have been published.🧵