John Tweedie
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johntweedie.bsky.social
John Tweedie
@johntweedie.bsky.social
Earth Sciences graduate. But studying for a second degree in History with the OU. Love birdwatching, getting outdoors or snuggling indoors with a good book.
Coming up in March 2026 at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is an exhibition called Earth Matters, to celebrate the life and work of James Hutton on his 300th birthday. I don't see anything on the Botanics website yet, but see the following: www.designexhibitionscotland.co.uk/earth-matters/
Earth Matters - open call - Design Exhibition Scotland
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Design Exhibition Scotland are delighted to announce an open call to artists, makers, craftspeople and designers based in Scotland to submit expressions of interest ...
www.designexhibitionscotland.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
"Basalt is boring."

That's fighting talk that is!

It was said tongue in cheek, but it was interesting to learn about how phenocrysts in the basalt suggest the magma cooled slightly for the crystals to form before it flowed as a lava over the surface. #CaltonHill #geology
November 25, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Man arrested over mountain of dumped rubbish in Oxfordshire. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Man arrested over Oxfordshire waste mountain
A 39-year-old man is arrested after the huge pile of rubbish was found in Oxfordshire.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
London 2012: look at all the people turning out for the torch montage. It felt like a time full of optimism, whatever happened? www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKlc...
Torch Montage including David Beckham - London 2012 Olympics
YouTube video by Olympics
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Current issue of BBC Wildlife has an article by Neil Ansell about his hearing loss and his quest to hear particular birds before he can no longer hear them.

He has a book out about this from @birlinn.bsky.social, The Edge of Silence. birlinn.co.uk/product/the-...
The Edge of Silence | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online
A journey like no other. Acclaimed nature writer Neil Ansell has suffered from progressive hearing loss his whole life. As his world is becoming ever more silent, he suddenly hears something quite une...
birlinn.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Ironic that the DOGE employees brought in to gut federal agencies are now federal employees.
November 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Tomorrow at 6 pm is an online talk from @geowalks.scot on Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill.

Register to attend at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wheres-the...
Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill
Join us online with geologist Angus Miller to uncover the volcanic secrets behind Calton Hill’s creation
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
Winter Is Coming: And the Earth’s oldest organisms are prepping. 🥶
Even a Single Bacterial Cell Can Sense the Seasons Changing | Quanta Magazine
Though they live only a few hours before dividing, bacteria can anticipate the approach of cold weather and prepare for it. The discovery suggests that seasonal tracking is fundamental to life.
www.quantamagazine.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I've read a fair few books this year on the history of life on Earth, and I'm looking forward to this new one due out in March 2026: Andrew H. Knoll - Earth and Life. #Booksky press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Earth and Life
From the world-renowned geobiologist and bestselling author of A Brief History of Earth, the epic story of a planetary conversation four billion years in the making
press.princeton.edu
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
It was inevitable.

Someone has put a cone on the cone on the pigeon on the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow.
November 23, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Two incredible photos from Clive Oppenheimer’s book Mountains of Fire showing the same scene before and after a volcanic eruption on Montserrat. The church was obliterated by nuées ardentes (part of a pyroclastic flow).
November 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I wonder why farmers have never tried creating terraces in our upland areas? You don't even have to go to tropical countries to find terraces - they're in Italy too where they grow lemons and olives. www.dezeen.com/2025/10/24/l...
Eight Indigenous technologies that could turn the tide on how we manage water
Architect Julia Watson has followed up her seminal book Lo-TEK with a new volume focused specifically on Indigenous approaches to extreme water scenarios. Here, she shares an exclusive preview of eigh...
www.dezeen.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
Want to visit Siccar Point but can’t get out or it’s too far away?

@callanbentley.bsky.social has made this amazing online field-guide, including gigapan images and some fantastic virtual outcrops that you can explore in 3D. Check it out!

opengeology.org/historicalge...
VFE: Siccar Point, Scotland – Historical Geology
opengeology.org
November 22, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The James Hutton Deep Time Trail is happening! A grant has been provided which will enable to the development of the trail to go ahead. But extra support is still welcome - if you can, please contribute. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/siccar-point
Building the James Hutton Deep Time Trail
We are raising vital funds for a new Deep Time Trail at Siccar Point to celebrate the life and legacy of James Hutton for his Tercentenary.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
A first for me and @geologyjohnson.bsky.social to see trilobites in the wild. Look at the beautiful preservation 😍

Rocks likely heterolithic limestone with black shake and chert interbeds from late Devonian-early Carboniferous from southern Belgium.

#FossilFriday
November 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by John Tweedie
Looking forward to finding out about the #geology and history of Calton Hill with @caltonhill.bsky.social & @geowalks.scot at this event next week! 🌋

"Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill", Tues 25 November, 6pm, online
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wheres-the...
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Got a lift to and back from St Andrews today and we came back past the Ochils. Passing through Alva, the sun had just set and the sky glowed with a glorious golden radiance, while the hill Dumyat was looking spectacular in deep silhouette and giving the impression of being much higher than it is.
November 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This got a big laugh from the audience today when a person who said she is an art historian said that when she looks at geoscientists she thinks they're all "really sporty in their Gore-Tex and going out kayaking with dolphins."

Best comment of the day I think.
November 20, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
R.I.P. Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, bassist of #TheStoneRoses and #PrimalScream

buff.ly/qN3AvUA
November 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Impressive venue in St Andrews for today’s excellent discussion between @laurapoppick.bsky.social and Marcia Bjornerud on their views on geosciences including in education.
November 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Date for your diaries: 2 June 2026.

Publication date of Andrea Wulf's new book The Traveller: The Revolutionary Life of George Forster and His Search for Humanity. I don't know anything about Forster, so this'll be well worth reading to learn about him. andreawulf.com/2025/11/19/u...
UK cover for The Traveller
Here is the beautiful cover for my forthcoming book ‘The Traveller’ – published in the UK and US on 2 June 2026. Stay tuned.
andreawulf.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Do "makers" on Etsy sell stuff based on other people's work? I was looking for framed prints of old geological maps and cross-sections, but came across an illustration I'm pretty sure belongs to someone else who isn't acknowledged in the product listing.
November 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
The geology department at the University of Leicester, where myself and countless others did our palaeontology PhDs, is at serious risk of closure

Please show your support by signing the below!

c.org/KtYyZB8dHk
Save Geology at the University of Leicester
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
c.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
It's great to see that West Dunbartonshire has supported the visitor levy - 5% added to stays in the area which includes Loch Lomond. It'll be really good to see how the money is spent - I like the idea of it being used to subsidise public transport. www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/2563053...
Going to Loch Lomond? This new charge has just been approved
West Dunbartonshire Council has given the go-ahead to introduce a tourist tax to visitors despite majority of locals opposing it
www.glasgowtimes.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
The BBC Scotland commentary for Kenny McLean’s halfway line goal is glorious. Stuff of dreams. 🔥

Congratulations #Scotland, see you at the World Cup.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM