Phil Stevenson
@philstevenson.bsky.social
Prof in plant sciences | Kew.org | NRI.org | pollinators | sustainable food | chemical ecology | ecological pest management | guitarist | @sheducationband | evidence based views | FRES | FRSC |
https://www.kew.org/science/our-science/people/phil-stevenson
https://www.kew.org/science/our-science/people/phil-stevenson
Pinned
Phil Stevenson
@philstevenson.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Hello Folks - I'm following the crowd here - hoping it's a more benevolent and inclusive space where I can share and discuss with intelligent folk who value evidence and integrity.
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
UK government recognises contribution of synth fertiliser to global warming - & commits to enhance nutrient use efficiency & reduce intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from fertiliser production, restoring and improving soil health, building soil carbon, and reducing environmental harms.
Belém Declaration on Fertilisers
www.gov.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
UK government recognises contribution of synth fertiliser to global warming - & commits to enhance nutrient use efficiency & reduce intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from fertiliser production, restoring and improving soil health, building soil carbon, and reducing environmental harms.
Trump’s anti-climate agenda could result in 1.3m more deaths globally, analysis finds
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Trump’s anti-climate agenda could result in 1.3m more deaths globally, analysis finds
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Trump’s anti-climate agenda could result in 1.3m more deaths globally, analysis finds
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fallout from increased emissions linked to president’s ‘America First’ policies expected to most affect those in poor, hot countries www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Union Roast here @rbgkew.bsky.social today serving Kew climate blend coffee comprising Yayu (arabica) & Excelsa (C excelsa) currently a major focus of our work diversifying crops for climate ready agriculture in Uganda led by Aaron Davis. Coffeee farmers replace robusta in response to low rainfall.
November 19, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Union Roast here @rbgkew.bsky.social today serving Kew climate blend coffee comprising Yayu (arabica) & Excelsa (C excelsa) currently a major focus of our work diversifying crops for climate ready agriculture in Uganda led by Aaron Davis. Coffeee farmers replace robusta in response to low rainfall.
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Gosh, you mean it's not these bloody bats, nuisance newts, and maddening, 'microscopic' molluscs, after all?
November 16, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Gosh, you mean it's not these bloody bats, nuisance newts, and maddening, 'microscopic' molluscs, after all?
Why are the @bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social not even mentioning that this train hero is an immigrant - born in Algeria. Last week it was the first word in their report about a sex offender who was released in error. This hero is a Muslim immigrant. Not balanced reporting. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Rail worker who saved passengers from stabbings leaves hospital
Samir Zitouni's family say they are
www.bbc.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Why are the @bbcnews-uk-rss.bsky.social not even mentioning that this train hero is an immigrant - born in Algeria. Last week it was the first word in their report about a sex offender who was released in error. This hero is a Muslim immigrant. Not balanced reporting. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses - a democratic state can not exist with opinion masquerading as fact -it needs balanced evidence based reporting but unlike all other news sources also needs to be bullet proof. www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
‘Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses
The whirlwind that started when Deborah Turness came under attack at a board meeting is part of a wider political story, some say
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Make no mistake – this was a coup’: the extraordinary downfall of the BBC’s top bosses - a democratic state can not exist with opinion masquerading as fact -it needs balanced evidence based reporting but unlike all other news sources also needs to be bullet proof. www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...
Non-native tree devastates Ethiopia’s ecosystems and threatens livelihoods
Prosopis, introduced to Ethiopia in the 1970s, now depletes water, harms livestock and disrupts ecosystems across Afar.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/gallery/...
Prosopis, introduced to Ethiopia in the 1970s, now depletes water, harms livestock and disrupts ecosystems across Afar.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/gallery/...
Non-native tree devastates Ethiopia’s ecosystems and threatens livelihoods
Prosopis, introduced to Ethiopia in the 1970s, now depletes water, harms livestock and disrupts ecosystems across Afar.
www.aljazeera.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Non-native tree devastates Ethiopia’s ecosystems and threatens livelihoods
Prosopis, introduced to Ethiopia in the 1970s, now depletes water, harms livestock and disrupts ecosystems across Afar.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/gallery/...
Prosopis, introduced to Ethiopia in the 1970s, now depletes water, harms livestock and disrupts ecosystems across Afar.
www.aljazeera.com/amp/gallery/...
Al Gore wonders if ‘bullying’ Trump prompted Bill Gates to backtrack on climate www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Al Gore wonders if ‘bullying’ Trump prompted Bill Gates to backtrack on climate
Exclusive interview with ex-US vice-president at Cop30 also reveals his hope around much-maligned climate summit
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Al Gore wonders if ‘bullying’ Trump prompted Bill Gates to backtrack on climate www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
We have never observed planetary boundaries. It's either time to start taking these issues seriously or get ready for massive 'unplanned degrowth'...
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
FAO report: 1.7 billion people experience lower crop yields due to land degradation
The State of Food and Agriculture 2025 report focuses on land degradation caused by human activities
www.fao.org
November 8, 2025 at 9:10 AM
We have never observed planetary boundaries. It's either time to start taking these issues seriously or get ready for massive 'unplanned degrowth'...
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
"Elon Musk is deliberately using his platform to poison our politics and divide our country
It’s time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our country"
It’s time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our country"
Elon Musk makes himself far-right fixture after White House departure
The Tesla CEO once hinted he was done with politics – but he’s been leaning further into the international far right
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:03 AM
"Elon Musk is deliberately using his platform to poison our politics and divide our country
It’s time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our country"
It’s time for the government to wake up to the threat he poses to our country"
The net worth of 10 richest US billionaires grew by $698bn in the past year. Thats ~10 times the annual amount required to end extreme global poverty. Why does Bill Gates advise directing money away from “near-term emissions goals” towards climate “adaptation” ? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I wish we could ignore Bill Gates on the climate crisis. But he’s a billionaire, so we can’t | George Monbiot
Money talks – and his essay denouncing ‘near-term emissions goals’ at Cop30 mostly argues the case for letting the ultra-rich off the hook
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
The net worth of 10 richest US billionaires grew by $698bn in the past year. Thats ~10 times the annual amount required to end extreme global poverty. Why does Bill Gates advise directing money away from “near-term emissions goals” towards climate “adaptation” ? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Absolutely obscene. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tesla shareholders approve $1tn pay package for Elon Musk
Chants of ‘Elon’ erupt after compensation plan approved despite opposition from several high-profile investors
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Absolutely obscene. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Britain is one of the least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most. Lets get reconnected - it’s good for us.
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Britain is one of the least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most. Lets get reconnected - it’s good for us.
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Northumberland Wildlife Trust in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts have a one-time-only opportunity to secure the future of the historic Rothbury Estate in Northumberland. We can help.
www.nwt.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
www.nwt.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
Saving Rothbury Estate | Northumberland Wildlife Trust
Northumberland Wildlife Trust - The Wildlife Trusts have purchased a large upland area of the Rothbury Estate in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
www.nwt.org.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Northumberland Wildlife Trust in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts have a one-time-only opportunity to secure the future of the historic Rothbury Estate in Northumberland. We can help.
www.nwt.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
www.nwt.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
A manifesto for plant science education
Alvey et al.
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Societal Impact Statement also available in French.
#PlantScience @apaterlini.bsky.social @lizalvey.bsky.social @PlantTeaching.bsky.social @katharinehubbard.bsky.social
Alvey et al.
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Societal Impact Statement also available in French.
#PlantScience @apaterlini.bsky.social @lizalvey.bsky.social @PlantTeaching.bsky.social @katharinehubbard.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 6:59 AM
A manifesto for plant science education
Alvey et al.
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Societal Impact Statement also available in French.
#PlantScience @apaterlini.bsky.social @lizalvey.bsky.social @PlantTeaching.bsky.social @katharinehubbard.bsky.social
Alvey et al.
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Societal Impact Statement also available in French.
#PlantScience @apaterlini.bsky.social @lizalvey.bsky.social @PlantTeaching.bsky.social @katharinehubbard.bsky.social
Wind power has cut £104bn from UK energy costs since 2010, study finds www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Wind power has cut £104bn from UK energy costs since 2010, study finds
Reduction comes from energy generated from windfarms and lower cost of gas owing to lower demand
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Wind power has cut £104bn from UK energy costs since 2010, study finds www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Interesting study from #ubc in PNAS. Elevated virus infection of honeybee queens reduces methyl oleate production and destabilizes colony-level social structure. When methyloleate levels drop, workers "smell" the queen's weakness & begin preparing her successor.
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
doi.org
October 28, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Interesting study from #ubc in PNAS. Elevated virus infection of honeybee queens reduces methyl oleate production and destabilizes colony-level social structure. When methyloleate levels drop, workers "smell" the queen's weakness & begin preparing her successor.
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
I have a PhD opportunity with @juliakoricheva.bsky.social at @rhulbiology.bsky.social and @rbgkew.bsky.social to research the effect of forest diversification on understory forage provision for pollinators in an experimental mixed forest in Finland. www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/eff... please share
Effects of forest diversification on floral reward production for pollinators | TREES DLA
The herb layer in forests has a large potential to provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, but forest management practices such as planting tree species mixtures vs monocultures can affect floral r...
www.trees-dla.ac.uk
October 28, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I have a PhD opportunity with @juliakoricheva.bsky.social at @rhulbiology.bsky.social and @rbgkew.bsky.social to research the effect of forest diversification on understory forage provision for pollinators in an experimental mixed forest in Finland. www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/eff... please share
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
Green pathways to mental health: relationships between treescapes and well-being and distress @peopleandnature.bsky.social besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Green pathways to mental health: Relationships between treescapes and well‐being and distress
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Green pathways to mental health: relationships between treescapes and well-being and distress @peopleandnature.bsky.social besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Bumblebees learn to use antennal and tarsal taste to predict the presence of nectar rewards in flowers. This means that bees can learn to associate no food floral trait – e.g., chemicals on the surfaces of petals – with the quality of floral rewards. @ox.ac.uk
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Bumblebees learn to use antennal and tarsal taste to predict the presence of nectar rewards in flowers
Summary: Behavioural experiments and electrophysiological recordings show bumblebees can detect taste cues on surfaces of artificial flowers, including bitter toxins, and learn to use these to predict...
doi.org
October 25, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Bumblebees learn to use antennal and tarsal taste to predict the presence of nectar rewards in flowers. This means that bees can learn to associate no food floral trait – e.g., chemicals on the surfaces of petals – with the quality of floral rewards. @ox.ac.uk
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
Scientists have wondered what gives luxury ‘cat-poo’ coffee that has been through a Civet’s digestive tract its unique flavour. Well it’s pretty obvious - it’s been through the digestive tract of a Civet. Anyway - here’s a piece on the chemistry of cat-poo coffee.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This luxury ‘cat poo’ coffee has a unique flavour: what’s behind it?
Civets enrich coffee beans they eat and excrete with two fatty acids often used in dairy products, study finds.
www.nature.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Scientists have wondered what gives luxury ‘cat-poo’ coffee that has been through a Civet’s digestive tract its unique flavour. Well it’s pretty obvious - it’s been through the digestive tract of a Civet. Anyway - here’s a piece on the chemistry of cat-poo coffee.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Phil Stevenson
New OA publication from TreE_PlaNat project @uktreescapes.bsky.social in Ecological Solutions and Evidence: Creating woodland through natural processes: Current understanding and knowledge gaps in Great Britain besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Creating woodland through natural processes: Current understanding and knowledge gaps in Great Britain
Natural colonisation can successfully create structurally diverse, locally adapted woodlands in Britain, but the outcomes of this process can vary considerably. Combining natural colonisation and tre...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:08 AM
New OA publication from TreE_PlaNat project @uktreescapes.bsky.social in Ecological Solutions and Evidence: Creating woodland through natural processes: Current understanding and knowledge gaps in Great Britain besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Great PhD opportunity to work with @juliakoricheva.bsky.social & me looking at floral rewards in forests. @rbgkew.bsky.social @rhulbiology.bsky.social
PhD applications are now open @treesdla.bsky.social for 2026 intake. Have a look at a project on effects of forest diversity on floral reward production for pollinators that we advertise with @philstevenson.bsky.social. Do apply/get in touch if you are interested! www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/eff...
October 21, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Great PhD opportunity to work with @juliakoricheva.bsky.social & me looking at floral rewards in forests. @rbgkew.bsky.social @rhulbiology.bsky.social
Irvine Welsh at #wimbledonbookfestival talking about his new book book Men In Love. And even got to meet the man himself in the pub afterwards.
October 20, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Irvine Welsh at #wimbledonbookfestival talking about his new book book Men In Love. And even got to meet the man himself in the pub afterwards.