Ruth Mottram
@ruthmottram.bsky.social
Climate scientist at DMI, Greenland, Antarctica, polar regions in general.
Dipping a toe in yet another social media site. Mostly on mastodon though @[email protected]
Blogging at sternaparadisaea.net
Dipping a toe in yet another social media site. Mostly on mastodon though @[email protected]
Blogging at sternaparadisaea.net
Pinned
Ruth Mottram
@ruthmottram.bsky.social
· Dec 12
Heading South
Tomorrow, I’m heading south, though more correctly, I’m first heading north to head south. Fieldwork in Antarctica starts next week..
sternaparadisaea.net
The first step in the ~14,500 km journey (as the crow flies) to Wasa was a taxi to the airport. The second is a flight to Oslo*.
It's masks on time.
*Yes, this #fieldwork involves *a lot* of carbon. Let's hope the data is worth it...
sternaparadisaea.net/2025/12/11/h...
It's masks on time.
*Yes, this #fieldwork involves *a lot* of carbon. Let's hope the data is worth it...
sternaparadisaea.net/2025/12/11/h...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
🔔🚨 New Publication Alert!
Research has shown that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a climate tipping element.
We found: it’s not one — it’s many.
📄 Paper (open access): www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📢 Press release: www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/late...
Tread below 🧵👇
Research has shown that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a climate tipping element.
We found: it’s not one — it’s many.
📄 Paper (open access): www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📢 Press release: www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/late...
Tread below 🧵👇
February 17, 2026 at 11:32 AM
If you are remotely interested in #Antarctica , #ClimateChange and #SeaLevelRise, check out the latest brilliant @oceaniceeu.bsky.social contribution from the Potsdam group on how the risk of crossing a tipping point varies per basin
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Mapping tipping risks from Antarctic ice basins under global warming - Nature Climate Change
Climate change threatens the future of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Here the authors show that individual drainage basins have different thresholds and loss patterns, suggesting the need to consider the d...
www.nature.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:01 AM
If you are remotely interested in #Antarctica , #ClimateChange and #SeaLevelRise, check out the latest brilliant @oceaniceeu.bsky.social contribution from the Potsdam group on how the risk of crossing a tipping point varies per basin
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"forget the “high” and “low” labels, lean into what comes naturally, study what you love, and hope for the best."
I heartily agree!
We have to stop calling some jobs ‘low skilled’ - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
I heartily agree!
We have to stop calling some jobs ‘low skilled’ - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/9034d6d6-a333-487d-b4a7-de294be67e8b
giftarticle.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:17 AM
"forget the “high” and “low” labels, lean into what comes naturally, study what you love, and hope for the best."
I heartily agree!
We have to stop calling some jobs ‘low skilled’ - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
I heartily agree!
We have to stop calling some jobs ‘low skilled’ - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further
March 8, 2025 at 12:13 AM
its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Rubio's speech in Munich was very different from Vance's speech last year. Emphasising historical connections. With several openings going forward.
But cause for relief or complacency? No.
The underlying message to Europe is "we can do it together, if we do it the Trump-American way"
But cause for relief or complacency? No.
The underlying message to Europe is "we can do it together, if we do it the Trump-American way"
February 14, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Rubio's speech in Munich was very different from Vance's speech last year. Emphasising historical connections. With several openings going forward.
But cause for relief or complacency? No.
The underlying message to Europe is "we can do it together, if we do it the Trump-American way"
But cause for relief or complacency? No.
The underlying message to Europe is "we can do it together, if we do it the Trump-American way"
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
On enforcing the DSA:
“Brussels will have to choose either to pull the trigger on potential enforcement actions against some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names or admit that, for now, its digital rulebook must run secondary to the bloc’s wider reliance on the US”
www.techpolicy.press/the-eus-onli...
“Brussels will have to choose either to pull the trigger on potential enforcement actions against some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names or admit that, for now, its digital rulebook must run secondary to the bloc’s wider reliance on the US”
www.techpolicy.press/the-eus-onli...
The EU’s Online Safety Moonshot Is Losing Altitude
European policymakers must acknowledge that current birthing pains linked to the Digital Services Act are borne from within the bloc, writes Mark Scott.
www.techpolicy.press
February 16, 2026 at 3:05 PM
On enforcing the DSA:
“Brussels will have to choose either to pull the trigger on potential enforcement actions against some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names or admit that, for now, its digital rulebook must run secondary to the bloc’s wider reliance on the US”
www.techpolicy.press/the-eus-onli...
“Brussels will have to choose either to pull the trigger on potential enforcement actions against some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names or admit that, for now, its digital rulebook must run secondary to the bloc’s wider reliance on the US”
www.techpolicy.press/the-eus-onli...
It's interesting how little difference there iis between countries and demographics, men and women and young and old think X is a toxic place.
Who exactly is still on there?
Who exactly is still on there?
Loosing patience with X 📉
New poll shows 70+% support for taking further actions against X and amongst those supporting action, many consider not only fines but also a ban.
The investigations by the @ec.europa.eu into X are backed and poll corroborates public support for platform regulation.
New poll shows 70+% support for taking further actions against X and amongst those supporting action, many consider not only fines but also a ban.
The investigations by the @ec.europa.eu into X are backed and poll corroborates public support for platform regulation.
February 17, 2026 at 7:03 AM
It's interesting how little difference there iis between countries and demographics, men and women and young and old think X is a toxic place.
Who exactly is still on there?
Who exactly is still on there?
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Loosing patience with X 📉
New poll shows 70+% support for taking further actions against X and amongst those supporting action, many consider not only fines but also a ban.
The investigations by the @ec.europa.eu into X are backed and poll corroborates public support for platform regulation.
New poll shows 70+% support for taking further actions against X and amongst those supporting action, many consider not only fines but also a ban.
The investigations by the @ec.europa.eu into X are backed and poll corroborates public support for platform regulation.
February 17, 2026 at 6:17 AM
Loosing patience with X 📉
New poll shows 70+% support for taking further actions against X and amongst those supporting action, many consider not only fines but also a ban.
The investigations by the @ec.europa.eu into X are backed and poll corroborates public support for platform regulation.
New poll shows 70+% support for taking further actions against X and amongst those supporting action, many consider not only fines but also a ban.
The investigations by the @ec.europa.eu into X are backed and poll corroborates public support for platform regulation.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Wrote for @theglobeandmail.com:
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
Africans are being confined and beaten in scam camps in Myanmar
Migrants toil for long hours on social-media platforms, targeting people with crypto and romance scams
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Wrote for @theglobeandmail.com:
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
How can #Sweden combat gangs who recruit children? Is #France really providing 2/3 of #Ukrainian intelligence? And how do we upgrade the #energyEfficiency of European homes? Today's @eurcorrespond.bsky.social is a cracker
europeancorrespondent.com/en/s/audio?d...
europeancorrespondent.com/en/s/audio?d...
Audio | EN — The European Correspondent
europeancorrespondent.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:56 AM
How can #Sweden combat gangs who recruit children? Is #France really providing 2/3 of #Ukrainian intelligence? And how do we upgrade the #energyEfficiency of European homes? Today's @eurcorrespond.bsky.social is a cracker
europeancorrespondent.com/en/s/audio?d...
europeancorrespondent.com/en/s/audio?d...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Antarctica isn’t one big tipping point.
New research maps 18 separate ice basins, each with its own threshold. Some in West Antarctica may tip at just ~1–2C warming (i.e close to today’s levels).
Cross the line, and you commit to m’s of sea-level rise over centuries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New research maps 18 separate ice basins, each with its own threshold. Some in West Antarctica may tip at just ~1–2C warming (i.e close to today’s levels).
Cross the line, and you commit to m’s of sea-level rise over centuries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Mapping tipping risks from Antarctic ice basins under global warming - Nature Climate Change
Climate change threatens the future of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Here the authors show that individual drainage basins have different thresholds and loss patterns, suggesting the need to consider the d...
www.nature.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Antarctica isn’t one big tipping point.
New research maps 18 separate ice basins, each with its own threshold. Some in West Antarctica may tip at just ~1–2C warming (i.e close to today’s levels).
Cross the line, and you commit to m’s of sea-level rise over centuries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New research maps 18 separate ice basins, each with its own threshold. Some in West Antarctica may tip at just ~1–2C warming (i.e close to today’s levels).
Cross the line, and you commit to m’s of sea-level rise over centuries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Den splidskabende præsident i Ungarn får støtte fra USA. Målet er selvklart.
Minder lige endnu engang om, at Ungarn har en befolkning på 9,6 mio. Altså, en i forhold til det samlede antal indbyggere i EU lille hale, der logrer med hunden.
Minder lige endnu engang om, at Ungarn har en befolkning på 9,6 mio. Altså, en i forhold til det samlede antal indbyggere i EU lille hale, der logrer med hunden.
February 16, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Den splidskabende præsident i Ungarn får støtte fra USA. Målet er selvklart.
Minder lige endnu engang om, at Ungarn har en befolkning på 9,6 mio. Altså, en i forhold til det samlede antal indbyggere i EU lille hale, der logrer med hunden.
Minder lige endnu engang om, at Ungarn har en befolkning på 9,6 mio. Altså, en i forhold til det samlede antal indbyggere i EU lille hale, der logrer med hunden.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
13/
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
February 16, 2026 at 8:14 AM
13/
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
Across all these examples, a pattern emerges:
- Share victories ✊
- Share messy process 📣
- Document it 📒
- Build trust 🤝
- Show real-world results ✅
- Provide clear pathways ➡️
That’s how action spreads.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
4/ Tip 1
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
This year has been brutal for the #climate movement.
Rollbacks, repression, & outright denial, especially in the US, have made progress feel fragile & uneven.
Which is exactly why it matters to pause & look back at what did move forward in 2025.
Here are 12 real wins 🏆, one for each month 🧵⬇️
Rollbacks, repression, & outright denial, especially in the US, have made progress feel fragile & uneven.
Which is exactly why it matters to pause & look back at what did move forward in 2025.
Here are 12 real wins 🏆, one for each month 🧵⬇️
February 16, 2026 at 8:14 AM
4/ Tip 1
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
Share victory stories
I regularly gather and share examples of #climate movement victories.
Not as “feel-good” content.
But as social proof that organising works.
They serve as examples to follow.
Here’s a recent thread collecting 12 wins from 2025:
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Doesn't mean not worth trying. There is a blindspot in much UK policy debate that treats intellectual and cultural life as a peripheral luxury when it can be the foundation of social cohesion and trust in the state needed to sustain hard power public willingness to mobilise for collective defence
February 16, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Doesn't mean not worth trying. There is a blindspot in much UK policy debate that treats intellectual and cultural life as a peripheral luxury when it can be the foundation of social cohesion and trust in the state needed to sustain hard power public willingness to mobilise for collective defence
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Anyway this is why they have to work so hard to keep their forcing us to give them all their shitty money for their shitty products. Because once a person tries the alternatives they are so obviously immediately superior and it is like "CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT WE USE TO DO?"
February 16, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Anyway this is why they have to work so hard to keep their forcing us to give them all their shitty money for their shitty products. Because once a person tries the alternatives they are so obviously immediately superior and it is like "CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT WE USE TO DO?"
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Adding even more cameras for a surveillance state: 'autonomous' delivery robots, and 'autonomous' taxis.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
February 15, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Adding even more cameras for a surveillance state: 'autonomous' delivery robots, and 'autonomous' taxis.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
Can be combined with facial recognition, of course.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
I never really sign stuff. But this was different. It's not about trying to facilitate or block a particular party's route to power. It's about an electoral system that's unsuited to the political realities we face today and risks giving us government after government with no convincing mandate.
Over 50 Academics Warn That Voting System Is Not Fit For Multi-Party Politics
Dozens of academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an 'unprecedented' s...
www.politicshome.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:25 AM
I never really sign stuff. But this was different. It's not about trying to facilitate or block a particular party's route to power. It's about an electoral system that's unsuited to the political realities we face today and risks giving us government after government with no convincing mandate.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
Der tales meget om at genindføre store bededag men ikke så meget om, at vi alle fik en lønstigning på 0,45 % som kompensation, som samtidig må rulles tilbage.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Ny måling lægger pres på regeringspartierne – flertal vil have helligdag tilbage
S-profil vil ikke afvise, at en genindførelse af store bededag kan komme på tale efter et valg.
nyheder.tv2.dk
February 12, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Der tales meget om at genindføre store bededag men ikke så meget om, at vi alle fik en lønstigning på 0,45 % som kompensation, som samtidig må rulles tilbage.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Jeg vil være ked af være tvunget til at gå ned i løn som betaling for en ekstra fridag, som ligger fast på en specifik dato.
Similarly, I'm impressed with the performance of the air source heat pump in these temperatures...
Also, it's -20C and there is half a metre of fresh snow. Tell me again #EVs don't work in the winter...
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
February 14, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Similarly, I'm impressed with the performance of the air source heat pump in these temperatures...
Also, it's -20C and there is half a metre of fresh snow. Tell me again #EVs don't work in the winter...
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
February 14, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Also, it's -20C and there is half a metre of fresh snow. Tell me again #EVs don't work in the winter...
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
(And we're in a small VW ID3).
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
February 14, 2026 at 7:30 AM
One of the nice things about skiing in Norway is that the resorts are so quiet and the air so clean, partly because so many drive electric.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Also, the ski chalets often have their own chargers.
Agree that blue sky is the new science twitter. Though I still feel like I get a lot more chat on mastodon (though not necessarily as much from other scientists). It probably helps that I'm on the fediscience server there.
STUDY: “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.”
Follow great scientists here like @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com
Follow great scientists here like @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @katharinehayhoe.com
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 14, 2026 at 7:27 AM
Agree that blue sky is the new science twitter. Though I still feel like I get a lot more chat on mastodon (though not necessarily as much from other scientists). It probably helps that I'm on the fediscience server there.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
6 observations from the first day of the Munich Security Conference 2026. Number 5 will surprise you!
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
February 13, 2026 at 10:14 PM
6 observations from the first day of the Munich Security Conference 2026. Number 5 will surprise you!
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
…
Or number 3. Or 1. What do I know.
Reposted by Ruth Mottram
🚨🚨 "Surprise, surprise": The U.S. is reorienting its foreign funding program to export #MAGA ideology to Europe — and a growing set of far-right and conservative think tanks and political groups are lining up to take Washington’s money. 🧵 www.politico.eu/article/maga...
The MAGA-friendly European think tanks Trump wants to fund
The Heritage Foundation identified European groups for U.S. backing.
www.politico.eu
February 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
🚨🚨 "Surprise, surprise": The U.S. is reorienting its foreign funding program to export #MAGA ideology to Europe — and a growing set of far-right and conservative think tanks and political groups are lining up to take Washington’s money. 🧵 www.politico.eu/article/maga...