Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · 12d

In his new book The Great Holocene Transformation, Peter Turchin shows that inequality and class conflict dilute social cohesion and increase societies’ vulnerability to external threat. Doesn't sound great for the UK now, does it...

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

Go Green @ecowarriorss.bsky.social · 13d

The oceans are dying as humans warm the planet and plunder the ocean polluting and depleting the ocean of marine life
World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses critical threshold for marine life

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

World’s oceans fail key health check as acidity crosses critical threshold for marine life

Scientists call for renewed global effort to curb fossil fuels as seven of nine planetary boundaries now transgressed

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

Nature Ecology & Evolution @natecoevo.nature.com · 22d

Global analysis indicates that phosphorus limitation on terrestrial primary productivity has become stronger and is increasing more rapidly than nitrogen limitation. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Phosphorus constrains global photosynthesis more than nitrogen does - Nature Ecology & Evolution

Nitrogen and phosphorus limitations are both key to spatial patterns and temporal trends in primary production. This global analysis indicates that phosphorus limitation on terrestrial primary product...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 22d

I'll be speaking at the Stop Trump demo in Parliament Square today. A fascist autocratic clearly itching to declare martial law is not welcome here.
share.google/sWEe8YGl3euj...

Trump Not Welcome | 17 September 2025

Stop Trump Coalition

share.google

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · 21d

Bck at work after a month off and catching up on the world: this was an interesting read - by Dolors Armenteras - about the continued lack of equity between global north and south in science www.nature.com/articles/d41... #science #equity #globalsouth @

Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending

Science isn’t really moving towards equity; institutions are just perfecting the appearance of equity. We need to build an alternative system.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Alexa Varah

Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 22d

Human-made global heating caused two in every three heat deaths in Europe during this year’s scorching summer, an early analysis of mortality in 854 big cities has found

I think the UK is higher up this chart than most people would expect

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Mar 17

One of the best examples of a mature, temperate forest garden is under threat - please sign the Agroforestry Research Trust's petition to try and save it.

Dave Goulson @davegoulson.bsky.social · Mar 17

The Dartington Forest Garden is threatened with destruction by landlords the Dartington Trust. It took >30 years to grow, and is a wonderful example of a radically different approach to food & fibre production. Please sign the petition, and share.

www.agroforestry.co.uk/save-darting...

Save the Dartington Forest Garden - The Agroforestry Research Trust

www.agroforestry.co.uk

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Feb 12

Fascinating article about deep sea prospecting.

Krista Langlois @cestmoilanglois.bsky.social · Feb 12

. @rebekahwhite.bsky.social with the deep-sea worm butt facts you didn't know you needed, along with a really fascinating story about how multinational companies are making big profits off publicly-funded research expeditions

www.biographic.com/the-three-wa...

The Three-Way Race to Exploit Deep-Sea Life - bioGraphic

The genetic bounty of the deep sea is being patented by a handful of multinationals.

www.biographic.com

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

Andreas Sieber @andreassieber.bsky.social · Feb 5

Noteworthy speech by von der Leyen at the #EU Ambassadors conference 2025 ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

"The #phase-out of Russian #fossilfuels must continue."

#climate #energy

Speech by President von der Leyen at the EU Ambassadors Conference 2025

Dear HR/VP, my dearest Kaja, Secretary-General, Ambassadors, Allow me to start with a very warm welcome and thanks to each and every one of you for your service to Europe. Many of you have supported a

ec.europa.eu

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Feb 5

It must be like living in an alternative reality for #scientists in the #US right now….

Science Magazine @science.org · Feb 5

Many U.S. science agencies abruptly abandoned normal operations last week to focus on a slew of executive orders from President Donald Trump.

The torrent of activity left many researchers bewildered—and fearful of what might come next. scim.ag/4jMPYiY

Trump orders cause chaos at science agencies

Wild week of canceled meetings, program changes, and data purges creates high anxiety

scim.ag

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

National Wildlife Federation @nationalwildlife.bsky.social · Feb 4

National Wildlife Federation urges senators to ensure nominees will respect the rule of law and focus on securing a bipartisan funding agreement.

Read our press release for more 📲: ow.ly/WynI50USLvS

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Feb 5

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

LCV – League of Conservation Voters 🌎 @lcv.org · Feb 5

THIS is what fighting back looks like! 👏

Democrats are planning to hold the Senate floor all night tonight to try and stop the confirmation of Project 2025 architect and OMB nominee Russell Vought.

REPOST if you support their efforts!

Democrats To Hold Senate Floor All Night To Oppose Trump’s OMB Nominee

www.huffpost.com

Reposted by Alexa Varah

IPBES @ipbes.net · Jan 30

Various animals have achieved fame as 'endlings’ - the last individuals of their species.

Can their tragic stories help to protect other threatened species?

To unpack this, we talk to @alexanderlees.bsky.social & @joannalilley.bsky.social on #NatureInsight.

bit.ly/3Ow0Wef

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Jan 30

Interesting-looking talk tomorrow on links between nature and human health.

The Biodiversity Network @biodivoxford.bsky.social · Jan 28

In Friday's talk Ben Wheeler will explore how green & blue spaces can benefit public health, discussing how evidence can guide policies that benefit human health & the environment. In-person & on line. See you there! @ecioxford.bsky.social @oxfordgeography.bsky.social bookwhen.com/oxfordbiodiv...

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Jan 21

🌳🌱🦋 If global politics is depressing you right now, here's some positive news to read instead! #EducationNaturePark

Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · Jan 21

Have you heard of the #EducationNaturePark? 🌳

Last week, MP Stephen Morgan from EducationGovUK visited us to meet participating schools!
They shared ideas on how we can empower young people in making a positive impact on people and the planet🌍👇
www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/final-school...

Staff and students share their ideas for the Nature Park at the final Schools Forum session | Education Nature Park

This month saw the final gathering of the Nature Park Schools Forum, the result of several sessions where staff and students from across England have been giving their thoughts on how we can continue ...

www.educationnaturepark.org.uk

Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Jan 16

😮

Biofuelwatch @biofuelwatch.bsky.social · Jan 16

Finland's forests are now a net source of CO2 emissions, due to a large part to intensive logging, including for #biomass energy.

Juha Aromaa @aromaajuha.bsky.social · Jan 15

Could the carbon sink of the northern forests save us from climate change? I'm sorry, not the Finnish forests at least. We logged the sink. According to Natural Resources Institute Finland the sink of forests has turned into an emission. (link in Swedish and Finnish) www.luke.fi/sv/nyheterna...

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

Andrew Dessler @andrewdessler.com · Jan 15

New post on The Climate Brink from Zeke @hausfath.bsky.social about our climate future. With current policies, we’re on track for a bit less than 3C, with 2030 NDCs we’re on track for about 2.5C, and with net zero pledges we’re on track for a bit less than 2C.
www.theclimatebrink.com/p/moving-awa...

Moving away from high-end emissions scenarios

I have a new commentary in Dialogues on Climate Change exploring climate outcomes in current policy scenarios

www.theclimatebrink.com

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Jan 16

Interesting and frustrating insight into doing science!

Franciska de Vries 🟥 @frantecol.bsky.social · Nov 28

Science takes time - a lot of time. Time that is more and more difficult to make available because of increased workloads. Time that exceeds the temporary contracts of postdocs and PhDs.

I'll illustrate this using our paper published in Nature yesterday. 🧵 (1/x)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Soil microbiomes show consistent and predictable responses to extreme events - Nature

Soils from 30 grasslands across Europe were subjected to 4 contrasting extreme climatic events under drought, flood, freezing and heat conditions, with the results suggesting that soil microbiomes fro...

www.nature.com

Reposted by Alexa Varah

Andy Gonzalez @bio-diverse.bsky.social · Jan 16

Just finished reading this fab new paper by @andypurvisnhm.bsky.social

Bending the curve of #biodiversity loss requires a 'satnav' for nature
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....

The satnav analogy helps to focus on forward-looking course corrections to our conservation policy + actions

Bending the curve of biodiversity loss requires a ‘satnav’ for nature | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Georgina Mace proposed bending the curve of biodiversity loss as a fitting ambition for the Convention on Biological Diversity. The new Global Biodiversity Monitoring Framework (GBMF) may increase the...

royalsocietypublishing.org

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability @exetergses.bsky.social · Dec 11

Fully funded PhD scholarships available for Black British Students

Opportunities available within:
🧪 Data Science
⛰️ Earth and Environmental Science
🦤 Ecology and Conservation
🛠️ Engineering
🌍 Geography
🤝 Business School

Apply: www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
📆 Deadline: 28th Feb
#ExeterGSES

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Jan 13

Women are more likely to drop out of science than men.
From my experience, the postdoc system works against those who can't be flexible about working hours or job location, and who need predictable finances.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
(Thank you #NatureBriefing for flagging this article!)

| bioRxiv

bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution

www.biorxiv.org

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Jan 13

It's confirmed - Earth has breached the 1.5 °C climate limit 😭. No great surprise, but still awful to have it confirmed. What will life be like outside of the #safezone?
We've had decades of climate inaction and now people are starting to suffer...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Earth breaches 1.5 °C climate limit for the first time: what does it mean?

The threshold has been exceeded for only one year so far, but humanity is nearing the end of what many thought was a ‘safe zone’ as climate change worsens.

www.nature.com

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Alexa Varah @alexavarah.bsky.social · Dec 11

Looking for a PhD? Please apply!

Charlie Outhwaite @charlieouthwaite.bsky.social · Dec 9

1. How can AI-based insect monitoring technologies enhance large-scale insect monitoring?
• Co-supervised by Tom Breeze (Reading), Alexa Varah (NHM) and Tom August (UK CEH).
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

CR2025_25: How can AI-based insect monitoring technologies enhance large-scale insect monitoring? at Institute of Zoology on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - CR2025_25: How can AI-based insect monitoring technologies enhance large-scale insect monitoring? at Institute of Zoology, listed on FindAPhD.com

www.findaphd.com

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

Markus Eichhorn @markuseichhorn.bsky.social · Dec 11

Seddon proposes that the next step from Mace (2014) should be People As Nature, recognising that nature *is* culture #BES2024 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Whose conservation?

Changes in the perception and goals of nature conservation require a solid scientific basis

www.science.org

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Reposted by Alexa Varah

British Ecological Society @britishecologicalsociety.org · Dec 10

Did you catch our CEO Hazel Norman on BBC Radio Merseyside this morning?

Catch up with today's breakfast show to hear Hazel talk about #BES2024 and some of the exciting research on show!

📻 (1:23:00) www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

🌍🧪

Hazel Norman, BES CEO sits in a radio studio with the presented, Kevin Duala.

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