Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Sep 3

🧪 Did you know drought stress can have a legacy effect on recalcitrant compounds in leaf litter? 🍃 Or that deforestation added an extra 3°C in the past 20 years? 🌡️ Read more, plus a timeless concept about wetlands (hint: it's about protecting them), in Peatmail: peatmail.substack.com/p/lessons-wr...

Lessons Written in Mud: Why We Can’t Drain the Swamp

Reflecting on the mistakes of past societies and the future of wetland conservation.

peatmail.substack.com

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Aug 29

Is this tower in Syracuse?

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Aug 25

🧪 Beavers 🦫 are starting to become a recurrent theme in my newsletters...but this time you can also find a brief summary of a new study in Global Change Biology + highlights of new pop sci articles! Plus a podcast recommendation 🎤 and wetland photos 📷 as usual. Read Peatmail: tinyurl.com/guanoon 🤓

Keep Calm and Guano On

Bird poop could help maximize carbon stored in coastal ecosystems.

tinyurl.com

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Jul 30

If I ever win the lottery, I won't tell anyone, but there will be signs 💸🫂

Marine Biological Laboratory @mblscience.bsky.social · Jul 28

We're thrilled to announce the largest private gift in our 137-year history: a $25 million unrestricted donation from MBL Whitman Scientist Mark Terasaki.

His extraordinary generosity will bolster our renowned research and education programs. 🔬

Learn more: bit.ly/452WL1m

MBL Announces Largest Ever Gift for Its Renowned Biological Education and Research Programs | Marine Biological Laboratory

Cell Biology Researcher Mark Terasaki’s $25 Million Unrestricted Gift Will Support Operations and Infrastructure Contact: Samantha Cummis [email protected]; 973.800.4119

bit.ly

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Jul 26

Caturday is for looking out windows with Haku 😽

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Jul 19

My first thought was a bunch of prehistoric divas sashaying past the cavemen with arms interlocked 😂 but after reading the description, now I'm curious what prehistoric megafauna was rolling the log? 👀🦕

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Jul 18

🧪 Hey Science 'Sky! Are you a scientist who hosts a science podcast? 👩🏼‍🔬 🎧🎤 I'm interested in publishing a scicomm case study (about 80% written up) but am having a hard time finding collaborators. If you're willing to share your Spotify for Creators data with me and be a co-author please reach out!!

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Jul 15

🧪 Listen to season two of the FLUXNET science podcast to hear about carbon inset projects with promising results in an Australian mine ⚒️ 🪨 and an Arkansas rice field 🍚🌾, among other interesting stories from our guests! bit.ly/meetthefluxe... this podcast is meant for all curious minds! 🎧

Meet the Fluxers

Podcast · FLUXNET Outreach Working Group · Bridging the gap between eddy covariance flux scientists and those whose work or lives are influenced by flux data.

bit.ly

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Jul 5

🧪 At one point in earth's history, warm air temperatures, high humidity, and high CO2 stimulated photosynthesis. Land was covered with dense, lush vegetation🌿. But a new study shows that while marsh CO2 uptake will ⬆️ with atm. CO2, so too will emissions of CH4. peatmail.substack.com/p/jurassic-m...

Jurassic Marsh: How More Carbon Could Explode Plant Growth

"'God creates dinosaurs, God destroys dinosaurs. God creates Man, man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs.' 'Dinosaurs eat man...Woman inherits the earth.'" Drs. Malcolm and Sattler, Jurassic Park.

peatmail.substack.com

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

biometlab @biometlab.bsky.social · Jun 26

Just posted an OpEd in our local paper, the Brentwood Press, on defending science, as encouraged by
@wclivestream.bsky.social and others

@natureatcal.bsky.social

www.thepress.net/opinion/we-s...

We should not dismantle science across America

The Trump administration is destroying our scientific institutions, its infrastructure, and intellectual capital at an unprecedented pace. Scientists are being fired without cause from many federal ag...

www.thepress.net

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Jun 14

NO KINGS

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

Society for Conservation Biology North America (SCBNA) @scbnorthamerica.bsky.social · May 2

TAKE ACTION with SCBNA TODAY to write in opposition to the proposed rule to rescind the regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act.

This change would significantly weaken one of our nation’s most effective conservation laws and jeopardize the survival of imperiled species.

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · May 17

Albertsons in my neighborhood does this too 😬 it's such a trip because one time I caught it, and I felt insane, had to pay full price, go back into the store, take a photo of the sale sign, and then go to customer service for a refund, but only after convincing the clerk it was really "on sale"!

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · May 14

My loved one with ADHD has the opinion that without the structured, 40-hour+ work week, medication wouldn't be necessary for them at all. I need to do more research on what life is like for the unmedicated ADHDers out there 📖🔬

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · May 13

Would you believe that medical descriptions of ADHD date back to at least the 1800s? 🧪 I'm countering misinformation by sharing the science: symptoms, challenges to getting a diagnosis, treatment options, and barriers to medication access. Check out the article I wrote here: tinyurl.com/yr6fbfcy

Advocating for ADHD Loved Ones

Diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve life for people with ADHD. Learn why in this article.

tinyurl.com

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · May 13

🚨 EASY-TO-TAKE ACTION ALERT! 🚨
Want to do something to protect the integrity of the federal civil service? Submit a public comment! Not sure how to do that and what to say? I have a comment you can submit! 🧪🔭⚛️

Details here:
news.chanda.science/archive/urge...

Urgent: Take Action to Protect Public Services

Photo by Katie Rodriguez on Unsplash I have something you can do in five minutes or less that can help salvage the integrity of the federal civil service,...

news.chanda.science

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · May 6

Agreed. There are so, so many people I know who are doing incredible science communication. We have books in need of readers, podcasts in need of listeners, museums in need of visitors, social media accounts in need of followers. The effort has to come from both ends.

Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · May 6

This misdiagnoses the problem.

Universities and researchers are communicating hard. All the time.

But with the regime now controlling the most widely used news media and social media, it doesn’t matter. The communications channels just aren’t there.

Ann Monster Lipton @annmlipton.bsky.social · May 6

because they don't realize where the data is coming from, as the article explains

which gives you the marching orders for universities/researchers - they need to publicly communicate the value of what they do.

if it's not too late

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · May 1

After the recent LSU College of the Coast & Environment Seminar by @mangrovedan.bsky.social on mangrove blue carbon, I was compelled to look outside the US for inspiration on restoration work. 🧪 There were more projects than I could even cover in one newsletter! Check it out: tinyurl.com/bluecarbn 🌴

Another Man’s Treasure: Mangrove Restoration

Mangrove restoration is a natural climate solution that many communities have already embraced. As one country dismantles its research efforts in the climate action space, who will lead the way?

peatmail.substack.com

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

Peatland ECR Action Team @peatlandecr.bsky.social · Apr 12

📸 #PeatECR get your camera ready before heading into this year’s field season!

🗓️ The 2026 #Peat Calendar is in the planning!

Send us your best #peatland *WILDLIFE* photo until September 30th: 📧 [email protected]

Promotional graphic for the 2026 PEAT (Peatland ECR Action Team) calendar with the theme ‘Wildlife’. It announces a photo submission deadline of September 30, 2025. The background features a scenic photo of a wooden boardwalk leading through a peatland towards a snow-dusted mountain under a colorful sunset sky. Photo credit is given to Justinas Sakas.

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

FLUXNET @fluxnet.bsky.social · Apr 10

We’re excited to launch Meet the Fluxers, a podcast bridging the gap between eddy covariance flux scientists and people whose work and lives are influenced by ecosystem fluxes.

fluxnet.org/2025/04/10/i...

Introducing Meet the Fluxers - FLUXNET

(blog post from Maoya Bassiouni) We’re excited to launch Meet the Fluxers, a podcast bridging the gap between eddy covariance flux scientists and people whose work and lives are influenced... More

fluxnet.org

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

Hillary Rodham Clinton @hillaryclinton.bsky.social · Apr 9

Are you a woman who changed your name when you got married?

Congress is considering a bill that could make it much harder for you to vote.

Call your rep—this is not a drill. indivisible.org/resource/cal...

Graphic: As many as 69 million American women lack access to valid birth certificates

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Apr 5

Baton Rouge, Louisiana is fighting back

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Apr 5

HANDS OFF our science, our jobs, our food prices, our bodily autonomy, our future, and our hope

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Reposted by Dr. Jessica Richardson

Nicole Sommer @nicolesommer.bsky.social · Apr 5

US jury orders Chevron to pay $744M damages to Louisiana for direct destruction of wetlands & breached State laws requiring companies to clean up

12 years in litigation (+ prior to filing) this is why real, substantial and up front security bonds are critical

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Jury orders Chevron to pay more than $744m for destroying Louisiana wetlands

Verdict marks end of the first trial of 42 lawsuits filed about 12 years ago, alleging firm’s projects destroyed the regions

www.theguardian.com

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Dr. Jessica Richardson @definearth.bsky.social · Apr 2

Ecofeminism needs an overhaul if it's going to help save the planet. 🌎 That means breaking away from histories of racism, colonialism, and extractivism, and reimagining our shared futures.💡 Read what the scholars have to say in this month's edition of Peatmail: open.substack.com/pub/peatmail...

Can women save us from the climate crisis?

They invented chemotherapy, gave us barbie, "HeLa" cells, and literal life, but what else can women accomplish when given the chance? Here's what philosophers say.

open.substack.com

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