James Fleming
LightNews LightNews
banner
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
James Fleming
@jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
120 followers 62 following 45 posts
Postdoc: University of Barcelona BdP Fellow (based in Japan). Inverts, Outreach, Palaeo and Phylo. Sometimes also tRPGs. he/him. En/De/日本語/Ga/No/Es OK (in decreasing proficiency)! Personal Account
Posts Replies Media Videos
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
Decades carefully cultivating a society without empathy. These are the results.
January 8, 2026 at 9:21 AM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
What a great way to start the new year, with an "Accept" email dropping into your inbox at 9:09! :D
January 6, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
jopabinia.bsky.social
Great 3 part thread! 🧪

I'll add #4. You cannot predict how your work may impact how people see the world. Sparking interests in critical thinking and/or the natural world for the majority who will never become professional scientists, but who are part of society, is still an impact.
sinalana.bsky.social Lana Sinapayen @sinalana.bsky.social · 4d
I was asked today how I deal with the idea of "impact" on society, as someone drawn to fundamental science.
My answer has 2 parts.

1. I don't. I don't mind if my science doesn't change our daily life. If tomorrow I find proof of life on a faraway planet, nothing changes, but it's still important 😲
January 5, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by James Fleming
nataliajagielska.bsky.social
Exciting news! I was interviewed by @currentbiology.bsky.social for their Q & A section, where I talk about the future of palaeontology, dangers of AI in education, social media and science communication. Featuring, my doodles!

cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)01552-0
January 5, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by James Fleming
mostlymammoths.bsky.social
This interview is SUPERB.

What a pleasure to get a glimpse of the world & science through @nataliajagielska.bsky.social's eyes. @currentbiology.bsky.social

www.cell.com/current-biol...
Natalia Jagielska
Interview with Natalia Jagielska, postdoctoral researcher and palaeoartist who studies pterosaur soft tissues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
www.cell.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:01 AM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
One Week Has Passed so....

Happy new year!
明けましておめでとう！
Feliz año nuevo!
Godt nytt år!
Frohes Neues Jahr!
Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh!
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social James Fleming @jamesfvfleming.bsky.social · 16d
Making sure I cover the bases for everyone I follow and....

Merry Christmas!
メリークリスマス!
Feliz Navidad!
God Jul!
Fröhliche Weihnachten!
Nollaig shona dhaoibh!
January 1, 2026 at 8:15 AM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
Making sure I cover the bases for everyone I follow and....

Merry Christmas!
メリークリスマス!
Feliz Navidad!
God Jul!
Fröhliche Weihnachten!
Nollaig shona dhaoibh!
December 25, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
tweetisaurus.bsky.social
JOB KLAXON! The @nhm-london.bsky.social is recruiting a micro-CT specialist! jobs.nhm.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
CT Data and Micro CT Specialist :South Kensington
jobs.nhm.ac.uk
December 23, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
squamiferum.bsky.social
[DIVE LIVE STREAMING] We plan to stream a ROV dive at the Quaker serpentinite seamount on the Mariana Forearc tomorrow, live from R/V KAIMEI!
Dec 23 08:00-17:00 (Japan Time), on the @JAMSTEC_PR
YouTube channel:
youtube.com/live/Nt_8P_m...

*If cancelled, will be posponed to Dec 24.
【LIVE】JAMSTEC KM-ROV Dive #356
YouTube video by JAMSTEC 海洋研究開発機構
youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
Really great 'blog from Torsten Struck on one of the greatest honours of our discipline, to see a PhD student spread their wings.
I was lucky enough to have *three* MSc students graduate this year, and to have my first opportunity to review a PhD thesis.
blog.annelida.de/2025/12/20/d...
Door 20: PhD defense – Being on the other side – Blogs of the CEG research group
blog.annelida.de
December 22, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
ergabiodiv.bsky.social
🎥 Want to hear directly from our committee representatives? They presented these highlights during the last #ERGAPlenary. Rewatch their talks anytime:
youtu.be/ldj49yUimeI?...

👏 Congratulations for the great work!!!

#community #plenary #ERGA
2025 - ERGA Community Highlights & Achievements
YouTube video by ERGA - European Reference Genome Atlas
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by James Fleming
ergabiodiv.bsky.social
What was the #ERGACommunity up to in 2025? The answer is: a lot! Head to our website for an overview of the main achievements and ongoing priorities across our community ➡️ www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/erga-20...

#community #2025highlights #ERGA @ebpgenome.bsky.social @biogeneurope.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
This.
I find it overwhelming how much of the AI talk misses that *the communication is the fun bit*. Like... doing science art, sitting down with an artist, chatting about what can and can't be done, learning from each other and really collaborating.
That's it. That is the filling of the sandwich.
kiennas.bsky.social Kienna is trying their best @kiennas.bsky.social · 22d
*vibrates violently holding a degree in interdisciplinary communication and collaboration*

You do not need genAI to communicate your ideas as a non-artist to an artist! A generated image doesn't actually share the key info that needs to passed on AND it discourages fruitful discussion
December 19, 2025 at 6:52 AM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
My favourite part of submitting a paper is the word count. Copying everything into another document and then vandalising your own work by deleting figures and tables is weirdly satisfying.
Also
Submitted!
December 18, 2025 at 3:16 AM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
Erasmus is great, pleased to hear! I hope this is "as well as", instead of "instead of" the Turing scheme though. It had a rocky start, but encouraging exchanges outside of Europe, and broadening horizons beyond our nearest neighbours, is really important, and I can see it being left at the wayside.
December 18, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
ianbeavis.bsky.social
Cystosoma, one of those large-eyed crustaceans, is illustrated here in Alister Hardy's The Open Sea - the World of Plankton (1956) #Crustmas
December 16, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by James Fleming
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
wileyecology.bsky.social
Is "AI" synonymous with "GenAI"?

A new commentary in 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 warns that conflating the two risks discarding powerful, low-carbon tools needed to offset the biodiversity crisis.

Read the commentary: https://ow.ly/URze50XGmLw
ESA Journals #Ecology
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment Article Highlight The role of AI in ecology’s computational carbon footprint READ NOW >
December 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by James Fleming
oceancensus.bsky.social
Science Manager Verity Nye is currently representing the Ocean Census at the 19th International Meiofauna Conference @19imco.bsky.social in Kolkata. If you're here, do speak to Verity about opportunities in the Ocean Census Science Network.

Science Network 👉 oceancensus.org/science-netw...
December 10, 2025 at 10:55 AM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
Translating work emails from Japanese into Catalan and vice versa to get Double Language Practice.
Beat That, Owl.
December 9, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
jomcinerney.bsky.social
Phylogenetic tree with a variety of support measures on internal branches
December 7, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by James Fleming
toughcitywriter.bsky.social
Thanks for boosting this! I loved working on these pieces.
jopabinia.bsky.social Jo Wolfe, PhD @jopabinia.bsky.social · Dec 7
@hakaimagazine.com did a series on what life is like for these guys (features a Mystacocarid - not in the preview pic! There are 4 articles, check them all out)

Here's how to keep the Hakai team going www.biographic.com/hakai-magazi...

#Crustmas 🧪
December 7, 2025 at 2:19 PM
jamesfvfleming.bsky.social
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:

Japanese giant centipede
Asian Black Bear
Spider Crab
Basking Shark
Peppered Moth
volcanologist.bsky.social Dr Rebecca Williams @volcanologist.bsky.social · Nov 28
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild

Anaconda
Grizzly Bear
Hedgehog
Echidna
Moose
geolizzy.bsky.social Elizabeth V @geolizzy.bsky.social · Nov 28
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild

Moose
Wolves
Pikas
Puffins
Grizzlies
November 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
uomresearchit.bsky.social
We look after a range of special interest and user groups at the University all based around the common theme of computation and data.
One of our most recent groups is the #C++ user group. Find out more about their activites in this short interview with @russellgarwood.co.uk
Driving the C++ User Group
Meet Russell Garwood, Senior Lecturer in the Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences and one of the academic leads of the University C++ User Group. Discover how he got involved with the group and…
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by James Fleming
booksofm.com
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."

There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM