@stuffandpiffle.bsky.social
Reposted
Talking about this on #BBCWorldService Weekend tomorrow.
Well, finally the cat is out of the bag @science.org! (or at least part of a very complex story)🐈🧬. Great job from @mdemartino.bsky.social and my team @felix-erc.bsky.social. Huge thanks to all the colleagues and the institutes involved! @erc.europa.eu www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago
The domestic cat (Felis catus) descends from the African wildcat Felis lybica lybica. Its global distribution alongside humans testifies to its successful adaptation to anthropogenic environments. Unc...
www.science.org
November 28, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Talking about this on #BBCWorldService Weekend tomorrow.
Reposted
The final episode of BBC Science in Action was broadcast on 30 October. It had been running since 1964. The episode was a departure from their usual excellent weekly science news format and instead hosted a panel on the anti science movement. Well worth a listen! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, How science got here, and where next
As anti-science leaves research reeling, does evidence-based policy have a future?
www.bbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The final episode of BBC Science in Action was broadcast on 30 October. It had been running since 1964. The episode was a departure from their usual excellent weekly science news format and instead hosted a panel on the anti science movement. Well worth a listen! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
Glad that @squigglyvolcano.bsky.social has written about this. It did strike me that as #Melissa battered Jamaica and elsewhere, the seismic signal would be powerful and instructive.
NEW: Hurricane Melissa was such a monstrous tempest that it was literally shaking the Earth as far away as Florida, where seismometers picked up its stormquakes.
Here’s how seismometers can also shine a light on hurricanes long gone.
Me @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/seis...
Here’s how seismometers can also shine a light on hurricanes long gone.
Me @sciam.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/seis...
Hurricane Melissa Literally Made the Earth Shake Hundreds of Miles Away
Seismometers picked up the ferocious winds and waves of Hurricane Melissa, showing how the tools can be used to better understand storms today and those from the past
www.scientificamerican.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Glad that @squigglyvolcano.bsky.social has written about this. It did strike me that as #Melissa battered Jamaica and elsewhere, the seismic signal would be powerful and instructive.
Reposted
This breaks my heart. It’s a great show and you’re a brilliant journalist and one of the only people that I trust to do interviews with.
October 30, 2025 at 9:23 PM
This breaks my heart. It’s a great show and you’re a brilliant journalist and one of the only people that I trust to do interviews with.
Reposted
This is such a crying shame, and so short-sighted. But there it is.
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
October 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
This is such a crying shame, and so short-sighted. But there it is.
Reposted
"How science got here, and where next" | Honored to have been part of this panel discussion w/ an amazing panel of experts and the irreplaceable @peaseroland.bsky.social (whom we will all miss listening to on #BBC)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, How science got here, and where next
As anti-science leaves research reeling, does evidence-based policy have a future?
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
"How science got here, and where next" | Honored to have been part of this panel discussion w/ an amazing panel of experts and the irreplaceable @peaseroland.bsky.social (whom we will all miss listening to on #BBC)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
It's the end of the road for BBC Science in Action. But science itself is facing growing roadblocks. For this terminal edition of SinA I'm joined by @naomioreskes.bsky.social @drdebhoury.bsky.social @michaelemann.bsky.social & @angierasmussen.bsky.social for where now?
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, How science got here, and where next
As anti-science leaves research reeling, does evidence-based policy have a future?
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
Reposted
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
October 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
For 61 years the #BBCWorldService has been broadcasting the latest in science via its weekly Science in Action programme. That dies in the next half hour, with this final edition, reflecting on the fall in trust in expertise driven by malign interests over recent years.
Reposted
Underlining what we heard last week, about the imminent tipping point of coral losses, this week news of the functional extinction of two species, staghorn and elkhorn from the Florida reefs during the 2023 mega ocean heatwave.
@jrcunning.bsky.social shares the details.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
@jrcunning.bsky.social shares the details.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, Coral extinctions and chalky unknowns
Two species of coral declared functionally extinct in Florida reefs - can plankton cope?
www.bbc.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Underlining what we heard last week, about the imminent tipping point of coral losses, this week news of the functional extinction of two species, staghorn and elkhorn from the Florida reefs during the 2023 mega ocean heatwave.
@jrcunning.bsky.social shares the details.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
@jrcunning.bsky.social shares the details.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
Just completed a thoughtful interview with @erikkarlsson.bsky.social on the relative surge of H5N1 bird flu human cases in Cambodia, inc the role reassortment with the 2.3.3.4 clade we're seeing in the west may be playing.
Underlines the need for international surveillance.
ScienceinAction tomorrow
Underlines the need for international surveillance.
ScienceinAction tomorrow
July 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Just completed a thoughtful interview with @erikkarlsson.bsky.social on the relative surge of H5N1 bird flu human cases in Cambodia, inc the role reassortment with the 2.3.3.4 clade we're seeing in the west may be playing.
Underlines the need for international surveillance.
ScienceinAction tomorrow
Underlines the need for international surveillance.
ScienceinAction tomorrow
Reposted
The amazing images from the new #VeraRubin observatory lead Science in Action tonight. We get to hear some of the science they'll lead to, and the story of its development from astronomer Tony Tyson, who first kicked out the idea at 3AM during an observing run in 1996.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, Science in Action
The BBC brings you all the week's science news.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The amazing images from the new #VeraRubin observatory lead Science in Action tonight. We get to hear some of the science they'll lead to, and the story of its development from astronomer Tony Tyson, who first kicked out the idea at 3AM during an observing run in 1996.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
Solar astronomer @stephyardley.bsky.social joins BBC Science in Action this week to explain why the new polar views of the Sun, from ESA's Solar Orbiter, will make such a difference in unravelling the Sun's magnetic turmoil and what drives the 11-yr cycle in activity.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, The First Solar Polar Pictures
ESA’s Solar Orbiter camera probe begins raising its orbit towards the sun’s poles.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Solar astronomer @stephyardley.bsky.social joins BBC Science in Action this week to explain why the new polar views of the Sun, from ESA's Solar Orbiter, will make such a difference in unravelling the Sun's magnetic turmoil and what drives the 11-yr cycle in activity.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
Royal Society prize winner Andrea Sella returns award in protest over Elon Musk
www.ft.com/content/8778...
www.ft.com/content/8778...
Royal Society prize winner returns award in protest over Elon Musk
Andrea Sella is latest scientist to express dismay over UK science academy’s refusal to criticise tech billionaire
www.ft.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Royal Society prize winner Andrea Sella returns award in protest over Elon Musk
www.ft.com/content/8778...
www.ft.com/content/8778...
Reposted
“It’s not possible to bring something back that is identical to a species that used to be alive. Our animals are grey wolves with 20 edits that are cloned” Beth Shapiro told me 🧪
"With those edits, we have brought back the dire wolf" Colossal reply to my story
www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
"With those edits, we have brought back the dire wolf" Colossal reply to my story
www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
Colossal scientist now admits they haven’t really made dire wolves
Despite a huge media fanfare in which Colossal Biosciences claimed to have resurrected the extinct dire wolf, the company's chief scientist now concedes that the animals are merely modified grey wolve...
www.newscientist.com
May 27, 2025 at 9:35 AM
“It’s not possible to bring something back that is identical to a species that used to be alive. Our animals are grey wolves with 20 edits that are cloned” Beth Shapiro told me 🧪
"With those edits, we have brought back the dire wolf" Colossal reply to my story
www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
"With those edits, we have brought back the dire wolf" Colossal reply to my story
www.newscientist.com/article/2481...
Reposted
Too vague, and likely to make Americans less safe rather than more safe, is biosafety expert @ggronvall.bsky.social 's assessment of the White House's new rules on Gain of Function research, on Science in Action this week www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
May 8, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Too vague, and likely to make Americans less safe rather than more safe, is biosafety expert @ggronvall.bsky.social 's assessment of the White House's new rules on Gain of Function research, on Science in Action this week www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted
Very pleased to open this week's edition of Science in Action with @flodebarre.bsky.social and @zachhensel.bsky.social on their latest analysis of early COVID genomes, still pointing to a zoonotic origin for the pandemic.
Longer podcast version will have more detail.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Longer podcast version will have more detail.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
There have been many lab leak articles in the media recently, but none had actual new data
In a new preprint, @zachhensel.bsky.social and I analyze early COVID-19 cases sequence data that have been overlooked so far.
These new data continue to point to a natural origin ▫️1/7
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
In a new preprint, @zachhensel.bsky.social and I analyze early COVID-19 cases sequence data that have been overlooked so far.
These new data continue to point to a natural origin ▫️1/7
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
April 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Very pleased to open this week's edition of Science in Action with @flodebarre.bsky.social and @zachhensel.bsky.social on their latest analysis of early COVID genomes, still pointing to a zoonotic origin for the pandemic.
Longer podcast version will have more detail.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Longer podcast version will have more detail.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
April 3, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted
With the death toll rising still rising in Myanmar - still well short of the 10k-100k+ foreseen by the USGS, I've been talking to seismologist @judithgeology.bsky.social about the surprising "supershear" geophysics the unzipped the underlying fault in 90 seconds.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, Earthquakes and the first breath of life on Earth
How Myanmar’s tragic earthquake left a 500km scar in 90 seconds.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
With the death toll rising still rising in Myanmar - still well short of the 10k-100k+ foreseen by the USGS, I've been talking to seismologist @judithgeology.bsky.social about the surprising "supershear" geophysics the unzipped the underlying fault in 90 seconds.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
On Science in Action tonight, we talk to @ametsoc.org president-elect Alan Sealls about the down-stream impacts of layoffs/cuts at NOAA, for US and global atmospheric science. The prog often taps NOAA experts on climate issues etc, but their big-data work is the very foundation of daily forecasts.
The AMS stands in support of federal employees impacted by layoffs across agencies including NOAA. Many are vital members of our community who do invaluable work.
As we work to respond, here are a few AMS resources available to everyone who needs them: bit.ly/4kgQvK5
As we work to respond, here are a few AMS resources available to everyone who needs them: bit.ly/4kgQvK5
March 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
On Science in Action tonight, we talk to @ametsoc.org president-elect Alan Sealls about the down-stream impacts of layoffs/cuts at NOAA, for US and global atmospheric science. The prog often taps NOAA experts on climate issues etc, but their big-data work is the very foundation of daily forecasts.
Reposted
Science in Action with @marionkoopmans.bsky.social on the flu pandemic threat, and @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @shobitap.org on responsibility in science 50 years after Asilomar, starts shortly.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, Who runs science?
A call from European flu experts to create a more sustainable research network.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 20, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Science in Action with @marionkoopmans.bsky.social on the flu pandemic threat, and @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @shobitap.org on responsibility in science 50 years after Asilomar, starts shortly.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
Lot of talk about Asilomar 1975 right now, what with the 50th anniversary and the Spirit of Asilomar meeting next week. Want to know more? Here's a BBC podcast I made about the origins of genetic engineering, with all the key participants: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Genetic Dreams, Genetic Nightmares - Episode 1 - BBC Sounds
The story of the controversial birth of genetic engineering in the early 1970s.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 19, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Lot of talk about Asilomar 1975 right now, what with the 50th anniversary and the Spirit of Asilomar meeting next week. Want to know more? Here's a BBC podcast I made about the origins of genetic engineering, with all the key participants: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted
Just a faint and fading dot in the night sky right now, asteroid 2024 YR4 is due to zoom alarming into sight in December 2032 with a small but real chance (as judged now) of colliding with Earth. Planetary defence expert Patrick Michel tells the tale of what we know, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, Hits from space
Astronomers track asteroid 2024 YR4 to decide if it will miss us in 2032.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Just a faint and fading dot in the night sky right now, asteroid 2024 YR4 is due to zoom alarming into sight in December 2032 with a small but real chance (as judged now) of colliding with Earth. Planetary defence expert Patrick Michel tells the tale of what we know, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
Reposted
I've lovingly crafted a tale of the November Revolution for Science in Action. But it's too long for the non-pod version; @stuffandpiffle.bsky.social is sweating blood, looking for cuts that won't kill it. It's a complex story for a short prog. Pod vn will be fuller!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, 50 Years of Charm
November 1974 became known as the “November Revolution” in particle physics. Here’s why.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2024 at 5:15 PM
I've lovingly crafted a tale of the November Revolution for Science in Action. But it's too long for the non-pod version; @stuffandpiffle.bsky.social is sweating blood, looking for cuts that won't kill it. It's a complex story for a short prog. Pod vn will be fuller!
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...