ClimateBook
@climatebook.bsky.social
This is the BlueSky feed of Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, Professor of Planetary Physics at the University of Oxford. Tune in for news about Principles of Planetary Climate, and diverse science and political commentary. (Also folk music news)
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social has done terrific work in promoting the importance of a more plant-based diet. It is thus with chagrin that I note that The Guardian's advertising department has published a "Guardian Labs" advertorial full of pro-McDonald's propaganda, www.theguardian.com/mcdonalds-my...
The making of a myth: is McDonald’s meat really 100% beef?
When it comes to the food industry, urban legends abound. Here, we examine some widely shared, but false, claims about McDonald’s beef – and give you the chance to put your patty-cooking skills to the...
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
@georgemonbiot.bsky.social has done terrific work in promoting the importance of a more plant-based diet. It is thus with chagrin that I note that The Guardian's advertising department has published a "Guardian Labs" advertorial full of pro-McDonald's propaganda, www.theguardian.com/mcdonalds-my...
Reposted by ClimateBook
"Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist" by Bob Ward & yours truly in today's @theguardian.com @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist | Michael Mann and Bob Ward
This is the latest in the relentless purge of climate researchers who refuse to be co-opted by the fossil fuel industry
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
"Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist" by Bob Ward & yours truly in today's @theguardian.com @us.theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Warmest wishes on the fourth of Advent, and last day of Chanukah
December 22, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Warmest wishes on the fourth of Advent, and last day of Chanukah
Reposted by ClimateBook
AGU petition to save NCAR. Please share widely! agu.quorum.us/campaign/151...
Save NCAR from being dismantled today!
The Trump Administration has vowed to dissolve the center that provides critical extreme weather and climate data for our nation.
agu.quorum.us
December 18, 2025 at 12:23 AM
AGU petition to save NCAR. Please share widely! agu.quorum.us/campaign/151...
Third of Advent 2025 (posted a week late)
December 21, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Third of Advent 2025 (posted a week late)
AbSciCon2026
Madison, WI USA, 17-22 May, 2026
On behalf of myself and my co-convenors, I am pleased to announce the session:
43 - Habitable subNeptunes: Theory and prospects for observational identification
Details and submission at:
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
Madison, WI USA, 17-22 May, 2026
On behalf of myself and my co-convenors, I am pleased to announce the session:
43 - Habitable subNeptunes: Theory and prospects for observational identification
Details and submission at:
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
Habitable subNeptunes: Theory and prospects for observational identification
subNeptunes have emerged as a fruitful target for atmospheric characterization, with several robust identifications of atmospheric constituents and mean molecular weight already in hand. Linked topic...
agu.confex.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
AbSciCon2026
Madison, WI USA, 17-22 May, 2026
On behalf of myself and my co-convenors, I am pleased to announce the session:
43 - Habitable subNeptunes: Theory and prospects for observational identification
Details and submission at:
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
Madison, WI USA, 17-22 May, 2026
On behalf of myself and my co-convenors, I am pleased to announce the session:
43 - Habitable subNeptunes: Theory and prospects for observational identification
Details and submission at:
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
Interesting article by my colleagues, on possible applications of existing international law to restraints on solar geoengineering.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Solar Geoengineering Governance: A Fragmented Institutional Landscape Covering Multi-Dimensional Impacts | European Journal of Risk Regulation | Cambridge Core
Solar Geoengineering Governance: A Fragmented Institutional Landscape Covering Multi-Dimensional Impacts
www.cambridge.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Interesting article by my colleagues, on possible applications of existing international law to restraints on solar geoengineering.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Excellent Guardian lead editorial on the need for a moratorium on solar geoengineering. It hits all the right points, and highlights African opposition to normalizing the technology www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on solar geoengineering: Africa has a point about this risky technology | Editorial
Editorial: Sun-dimming risks putting the planet’s thermostat under Donald Trump’s control. Better to adopt the precautionary principle with high-stakes science
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Excellent Guardian lead editorial on the need for a moratorium on solar geoengineering. It hits all the right points, and highlights African opposition to normalizing the technology www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Paper day! A new paper on existence of subNeptune magma oceans, arising from a collaboration between Cambridge and my group. Lead author Robb Calder is Oli Shorttle's doctoral student. subNeptune Magma Oceans are getting to be a hot topic! arxiv.org/abs/2512.05816
Most Rocky Sub-Neptunes are Molten: Mapping the Solidification Shoreline for Gas Dwarf Exoplanets
Sub-Neptunes are the most common type of detected exoplanet, yet their observed masses and radii are degenerate with several interior structures. One possibility is that sub-Neptunes have silicate/iro...
arxiv.org
December 8, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Paper day! A new paper on existence of subNeptune magma oceans, arising from a collaboration between Cambridge and my group. Lead author Robb Calder is Oli Shorttle's doctoral student. subNeptune Magma Oceans are getting to be a hot topic! arxiv.org/abs/2512.05816
Reposted by ClimateBook
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
December 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
TIL about a memorial ceremony in Iceland in 2019 to mark the end of a glacier, changing the place name from Okjökull to Ok (jökull = glacier). Uncompromising wording on the bronze plaque:
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
"This is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it".
Second of Advent, 2025
December 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Second of Advent, 2025
I'd love to see this work presented at our AbSciCon subNeptune session.
Published in #MNRAS: "Redefining interiors and envelopes: hydrogen–silicate miscibility and its consequences for the structure and evolution of sub-Neptunes", Rogers et al. This is Fig. 2: for the caption & to read the paper please visit academic.oup.com/mnras/articl...
December 5, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I'd love to see this work presented at our AbSciCon subNeptune session.
Reposted by ClimateBook
Solar radiation modification (SRM) is now a commercial industry, with startups raising millions to artificially cool the planet.
But with development outpacing regulation, countries must act now to create governance frameworks to address SRM’s risks, write Scott Moore and Imran Bayoumi:
But with development outpacing regulation, countries must act now to create governance frameworks to address SRM’s risks, write Scott Moore and Imran Bayoumi:
As Solar Geoengineering Enters its Startup Phase, Governments Must Address Emerging Security Risks
Without regulation, the dangers of solar radiation modification will become magnified and the security risks more unchecked.
www.justsecurity.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Solar radiation modification (SRM) is now a commercial industry, with startups raising millions to artificially cool the planet.
But with development outpacing regulation, countries must act now to create governance frameworks to address SRM’s risks, write Scott Moore and Imran Bayoumi:
But with development outpacing regulation, countries must act now to create governance frameworks to address SRM’s risks, write Scott Moore and Imran Bayoumi:
A very important article about a long-looming threat to environmental progress embedded in many (perhaps most) trade treaties.
Sovereignty? Democracy? Sorry, but we can't afford those anymore. We'll be sued if we try to defend them.
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Hello, foreign oligarchs and corporations! Please come and sue the UK for billions | George Monbiot
The case of a planned Cumbrian coalmine shows how governments around the world are being threatened by litigation in shadowy offshore courts, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
A very important article about a long-looming threat to environmental progress embedded in many (perhaps most) trade treaties.
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the world premier of The Exoplanets, by composer @robertlaidlow.bsky.social , done by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall. It was a smash hit, thrilling and beautifully executed. To me, it was evocative of a very big Universe with lots
November 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the world premier of The Exoplanets, by composer @robertlaidlow.bsky.social , done by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall. It was a smash hit, thrilling and beautifully executed. To me, it was evocative of a very big Universe with lots
Solar geoengineering (a.k.a. SRM) has been much in the news recently, likely prompted by the amoral, alarming intrusion of venture capital into the profit-oriented Israeli geoengineering startup Stardust. There have been three articles in major outlets of which my favourite is by the
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Solar geoengineering (a.k.a. SRM) has been much in the news recently, likely prompted by the amoral, alarming intrusion of venture capital into the profit-oriented Israeli geoengineering startup Stardust. There have been three articles in major outlets of which my favourite is by the
Reposted by ClimateBook
Holst's planets suite may have its famous "Jupiter" and "Neptune", but my new "Exoplanets" for @lporchestra.bsky.social has HOT Jupiters and SUB Neptunes 🪐🪐🪐 (Saturday 29th at 7.30pm!)
youtu.be/kXi3TbD4_VA?...
youtu.be/kXi3TbD4_VA?...
Robert Laidlow on Exoplanets
YouTube video by London Philharmonic Orchestra
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Holst's planets suite may have its famous "Jupiter" and "Neptune", but my new "Exoplanets" for @lporchestra.bsky.social has HOT Jupiters and SUB Neptunes 🪐🪐🪐 (Saturday 29th at 7.30pm!)
youtu.be/kXi3TbD4_VA?...
youtu.be/kXi3TbD4_VA?...
Reposted by ClimateBook
In this video I explain how @stellarplanet.bsky.social and @climatebook.bsky.social research into these classes of planets inspired and informed some of the music.
The concert premiere of "Exoplanets" is at 7.30pm on Saturday 29th November at the Royal Festival Hall in London - tickets here:
The concert premiere of "Exoplanets" is at 7.30pm on Saturday 29th November at the Royal Festival Hall in London - tickets here:
Sheku Kanneh-Mason Plays Bloch | Southbank Centre
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:19 AM
In this video I explain how @stellarplanet.bsky.social and @climatebook.bsky.social research into these classes of planets inspired and informed some of the music.
The concert premiere of "Exoplanets" is at 7.30pm on Saturday 29th November at the Royal Festival Hall in London - tickets here:
The concert premiere of "Exoplanets" is at 7.30pm on Saturday 29th November at the Royal Festival Hall in London - tickets here:
Reposted by ClimateBook
"The reason that I say [Big Car is] an existential threat, and it still is, is that cars kill an exorbitant number of people. There's no other industry in the world that kills the number of people that cars do that are allowed to call it an 'accident.'" —David Obst
Since the invention of the car, somewhere between 54 and 69 million people have died in traffic crashes. And that's not even considering the effects of air pollution and car-related lead exposure.
@jessimckenzi.bsky.social interviews David Obst about his new book, "Saving Ourselves From Big Car."
@jessimckenzi.bsky.social interviews David Obst about his new book, "Saving Ourselves From Big Car."
How 'Big Car' poses an existential threat to humanity
While Big Car kills many of us quickly, it is killing more of us slowly, by polluting the environment, warming the Earth, sowing misinformation and doubt about climate…
thebulletin.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:58 PM
"The reason that I say [Big Car is] an existential threat, and it still is, is that cars kill an exorbitant number of people. There's no other industry in the world that kills the number of people that cars do that are allowed to call it an 'accident.'" —David Obst
Are you an early-career researcher who would like to work with me at MIT? The MIT Distinguished Postdoctoral Program is still open (Nov. 30 deadline, so hurry!) Details are here:
eaps.mit.edu/research/pos...
eaps.mit.edu/research/pos...
Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
Competitive fellowships supporting exceptional early-career scientists. The EAPS Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship Program attracts researchers with interests in the broad range of disciplines rep...
eaps.mit.edu
November 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Are you an early-career researcher who would like to work with me at MIT? The MIT Distinguished Postdoctoral Program is still open (Nov. 30 deadline, so hurry!) Details are here:
eaps.mit.edu/research/pos...
eaps.mit.edu/research/pos...
For those who don't read Swedish, this interesting post summarizes the Aftonbladet article claiming that net CO2 emissions from Sweden have increased by a factor of 5 in the past 10 years. I read the Aftonbladet article, and this is all about Sweden's use of forest-derived biofuel.
"Sverige beskrivs som en klimathjälte. Men nettoutsläppen från Sverige har ökat med 500 procent de senaste tio åren."
www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Jb...
www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Jb...
Klimatkurvan chockar – ”Extremt oroande”
Sverige beskrivs som en klimathjälte. Men nettoutsläppen från Sverige har ökat med 500 procent de senaste tio åren, visar Aftonbladets sammanställning. – Väldig
www.aftonbladet.se
November 19, 2025 at 10:06 AM
For those who don't read Swedish, this interesting post summarizes the Aftonbladet article claiming that net CO2 emissions from Sweden have increased by a factor of 5 in the past 10 years. I read the Aftonbladet article, and this is all about Sweden's use of forest-derived biofuel.
Reposted by ClimateBook
"Bill Gates' climate comments are a distraction" | My new commentary for @nature.com: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
"Bill Gates' climate comments are a distraction" | My new commentary for @nature.com: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by ClimateBook
Research and development of CO₂ removal (CDR) should be a government-led effort, but all the people who were experts in various aspects of CDR in the US government are gone.
November 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Research and development of CO₂ removal (CDR) should be a government-led effort, but all the people who were experts in various aspects of CDR in the US government are gone.
#AbSciCon2026 Our session proposal on identifying conditions for habitable subNeptunes has been accepted, and abstract submissions are open through Wednesday 14 January. Session details are here:
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
Habitable subNeptunes: Theory and prospects for observational identification
subNeptunes have emerged as a fruitful target for atmospheric characterization, with several robust identifications of atmospheric constituents and mean molecular weight already in hand. Linked topic...
agu.confex.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:25 PM
#AbSciCon2026 Our session proposal on identifying conditions for habitable subNeptunes has been accepted, and abstract submissions are open through Wednesday 14 January. Session details are here:
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
agu.confex.com/agu/abscicon...
New article from the Solar Geoengineering Non Use Agreement team: "Solar Geoengineering for Profit" (Spoiler -- we're against it.) www.solargeoeng.org/solar-geoeng...
Solar geoengineering for profit - Solar Geoengineering Non-Use Agreement
Advocates of solar geoengineering are dismayed. But why are they surprised?
www.solargeoeng.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
New article from the Solar Geoengineering Non Use Agreement team: "Solar Geoengineering for Profit" (Spoiler -- we're against it.) www.solargeoeng.org/solar-geoeng...