Prof Col Macpherson
@colinmacpherson.bsky.social
Rock ̵e̵t̵ ̵ scientist @durhamearthsci.bsky.social 🧪⚒️
Husband, dad, typographical errer
Husband, dad, typographical errer
Some great visualisation of the reverse rain shadow that has been affecting UK this winter, especially during February. 🧪🌧️
How much rain have we had so far?
The opening weeks of 2026 have been exceptionally wet across the UK.
Find out more in our latest blog post www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/ho...
The opening weeks of 2026 have been exceptionally wet across the UK.
Find out more in our latest blog post www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/ho...
How much rain have we had so far?
The opening weeks of 2026 have been exceptionally wet across the UK. A strong and unusually southerly jet stream has steered a succession of low‑pressure systems towards our shores, bringing frequent ...
www.metoffice.gov.uk
February 9, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Some great visualisation of the reverse rain shadow that has been affecting UK this winter, especially during February. 🧪🌧️
As someone sat just adjacent to the letter K, I confirm this is accurate for last several days (without capturing the significant windchill) and appears to be set in for at least the next week☹️🌧️
February 6, 2026 at 3:34 PM
As someone sat just adjacent to the letter K, I confirm this is accurate for last several days (without capturing the significant windchill) and appears to be set in for at least the next week☹️🌧️
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
My blog post on Ailsa Craig, curling stones, and the weird minerals that make this rock unique. 🥌
The Roaring Game: Scotland's curling stone island | National Museums Scotland
Curling is a sport native to Scotland, that can be traced back to medieval times. Today, the game involves two teams taking turns to slide heavy, polished
www.nms.ac.uk
February 6, 2026 at 9:59 AM
My blog post on Ailsa Craig, curling stones, and the weird minerals that make this rock unique. 🥌
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Really cool video on curling and curling stones that I provided some info for. 🥌
Why Everyone's Wrong About Curling
YouTube video by Cleo Abram
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Really cool video on curling and curling stones that I provided some info for. 🥌
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
We're hiring a full-time technician to support radiocarbon analyses. If you have some experience with analytical instruments and background in chemistry, earth sciences, archaeology, and/or ecology, this could be the job for you! arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Research Technician III, Tree Ring Laboratory
Duties and Responsibilities:Assisting with the meticulous preparation of samples for radiocarbon analysis following established protocols. This includ...
arizona.csod.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:40 PM
We're hiring a full-time technician to support radiocarbon analyses. If you have some experience with analytical instruments and background in chemistry, earth sciences, archaeology, and/or ecology, this could be the job for you! arizona.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Evidence for both subduction and non-subduction tectonics in the very early Earth. Although I wish they'd gone with "Australia sucks and has always sucked" 😉. ⚒️🧪🌋🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Contemporaneous mobile- and stagnant-lid tectonics on the Hadean Earth - Nature
Geochemical data from zircons show that subduction-like processes were operating contemporaneously with stagnant-lid-like processes at different locations as early as 4.4 billion years ago on the...
www.nature.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Evidence for both subduction and non-subduction tectonics in the very early Earth. Although I wish they'd gone with "Australia sucks and has always sucked" 😉. ⚒️🧪🌋🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(Long) Before mobile phones: hand drawn PPL and XPL views of porphyritic dolerite from Ben Hiant, Ardnamurchan, Scotland. From my undergraduate mapping report. #ThinSectionThursday 🧪⚒️🌋
February 5, 2026 at 10:46 AM
(Long) Before mobile phones: hand drawn PPL and XPL views of porphyritic dolerite from Ben Hiant, Ardnamurchan, Scotland. From my undergraduate mapping report. #ThinSectionThursday 🧪⚒️🌋
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Very happy to share our latest paper on Kolumbo volcano! 🌋This research was only possible thanks to IODP, which has allowed for new insights into this highly hazardous volcano!
🚨Check out our new IODP paper on Kolumbo Volcano in Greece. Despite being one of Europe's most dangerous volcanoes not much is known about its eruptive history. The paper led by @abigaillily.bsky.social adds important insight into the Kolumbo-Santorini system
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/...
February 4, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Very happy to share our latest paper on Kolumbo volcano! 🌋This research was only possible thanks to IODP, which has allowed for new insights into this highly hazardous volcano!
How the mantle melts ... (outside subduction zones) 🧪⚒️
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 PM
How the mantle melts ... (outside subduction zones) 🧪⚒️
Fantastic thread on understanding how the Earth's mantle deforms. 🧪⚒️🌍
Ok, positive scientific thing (for a change):
We're going to talk about the work of Yale seismologist Maureen Long, because her work is focused on the most direct evidence of mantle flow and convection we can get.
Her career essentially defines our direct knowledge of mantle flow.
We're going to talk about the work of Yale seismologist Maureen Long, because her work is focused on the most direct evidence of mantle flow and convection we can get.
Her career essentially defines our direct knowledge of mantle flow.
February 3, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Fantastic thread on understanding how the Earth's mantle deforms. 🧪⚒️🌍
Conques Cathedral is stunning. Also has:
1. Spectacular granite steps.
2. Unique, greyscale stained glass windows representing light but which also evoke highly layered metamorphic gneisses, schists, and migmatites of the local basement geology. 🧪⚒️
1. Spectacular granite steps.
2. Unique, greyscale stained glass windows representing light but which also evoke highly layered metamorphic gneisses, schists, and migmatites of the local basement geology. 🧪⚒️
February 2, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Conques Cathedral is stunning. Also has:
1. Spectacular granite steps.
2. Unique, greyscale stained glass windows representing light but which also evoke highly layered metamorphic gneisses, schists, and migmatites of the local basement geology. 🧪⚒️
1. Spectacular granite steps.
2. Unique, greyscale stained glass windows representing light but which also evoke highly layered metamorphic gneisses, schists, and migmatites of the local basement geology. 🧪⚒️
The Night Manager series 2 finale … wow!
Absolutely top class TV from the BBC.
Absolutely top class TV from the BBC.
February 1, 2026 at 10:10 PM
The Night Manager series 2 finale … wow!
Absolutely top class TV from the BBC.
Absolutely top class TV from the BBC.
One fish, two fish,
Elsevier blew fish
👋🧪
Elsevier blew fish
👋🧪
January 30, 2026 at 12:53 PM
One fish, two fish,
Elsevier blew fish
👋🧪
Elsevier blew fish
👋🧪
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
30 - a song with a memorable bridge
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
The Proclaimers
"Da-de-da-dah ..."
youtu.be/VKyWLAaStwM
#MusicChallenge
30 - a song with a memorable bridge
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
The Proclaimers
"Da-de-da-dah ..."
youtu.be/VKyWLAaStwM
The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) (Live 8 2005)
YouTube video by Live 8
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 10:52 AM
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
30 - a song with a memorable bridge
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
The Proclaimers
"Da-de-da-dah ..."
youtu.be/VKyWLAaStwM
#MusicChallenge
30 - a song with a memorable bridge
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
The Proclaimers
"Da-de-da-dah ..."
youtu.be/VKyWLAaStwM
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Each UK graduate is estimated to generate an extra £75,000 for the exchequer, offsetting initial public funding
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/p...
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/p...
The economic impact of higher education, teaching, research and innovation
The higher education sector contributes more than £265 billion to the UK economy.
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
January 28, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Each UK graduate is estimated to generate an extra £75,000 for the exchequer, offsetting initial public funding
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/p...
www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/p...
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Scottish Borders Council approval for improvements to the Siccar Point path in Berwickshire. The path will be renamed Siccar Point Deep Time Discovery Trail. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580185...
Scottish coastal landmark to undergo tourism facelift
A Berwickshire coastal landmark regarded by some as the world’s most important geological site is to undergo a tourism facelift – 300 years…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Scottish Borders Council approval for improvements to the Siccar Point path in Berwickshire. The path will be renamed Siccar Point Deep Time Discovery Trail. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580185...
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Our @durhamphysics.bsky.social astronomers have helped create the highest resolution map of the dark matter that threads through our Universe - showing the mysterious substance’s influence on the formation of stars, galaxies and planets. Discover more 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
Revealing dark matter’s influence on the Universe - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
January 26, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Our @durhamphysics.bsky.social astronomers have helped create the highest resolution map of the dark matter that threads through our Universe - showing the mysterious substance’s influence on the formation of stars, galaxies and planets. Discover more 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
Last night finished the last of my Christmas books. All absolute crackers. @qntm.org @paulbradleycarr.bsky.social Have to start raiding @kate-mac.bsky.social's Christmas book pile now! 📖
January 26, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Last night finished the last of my Christmas books. All absolute crackers. @qntm.org @paulbradleycarr.bsky.social Have to start raiding @kate-mac.bsky.social's Christmas book pile now! 📖
Recipe for producing one of the finest geological features on the planet. ⚒️🧪
Runaway isostasy: what happens when you expose the mantle at the Earth's surface?
Not due to tectonic thrust sheets clipping a bit and forcing it up a thrust fault or the like, but the crust eroding through?
You get the Cyprus's Troodos Mountains:
Not due to tectonic thrust sheets clipping a bit and forcing it up a thrust fault or the like, but the crust eroding through?
You get the Cyprus's Troodos Mountains:
Uplift and Exposure of Serpentinized Massifs: Modeling Differential Serpentinite Diapirism and Exhumation of the Troodos Mantle Sequence, Cyprus
Coupled isostatic uplift-erosion modeling explains the outcrop pattern of the Troodos mountains Contrasting extents of serpentinization within the Mantle Sequence induced differential exhumation ...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Recipe for producing one of the finest geological features on the planet. ⚒️🧪
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
The Planetary Geochemistry group at ETH Zurich is offering a doctoral position in Isotope Cosmochemistry to investigate the pathways that led to the formation and evolution of planets in our solar system. #phd #jobalert
www.jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/11259
www.jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/11259
Doctoral Position in Isotope Cosmochemistry
www.jobs.ethz.ch
January 23, 2026 at 12:54 PM
The Planetary Geochemistry group at ETH Zurich is offering a doctoral position in Isotope Cosmochemistry to investigate the pathways that led to the formation and evolution of planets in our solar system. #phd #jobalert
www.jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/11259
www.jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/11259
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Job alert: #postdoc in Isotope Geochemistry, University of Göttingen (DE). Apply by 15 Feb.
More info: buff.ly/feMTNhd
More info: buff.ly/feMTNhd
January 22, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Job alert: #postdoc in Isotope Geochemistry, University of Göttingen (DE). Apply by 15 Feb.
More info: buff.ly/feMTNhd
More info: buff.ly/feMTNhd
I can attest (me wearing scarf) that invaders of Liege who are happy to drink the local beer get a very warm welcome (and even a football hat). Unfortunately, the pub pictured and RFC Liege no longer exist. (RFC Liege v
@thehibees.bsky.social
, 1989). #GGTTH
@thehibees.bsky.social
, 1989). #GGTTH
January 22, 2026 at 1:29 PM
I can attest (me wearing scarf) that invaders of Liege who are happy to drink the local beer get a very warm welcome (and even a football hat). Unfortunately, the pub pictured and RFC Liege no longer exist. (RFC Liege v
@thehibees.bsky.social
, 1989). #GGTTH
@thehibees.bsky.social
, 1989). #GGTTH
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 21, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#Rush
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
Working Man - Rush
youtu.be/uJz049s4Pbg?...
#MusicChallenge
#Rush
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
Working Man - Rush
youtu.be/uJz049s4Pbg?...
Rush - Working Man live in Cleveland
YouTube video by musicradararchive
youtu.be
January 21, 2026 at 1:48 PM
#IsmuasMonthOfMusic
#MusicChallenge
#Rush
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
Working Man - Rush
youtu.be/uJz049s4Pbg?...
#MusicChallenge
#Rush
Day 21: A song with a powerful live version
Working Man - Rush
youtu.be/uJz049s4Pbg?...
Iddings is also the "I" in CIPW norm calculations (along with Cross, Pirsson, and Washington). ⚒️🧪🌋
January 21,1857, birthday of American geologist Joseph Paxson Iddings.
He worked on the petrology of volcanic rocks & mapped the Cascade volcanoes. He also published textbooks on mineral formation in lava and magma
...
He worked on the petrology of volcanic rocks & mapped the Cascade volcanoes. He also published textbooks on mineral formation in lava and magma
...
January 21, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Iddings is also the "I" in CIPW norm calculations (along with Cross, Pirsson, and Washington). ⚒️🧪🌋