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danstowell.bsky.social
@danstowell.bsky.social
410 followers 130 following 36 posts
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danstowell.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Report from UK gov: "Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security" https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-security-assessment-on-global-biodiversity-loss-ecosystem-collapse-and-national-security #biodiversity
Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security
This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.
www.gov.uk
January 23, 2026 at 11:39 AM
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ipbes.net
“We cannot withdraw from the fact that over 1 million species of plants and animals face extinction.” 🧪

IPBES remains committed to its mandate to provide the most credible science and evidence about biodiversity to all decision makers and actors. 🌍
January 8, 2026 at 8:07 PM
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mmasnick.bsky.social
So I have only just discovered at some vague point in the next couple weeks Google is going to break the way my work email works, and the company has done nothing to alert people to it.

www.theregister.com/2026/01/05/g...
Gmail preparing to drop POP3 mail fetching
: It's January 2026, and Google is finding innovative new ways to make one of its services worse
www.theregister.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:25 PM
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louisehaighmp.bsky.social
I call on my party and my government to remove themselves entirely from X and communicate with the public where they actually participate online and can be protected from such illegality.
January 8, 2026 at 12:31 PM
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mirandakeeling.com
Woman watching a barrista make a heart in her coffee foam: Lovely. It’s harder with oat milk isn’t it?
Barista: Um, not…
Woman behind them: Just say yes. Grab compliments with both hands.
January 7, 2026 at 9:19 AM
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earthspecies.bsky.social
⏰ Reminder: Task proposals for the 2026 #BioDCASE Challenge are due Jan 8.

Submit your idea and help define the next set of challenge tasks!

🔗Learn more & submit: biodcase.github.io/challenge2026/

#bioacoustics #AIforconservation #animalcommunication
January 5, 2026 at 9:57 PM
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oisinmacaodha.bsky.social
We have two open PhD positions at the interface of AI and ecology. Start dates are Sept 2026.

We are looking for candidates with a background in AI/CS, Math, Stats, or Physics that are passionate about solving challenging problems in these domains. 

Application deadline is in two weeks.
January 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM
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bicycledutch.bsky.social
The Utrecht morning rush hour in the snow did not disappoint!
January 5, 2026 at 7:26 AM
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danstowell.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
"animal2vec and MeerKAT: A self-supervised transformer for rare-event raw audio input and a large-scale reference dataset for bioacoustics" recently published! http://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.70218 #bioacoustics #machinelistening #deeplearning
January 5, 2026 at 8:55 AM
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evolodonata.ecoevo.social.ap.brid.gy
Come and join me and my colleagues at the Department of Biology, #LundUniversity in #sweden! We have am open position as Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Biodiversity.

Apply here no later than February 11 2026:

https://lu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:848749/type:job/where:4/apply:1
Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Biodiversity
The Department of Biology was established in 2010 through the merger of the Departments of Ecology, Cell and Organism Biology, Biological Undergraduate Education, and the Biological Museums. The depar
lu.varbi.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
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linuxlucy.mastodon.org.uk.ap.brid.gy
A slippery start to 2026.

There are many reasons to despair right now and it can be hard to see that there's any good left. So here's a reminder that even in a badly kept urban park, which suffered badly (again) last year, there's still some magic to be […]

[Original post on mastodon.org.uk]
A moorhen walking on ice. The large feet with claws, more frequently used for climbing, are probably helping a little. A black-headed gull standing on ice. One leg is at an angle, but they're still upright for now. A female mallard, looking confident and at home on the ice. Or maybe they were just hoping I had some food.
January 4, 2026 at 1:47 PM
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danstowell.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
My wish for 2026: Where can we find kindness writ large?
December 29, 2025 at 1:09 PM
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jonty.bsky.social
My pitch: Equip the train quiet carriage with a faraday cage
December 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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xeno-canto.bsky.social
Check out this write-up on sound producing Grasshoppers in Europe, and their availability on XC www.researchgate.net/publication/... . #bioacoustics #grasshoppers #orthoptera
(PDF) A list of sound producing European grasshoppers and the availability of their sounds in Xeno-canto
PDF | On Dec 8, 2025, Baudewijn Odé and others published A list of sound producing European grasshoppers and the availability of their sounds in Xeno-canto | Find, read and cite all the research you n...
www.researchgate.net
December 22, 2025 at 12:09 PM
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nomnomdan.hostux.social.ap.brid.gy
It really should be as funny as this! "When is a sausage not really a sausage?" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/20/sausage-meat-lobby-europe-plant-based-name #sausage #food #funny
December 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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davidrevoy.com
The Correct Incantation

#webcomic #krita #miniFantasyTheater
A comic in four panels: Panel 1. The gothic sorceress, dressed in dark, flowing robes, stands in the middle of a desolated land. She gazes at the colorful mechanical parrot flying near her shoulder: the Avian Intelligent Parrot. The sorceress asks with a hint of curiosity. > Gothic sorceress: "Hey, Avian Intelligence, what's the incantation for summoning a fireball?" > AI Parrot: ":sparkle emoji: The correct incantation for a fireball is "IgnisMe"." Panel 2. The gothic sorceress cracks a wicked smile, her eyes shining with anticipation as she raises her hands in front of her, fingers spread and ready to cast. > Gothic sorceress: "Alright, let's give it a shot... IgnisMe!" Panel 2(small insert in previous panel). Only the eyes of the gothic sorceress are visible in a large flame. > Gothic sorceress: "?!!" Panel 3. The gothic sorceress is burnt, her face contorted in a mix of shock, anger, and pain. Flames and smoke dance around her, her dark robes burnt and tattered, revealing exposed parts of her anatomy. > Gothic sorceress: "You #*$%@& bird! You gave me a self-immolation spell instead of a fireball spell!" Panel 4. As the sorceress facepalms, the Avian Intelligent parrot replies with stoicism. > AI Parrot: ":sparkle emoji: You're absolutely right! The correct incantation for a fireball is "PyroBolus"."
November 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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nicholdav.bsky.social
The dude who wrote End of History tried to vibecode an app but ended up doing a Her(2013) with ChatGPT (AKA "Pygmalion displacement" @olivia.science) while also failing the Turing test (sigh cc @olivia.science again)
michaelhobbes.bsky.social Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · Dec 17
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
December 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
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benfields.net
Well chosen
December 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
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olivia.science
If you're based in NL please consider reading & signing our open letter on reclaiming so-called AI from the AI Delta Plan & co:

"Thoughtfully Shaping Our Digital Future" openletter.earth/zorgvuldig-a...

Big thanks to @lekkerresistance.bsky.social @irisvanrooij.bsky.social @marentierra.bsky.social
Thoughtfully Shaping Our Digital Future To the parties forming the government in the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the outgoing administration, We are writing to you in recognition of your crucial responsibility for shaping current and future AI policy, overseeing digitization, and upholding public values. We are a coalition of scientists, experts, and representatives of civil society organizations. We believe it is essential to address these matters together. This letter has two objectives: a) Provide context for current plans, including the AI Delta Plan, the AIC4NL position paper, and the Invest-NL AI Deep Dive. These investment proposals often rely on assumptions that lack scientific evidence and do not fully reflect public values. b) To offer a constructive, well-substantiated alternative approach to digital futures based on people, nature, and democracy. We believe a collaborative process should guide decisions on the needs, scope, and nature of investments by bringing together scientists, civil society organizations, and stakeholders.
December 13, 2025 at 11:12 AM
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mirandakeeling.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
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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
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benfields.net
Every time I read this phrasing my head explodes anew. Are people so blinded by transphobia they don't realize this means anyone can be accused of not using a 'correct' toilet? scope of 'a person' in 'someone might think a person is a trans person' is ALL PEOPLE www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Last month a version leaked to the Times suggested that service providers would be able to question transgender women over whether they should be using single-sex facilities “based on how they look, their behaviour or concerns raised by others”.
December 8, 2025 at 9:17 AM
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mirandakeeling.com
Little girl in Walthamstow: Elephants would get sick if they ate umbrellas, wouldn't they?
Her mum: Definitely.
December 6, 2025 at 11:20 AM
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mrdylankeeling.bsky.social
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!!"
sundaedivine.lol 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 @sundaedivine.lol · Dec 6
“Don’t replace the culture war with class war” is such a fun way of saying, “Please don’t unionize, I just bought a yacht that parks inside another yacht.”
Culture war or class war?
December 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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nebogeo.post.lurk.org.ap.brid.gy
I'm calling the prototype crystal 'log synth' done.

Three natural semiconductor voices, each with their own filters, 4 vactrol sequencers and 3 single transistor gates with their own sequencer - actually quite a lot packed in here I realise...

Tested in the […]

[Original post on post.lurk.org]
A block of wood with circuit boards and wires connecting them on a rocky piece of ground.
December 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM