Peter
@peterlcoffey.bsky.social
I do horticultural science and take photos of bugs. If I mess up, please call me on it! @peterlcoffey on Instagram
Reposted by Peter
This is not what the problem is. We have many excellent, talented, engaging science communicators.
Their reach is deliberately truncated by the social media companies, and billionaire-owned news outlets do not platform them.
Their reach is deliberately truncated by the social media companies, and billionaire-owned news outlets do not platform them.
Scientists are partly to blame by not learning to effectively communicate in lay language on modern communication channels. That information void is then ripe for disinformation to fill.
Embed lay comms & accessibility skills into academia.
Embed lay comms & accessibility skills into academia.
November 19, 2025 at 11:18 PM
This is not what the problem is. We have many excellent, talented, engaging science communicators.
Their reach is deliberately truncated by the social media companies, and billionaire-owned news outlets do not platform them.
Their reach is deliberately truncated by the social media companies, and billionaire-owned news outlets do not platform them.
We've had quite a few samples of roses coming into the lab showing symptoms of Rose Rosette Disease. Symptoms vary by cultivar, but overgrowth of prickles is one of them.
October 23, 2025 at 10:27 PM
We've had quite a few samples of roses coming into the lab showing symptoms of Rose Rosette Disease. Symptoms vary by cultivar, but overgrowth of prickles is one of them.
Reposted by Peter
The discovery of three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes was confirmed this week by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, which said the mosquitoes likely arrived by freight. n.pr/4qeQhWS
Iceland reports the presence of mosquitoes for the first time, as climate warms
The discovery of three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes was confirmed this week by the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, which said the mosquitoes likely arrived by freight.
n.pr
October 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
The discovery of three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes was confirmed this week by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, which said the mosquitoes likely arrived by freight. n.pr/4qeQhWS
Reposted by Peter
ATTENTION: The deadline to submit talks for this session is tomorrow! Please DM me for the link if you would like to submit a presentation for consideration.
Thanks and please share!
Thanks and please share!
**Attention fly enthusiasts!** We're looking for presenters for the Dipterists Society General Meeting at ESA @entsocamerica.bsky.social in Portland, OR (November 11th)
If you're interested in giving a talk, please DM me for a link to submit a title/abstract. Deadline to submit is October 10th.
If you're interested in giving a talk, please DM me for a link to submit a title/abstract. Deadline to submit is October 10th.
October 9, 2025 at 3:25 PM
ATTENTION: The deadline to submit talks for this session is tomorrow! Please DM me for the link if you would like to submit a presentation for consideration.
Thanks and please share!
Thanks and please share!
Reposted by Peter
Fundamentally, Republicans are trying to bring forms of slavery back.
Important farm labor update: Trump DOL is now planning to massively expand the H2A program.
Their logic? "Gee, all the farm workers are gone now. It's causing a food crisis. We just HAVE to run a crash-expansion of our slavery-prone H2A program."
prospect.org/politics/tru...
Their logic? "Gee, all the farm workers are gone now. It's causing a food crisis. We just HAVE to run a crash-expansion of our slavery-prone H2A program."
prospect.org/politics/tru...
October 8, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Fundamentally, Republicans are trying to bring forms of slavery back.
Reposted by Peter
Not sure people realize how INSANELY DRAINING data centers will be on our planet.
If you imagine data centers as their own country, they'll rank fourth in global electricity use by 2035 — outranked only by China, India, and the U.S.
Read this in @bloomberg.com👇
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
If you imagine data centers as their own country, they'll rank fourth in global electricity use by 2035 — outranked only by China, India, and the U.S.
Read this in @bloomberg.com👇
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring
Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.
www.bloomberg.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Not sure people realize how INSANELY DRAINING data centers will be on our planet.
If you imagine data centers as their own country, they'll rank fourth in global electricity use by 2035 — outranked only by China, India, and the U.S.
Read this in @bloomberg.com👇
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
If you imagine data centers as their own country, they'll rank fourth in global electricity use by 2035 — outranked only by China, India, and the U.S.
Read this in @bloomberg.com👇
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Reposted by Peter
We're still looking for presentations!
Please share 😊
Please share 😊
**Attention fly enthusiasts!** We're looking for presenters for the Dipterists Society General Meeting at ESA @entsocamerica.bsky.social in Portland, OR (November 11th)
If you're interested in giving a talk, please DM me for a link to submit a title/abstract. Deadline to submit is October 10th.
If you're interested in giving a talk, please DM me for a link to submit a title/abstract. Deadline to submit is October 10th.
September 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
We're still looking for presentations!
Please share 😊
Please share 😊
Reposted by Peter
Sedation dentistry is no longer weird. Phone cameras are really good. The price of solar panels has dropped by tens of thousands. Southern white rhinos, giant pandas, Arabian oryx and Stellar sea lions are no longer endangered.
And, I can testify, modern cancer treatments are fucking amazing.
And, I can testify, modern cancer treatments are fucking amazing.
Please give me an unironic list of things that have gotten better over the last ten years because I’m spiraling.
I’ll start: you can buy an enormous TV from Costco for like $100 bucks now.
I’ll start: you can buy an enormous TV from Costco for like $100 bucks now.
September 12, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Sedation dentistry is no longer weird. Phone cameras are really good. The price of solar panels has dropped by tens of thousands. Southern white rhinos, giant pandas, Arabian oryx and Stellar sea lions are no longer endangered.
And, I can testify, modern cancer treatments are fucking amazing.
And, I can testify, modern cancer treatments are fucking amazing.
Two new simple guides to growing and harvesting vegetables (and other specialty crops) for farmers in the Northeast US.
Written by small/mid-sized farmers for farmers and published by NE SARE. Emphasis on organic practices, but useful to anyone.
Written by small/mid-sized farmers for farmers and published by NE SARE. Emphasis on organic practices, but useful to anyone.
The Northeast Crop Production and Harvest Manual - SARE
These two guides—the Northeast Crop Production Manual and the Northeast Harvest Manual—provide in-depth information on the production, harvest and post-harvest handling of dozens of common specialty c...
www.sare.org
September 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Two new simple guides to growing and harvesting vegetables (and other specialty crops) for farmers in the Northeast US.
Written by small/mid-sized farmers for farmers and published by NE SARE. Emphasis on organic practices, but useful to anyone.
Written by small/mid-sized farmers for farmers and published by NE SARE. Emphasis on organic practices, but useful to anyone.
There's a person on inaturalist identifying Scyphozoa with the username "readyforthisjelly" and that's just... very good.
July 16, 2025 at 1:47 PM
There's a person on inaturalist identifying Scyphozoa with the username "readyforthisjelly" and that's just... very good.
Am I the only field scientist who hates every scale they've ever used??
I want one that can handle abuse, doesn't weigh a ton, doesn't have a masthead to catch the wind, and is precise to 1g and ~10 kg aaaaaaand ideally has a rechargeable battery. Does that exist?
I want one that can handle abuse, doesn't weigh a ton, doesn't have a masthead to catch the wind, and is precise to 1g and ~10 kg aaaaaaand ideally has a rechargeable battery. Does that exist?
May 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Am I the only field scientist who hates every scale they've ever used??
I want one that can handle abuse, doesn't weigh a ton, doesn't have a masthead to catch the wind, and is precise to 1g and ~10 kg aaaaaaand ideally has a rechargeable battery. Does that exist?
I want one that can handle abuse, doesn't weigh a ton, doesn't have a masthead to catch the wind, and is precise to 1g and ~10 kg aaaaaaand ideally has a rechargeable battery. Does that exist?
Reposted by Peter
this is very close to being the best selling item ever in the squid shop, and it's not even about a squid
help my bee reach the top lmao
help my bee reach the top lmao
You have FOUR (4) more days to order a Biology is Bigger than Binaries shirt, designed by the lovely and talented @franzanth.bsky.social.
In this nightmare of a year, merch is keeping @skypeascientist.bsky.social afloat. Even if you don't order, RT's help so much!
Get 'em: squidfacts.bigcartel.com
In this nightmare of a year, merch is keeping @skypeascientist.bsky.social afloat. Even if you don't order, RT's help so much!
Get 'em: squidfacts.bigcartel.com
May 28, 2025 at 3:03 PM
this is very close to being the best selling item ever in the squid shop, and it's not even about a squid
help my bee reach the top lmao
help my bee reach the top lmao
Reposted by Peter
“I asked ChatGPT-“ okay well I asked the big oak tree at the center of the woods and she said you’re a lazy dork
May 9, 2025 at 3:46 PM
“I asked ChatGPT-“ okay well I asked the big oak tree at the center of the woods and she said you’re a lazy dork
Reposted by Peter
These stories landed today, within 11 hours of each other.
This presidential administration is a clear and present danger to the American people.
This presidential administration is a clear and present danger to the American people.
April 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
These stories landed today, within 11 hours of each other.
This presidential administration is a clear and present danger to the American people.
This presidential administration is a clear and present danger to the American people.
Reposted by Peter
Alright I need to use this website for something that this website is actually good at: brainstorming examples of things in a category.
The category is: mechanisms of small-scale information delivery.
Examples:
Fortune cookies
Advent Calendars
Jokes on popsicle sticks
What else is there?
The category is: mechanisms of small-scale information delivery.
Examples:
Fortune cookies
Advent Calendars
Jokes on popsicle sticks
What else is there?
April 17, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Alright I need to use this website for something that this website is actually good at: brainstorming examples of things in a category.
The category is: mechanisms of small-scale information delivery.
Examples:
Fortune cookies
Advent Calendars
Jokes on popsicle sticks
What else is there?
The category is: mechanisms of small-scale information delivery.
Examples:
Fortune cookies
Advent Calendars
Jokes on popsicle sticks
What else is there?
Reposted by Peter
The Texas Senate has passed a bill banning one of most common native trees, the Texas mountain laurel, which grows abundantly wild around Austin and is among the most common landscape trees.
On today’s episode of why I hate Texas: Texas SB 1868.
A bill (obviously drafted by AI) bans possession a total of 40 plants. On the list Morning Glory and Texas Mountain Laurel. Because nothing says freedom like prohibiting landscape because you are afraid of weed don’t understand hallucinogens.
A bill (obviously drafted by AI) bans possession a total of 40 plants. On the list Morning Glory and Texas Mountain Laurel. Because nothing says freedom like prohibiting landscape because you are afraid of weed don’t understand hallucinogens.
April 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
The Texas Senate has passed a bill banning one of most common native trees, the Texas mountain laurel, which grows abundantly wild around Austin and is among the most common landscape trees.
Reposted by Peter
With a heavy heart, I am sharing that I have taken the USDA deferred resignation program. Soon I will go on administrative leave and “retire” later this year.
April 8, 2025 at 7:54 PM
With a heavy heart, I am sharing that I have taken the USDA deferred resignation program. Soon I will go on administrative leave and “retire” later this year.
Reposted by Peter
Brian deserves a job. Super qualified.
Boosting to hopefully get this seen by the right lab
Boosting to hopefully get this seen by the right lab
With a heavy heart, I am sharing that I have taken the USDA deferred resignation program. Soon I will go on administrative leave and “retire” later this year.
April 8, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Brian deserves a job. Super qualified.
Boosting to hopefully get this seen by the right lab
Boosting to hopefully get this seen by the right lab
Reposted by Peter
Narrator: "It did not make them rich."
April 3, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Narrator: "It did not make them rich."
okay i didn't really get the milchick crush talk until the band happened and now I get it.
March 26, 2025 at 12:11 AM
okay i didn't really get the milchick crush talk until the band happened and now I get it.
Reposted by Peter
We're hiring a plant pathologist! Looking for someone w/passion for diagnosing vegetable diseases & communicating results to clients. There's lots of other duties & opportunities. I also think it's a great lab 🤔☺️
jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/215...
@quesadalabncsu.bsky.social @plantdisease.bsky.social
jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/215...
@quesadalabncsu.bsky.social @plantdisease.bsky.social
March 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
We're hiring a plant pathologist! Looking for someone w/passion for diagnosing vegetable diseases & communicating results to clients. There's lots of other duties & opportunities. I also think it's a great lab 🤔☺️
jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/215...
@quesadalabncsu.bsky.social @plantdisease.bsky.social
jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/215...
@quesadalabncsu.bsky.social @plantdisease.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter
This is a disaster and its happening right now. Having spoken with some folks in Congress, this is a message they have not received--they are still back in Indirects and USAID (also important, BTW). Call Congress today unless you want ot lose colleagues one by one till all are gone
Non-competitive renewals...
(Note: These data do NOT reflect terminated grants)
3/3
(Note: These data do NOT reflect terminated grants)
3/3
March 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
This is a disaster and its happening right now. Having spoken with some folks in Congress, this is a message they have not received--they are still back in Indirects and USAID (also important, BTW). Call Congress today unless you want ot lose colleagues one by one till all are gone
Reposted by Peter
It has been an emotional rollercoaster following the USDA freeze earlier this week. Staff feared layoffs; grad students wondered if they’ll make rent. We just learned that USDA funds will be restored. This is a win for Maine’s farmers, growers, and kids, too!
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/03/12/p...
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/03/12/p...
Donald Trump’s USDA reverses freeze on funding to Maine’s public universities
It was an abrupt reversal of the funding freeze that was announced in a Monday notice to the University of Maine System.
www.bangordailynews.com
March 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
It has been an emotional rollercoaster following the USDA freeze earlier this week. Staff feared layoffs; grad students wondered if they’ll make rent. We just learned that USDA funds will be restored. This is a win for Maine’s farmers, growers, and kids, too!
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/03/12/p...
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/03/12/p...