Bevan Weir
@rhizobia.nz
New Zealand mycology / bacteriology scientist at Manaaki Whenua working on 🍄 #fungi and 🦠 #bacteria taxonomy mostly using 🧬 on 🧫. Hobbies: #fountainpens, #cycling, #homebrew, #photography, and #archery website: https://rhizobia.nz/about
Spent some time before Xmas in Dunedin. Sandfly Bay is a lovey spot!, no wonder @paullecomtephoto.nz & @peterkdearden.bsky.social and many others live in the region! #nz #nikon Z8 panorama
January 10, 2026 at 4:15 AM
Spent some time before Xmas in Dunedin. Sandfly Bay is a lovey spot!, no wonder @paullecomtephoto.nz & @peterkdearden.bsky.social and many others live in the region! #nz #nikon Z8 panorama
Reposted by Bevan Weir
The latest from the Kobziar Fire Ecology Lab with a photo taken by yours truly.
We’ve recovered many fungal pathogens in wildland fire 🔥 smoke. Viability was confirmed through culturing & mice developed lung disease when exposed.
Lots still to learn abt smoke as a microbial reservoir & vector.
🧬💻🧪
We’ve recovered many fungal pathogens in wildland fire 🔥 smoke. Viability was confirmed through culturing & mice developed lung disease when exposed.
Lots still to learn abt smoke as a microbial reservoir & vector.
🧬💻🧪
Wildfire smoke, already a health hazard, may come with a dangerous hitchhiker: fungal spores.
Research presented at #AGU25 by @kobziar.bsky.social, @phin-lampman.bsky.social, & colleagues. eos.org/articles/fun...
Research presented at #AGU25 by @kobziar.bsky.social, @phin-lampman.bsky.social, & colleagues. eos.org/articles/fun...
Fungal Spores in Wildfire Smoke Could Cause Lung Disease - Eos
Mice exposed to fungi spready by wildfires developed symptoms, exposing a potential health hazard to humans that has been understudied.
eos.org
December 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The latest from the Kobziar Fire Ecology Lab with a photo taken by yours truly.
We’ve recovered many fungal pathogens in wildland fire 🔥 smoke. Viability was confirmed through culturing & mice developed lung disease when exposed.
Lots still to learn abt smoke as a microbial reservoir & vector.
🧬💻🧪
We’ve recovered many fungal pathogens in wildland fire 🔥 smoke. Viability was confirmed through culturing & mice developed lung disease when exposed.
Lots still to learn abt smoke as a microbial reservoir & vector.
🧬💻🧪
Black-billed gull (Chroicocephalus bulleri) [Tarāpuka] on the beach in Gisborne, NZ, more slender and less common than the Black-billed gull, this one was was still eyeing up some unattended bags for possible lunch!
Shot on #Nikon Z8 with a 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO250 #birds #nzbirds
Shot on #Nikon Z8 with a 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO250 #birds #nzbirds
December 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Royal spoonbills (Platalea regia) [Kōtuku ngutupapa] on mud flats in a blustery breeze in Auckland, NZ. Curious looking birds that self mitigated from Australia. Brief video of the same scene: youtu.be/BkeTZXX6hC4
Shot on #Nikon Z8 with a 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/640s, ISO90 #birds #nzbirds
Shot on #Nikon Z8 with a 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/640s, ISO90 #birds #nzbirds
December 7, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Royal spoonbills (Platalea regia) [Kōtuku ngutupapa] on mud flats in a blustery breeze in Auckland, NZ. Curious looking birds that self mitigated from Australia. Brief video of the same scene: youtu.be/BkeTZXX6hC4
Shot on #Nikon Z8 with a 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/640s, ISO90 #birds #nzbirds
Shot on #Nikon Z8 with a 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/640s, ISO90 #birds #nzbirds
Reposted by Bevan Weir
an important read for at least 2 reasons:
1. shows how big tech operates on intuitions and vibes and not rigorous research
2. this is a masterpiece in how to breakdown complex scientific concepts in simple language and elegant pros that captivate the lay reader
taranis.ie/datacenters-...
1. shows how big tech operates on intuitions and vibes and not rigorous research
2. this is a masterpiece in how to breakdown complex scientific concepts in simple language and elegant pros that captivate the lay reader
taranis.ie/datacenters-...
Datacenters in space are a terrible, horrible, no good idea.
There is a rush for AI companies to team up with space launch/satellite companies to build datacenters in space. TL;DR: It's not going to work.
taranis.ie
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
an important read for at least 2 reasons:
1. shows how big tech operates on intuitions and vibes and not rigorous research
2. this is a masterpiece in how to breakdown complex scientific concepts in simple language and elegant pros that captivate the lay reader
taranis.ie/datacenters-...
1. shows how big tech operates on intuitions and vibes and not rigorous research
2. this is a masterpiece in how to breakdown complex scientific concepts in simple language and elegant pros that captivate the lay reader
taranis.ie/datacenters-...
Reposted by Bevan Weir
I made a new animal cell cane
April 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I made a new animal cell cane
Reposted by Bevan Weir
"Procrasti-activity" is one of the most hideously-constructed phrases I've ever seen but holy hell do I relate to it deeply
November 19, 2025 at 10:05 AM
"Procrasti-activity" is one of the most hideously-constructed phrases I've ever seen but holy hell do I relate to it deeply
Reposted by Bevan Weir
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Reposted by Bevan Weir
This is true. Measles virus can infect and kill your memory B and T cells, effectively wiping out your immune system’s record of past infections or vaccinations. Good article here journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
November 15, 2024 at 2:30 PM
This is true. Measles virus can infect and kill your memory B and T cells, effectively wiping out your immune system’s record of past infections or vaccinations. Good article here journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Reposted by Bevan Weir
Morning peeps! I’ve written a piece for @thespinoff.bsky.social on why I ended up taking legal action against my employer and a little bit about how it played out. The whole story needs a book to tell but this is a good start 😂 thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1... thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
Siouxsie Wiles: Why I’m crowdfunding despite winning my legal battle
'Between the ERA and the Employment Court, my husband and I have spent over $632,000.'
thespinoff.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Morning peeps! I’ve written a piece for @thespinoff.bsky.social on why I ended up taking legal action against my employer and a little bit about how it played out. The whole story needs a book to tell but this is a good start 😂 thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1... thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
Reposted by Bevan Weir
Witches and fungi and rye, oh my!
🧙♀️🍄🍞🔥💀
#herbarium #herbaria #FungalFriday #FungiFriday #Halloween
ag.purdue.edu/news/2024/10...
🧙♀️🍄🍞🔥💀
#herbarium #herbaria #FungalFriday #FungiFriday #Halloween
ag.purdue.edu/news/2024/10...
Could a fungus be behind the Salem witch trials?
Mass hallucinations and paranoia. Seizures and bodily convulsions. From 1692 to 1693, the town of Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony tried approximately 200 people for their crimes of witchcraft. W...
ag.purdue.edu
October 31, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Witches and fungi and rye, oh my!
🧙♀️🍄🍞🔥💀
#herbarium #herbaria #FungalFriday #FungiFriday #Halloween
ag.purdue.edu/news/2024/10...
🧙♀️🍄🍞🔥💀
#herbarium #herbaria #FungalFriday #FungiFriday #Halloween
ag.purdue.edu/news/2024/10...
With the rising measles cases in NZ I thought I better check that I was up to date with my vaccinations. Turns out I had one in 2019 thanks to a tweet by my colleague @siouxsiew.bsky.social during a previous outbreak!
October 30, 2025 at 5:34 AM
With the rising measles cases in NZ I thought I better check that I was up to date with my vaccinations. Turns out I had one in 2019 thanks to a tweet by my colleague @siouxsiew.bsky.social during a previous outbreak!
Reposted by Bevan Weir
Global diversity analysis of plant-associated Pseudopithomyces fungi reveals a new species producing the toxin associated with facial eczema in livestock: Pseudopithomyc…... published in Studies in Mycology using @gbif.org mediated data:
#CiteTheDOI: ✅
https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2025.112.02
#CiteTheDOI: ✅
https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2025.112.02
July 9, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Global diversity analysis of plant-associated Pseudopithomyces fungi reveals a new species producing the toxin associated with facial eczema in livestock: Pseudopithomyc…... published in Studies in Mycology using @gbif.org mediated data:
#CiteTheDOI: ✅
https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2025.112.02
#CiteTheDOI: ✅
https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2025.112.02
Reposted by Bevan Weir
Today, we send solidarity greetings to all involved in the #NewZealand #Megastrike.
100,000 teachers and medical staff taking action.
Share this post and support the strike.
#StrikeMap
100,000 teachers and medical staff taking action.
Share this post and support the strike.
#StrikeMap
October 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Today, we send solidarity greetings to all involved in the #NewZealand #Megastrike.
100,000 teachers and medical staff taking action.
Share this post and support the strike.
#StrikeMap
100,000 teachers and medical staff taking action.
Share this post and support the strike.
#StrikeMap
No Microsoft Word spell check, I did actually intend the word "Species" not your suggested spelling "skirr Hodon"
October 21, 2025 at 5:03 AM
No Microsoft Word spell check, I did actually intend the word "Species" not your suggested spelling "skirr Hodon"
Reposted by Bevan Weir
🌍🌱 Abstract submissions are OPEN!
Join the 12th IUFRO WP 7.02.09 Meeting: Phytophthora in Forests & Natural Ecosystems
📍 Grabouw, South Africa
📅 13–18 Sept 2026
⏳Submit your abstract by 24 March 2026
👉 iufro-sa2026.carlamani.com
#Phytophthora #Forests #ForestScience #ForestResearch
Join the 12th IUFRO WP 7.02.09 Meeting: Phytophthora in Forests & Natural Ecosystems
📍 Grabouw, South Africa
📅 13–18 Sept 2026
⏳Submit your abstract by 24 March 2026
👉 iufro-sa2026.carlamani.com
#Phytophthora #Forests #ForestScience #ForestResearch
October 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
🌍🌱 Abstract submissions are OPEN!
Join the 12th IUFRO WP 7.02.09 Meeting: Phytophthora in Forests & Natural Ecosystems
📍 Grabouw, South Africa
📅 13–18 Sept 2026
⏳Submit your abstract by 24 March 2026
👉 iufro-sa2026.carlamani.com
#Phytophthora #Forests #ForestScience #ForestResearch
Join the 12th IUFRO WP 7.02.09 Meeting: Phytophthora in Forests & Natural Ecosystems
📍 Grabouw, South Africa
📅 13–18 Sept 2026
⏳Submit your abstract by 24 March 2026
👉 iufro-sa2026.carlamani.com
#Phytophthora #Forests #ForestScience #ForestResearch
Reposted by Bevan Weir
Happy U.K. Fungus Day. This was drawn using the ink from a shaggy ink cap growing in my own garden.
October 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Happy U.K. Fungus Day. This was drawn using the ink from a shaggy ink cap growing in my own garden.
Reposted by Bevan Weir
I started this #Mycologists Starter Pack, aiming to get all professional fungal researchers on BlueSky in one place. DM if you want to be added.
go.bsky.app/UMrVSsp
go.bsky.app/UMrVSsp
September 1, 2025 at 1:43 AM
I started this #Mycologists Starter Pack, aiming to get all professional fungal researchers on BlueSky in one place. DM if you want to be added.
go.bsky.app/UMrVSsp
go.bsky.app/UMrVSsp
Rare taxonomic #mycology job in NZ! Conduct fungal biodiversity & taxonomy research, secure funding, publish outputs. Working with the National Collections. PhD + postdoc experience required 🧪. Apply here: careers.sciencenewzealand.org/jobdetails?a...
August 19, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Rare taxonomic #mycology job in NZ! Conduct fungal biodiversity & taxonomy research, secure funding, publish outputs. Working with the National Collections. PhD + postdoc experience required 🧪. Apply here: careers.sciencenewzealand.org/jobdetails?a...