Bevan Weir
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rhizobia.nz
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
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.
🧬💻🧪
December 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
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
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
December 7, 2025 at 8:40 PM
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-...
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
Reposted by Bevan Weir
I made a new animal cell cane
April 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
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
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 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
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
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
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
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
July 9, 2025 at 12:11 PM
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
October 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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
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
October 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
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
Sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) [Kōtare] perched on a tōtara branch in Auckland, New Zealand. Shot on #Nikon Z8 with a 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1250s, ISO7200 #birds #nzbirds
September 13, 2025 at 9:05 PM
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
September 1, 2025 at 1:43 AM
China Eastern Airlines CES711 having a bit of trouble landing in this #Auckland wind, did a go around.
August 31, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) [Tauhou] perched at dusk on a willow twig in Auckland, New Zealand. Shot on #Nikon Z8 with 180-600 @ 600mm, f/6.3, 1/1600s, ISO2800 #birds #nzbirds
August 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Swamp harrier (Circus approximans) [kāhu] circling overhead during golden hour in Auckland, New Zealand. Shot on Nikon Z8 with 180-600 @ 600mm, f/8, 1/1250s, ISO500 #birds #nzbirds
August 24, 2025 at 12:08 AM
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
@dylanreeve.com Congratulations!
July 31, 2025 at 8:59 AM
the suspense! #internetnz
July 31, 2025 at 8:07 AM