Dr Susannah Lydon
@susieoftraken.bsky.social
Palaeobotany | Scicomm | Associate Prof in Plant Science, Nottingham, UK | Vogon poet | Views my own | She/her
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
coming soon another new Ediacaran taxon from Newfoundland. This one is an #Arboreomorph from the #Ediacaran of the NE Avalon Peninsula discovered and written up with PhD students Pascal Olschewski @simonrosse.bsky.social. The art needs some work to do justice to the fossil but Happy #FossilFriday!
February 13, 2026 at 5:11 PM
coming soon another new Ediacaran taxon from Newfoundland. This one is an #Arboreomorph from the #Ediacaran of the NE Avalon Peninsula discovered and written up with PhD students Pascal Olschewski @simonrosse.bsky.social. The art needs some work to do justice to the fossil but Happy #FossilFriday!
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
I'm halfway through teaching the 'Gothic Nature' course I designed for the Middlebury-CMRS Oxford Humanities Program associated with @kebleoxford.bsky.social. Enjoying 1:1 tuition with enthusiastic study-abroad students on landscapes distorted by industry, resource extraction & colonial expansion🍂
February 13, 2026 at 5:13 PM
I'm halfway through teaching the 'Gothic Nature' course I designed for the Middlebury-CMRS Oxford Humanities Program associated with @kebleoxford.bsky.social. Enjoying 1:1 tuition with enthusiastic study-abroad students on landscapes distorted by industry, resource extraction & colonial expansion🍂
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Overshadowed as he is by his iconic drummer, I don’t think Dr. Teeth gets enough credit as one of rock’s best band leaders.
February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Overshadowed as he is by his iconic drummer, I don’t think Dr. Teeth gets enough credit as one of rock’s best band leaders.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Welcome back to #FossilFriday everyone!
Here we have a beautiful chain coral known as Halysites cantenularia. This comes from the Lower Silurian Cordell Formation (Monistique Group) Door County, Wisconsin.
Here we have a beautiful chain coral known as Halysites cantenularia. This comes from the Lower Silurian Cordell Formation (Monistique Group) Door County, Wisconsin.
February 13, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Welcome back to #FossilFriday everyone!
Here we have a beautiful chain coral known as Halysites cantenularia. This comes from the Lower Silurian Cordell Formation (Monistique Group) Door County, Wisconsin.
Here we have a beautiful chain coral known as Halysites cantenularia. This comes from the Lower Silurian Cordell Formation (Monistique Group) Door County, Wisconsin.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
🚨 UK Student Palaeo Research Opportunity 🚨
Brymbo Fossil Forest are offering students the chance to get involved in active palaeontology research & excavations ⚒️ at a unique #Carboniferous fossil site in Wales 🏴 - See below for more details ⬇️
#Paleontology #Geology #Fieldwork #FossilFriday #ECR
Brymbo Fossil Forest are offering students the chance to get involved in active palaeontology research & excavations ⚒️ at a unique #Carboniferous fossil site in Wales 🏴 - See below for more details ⬇️
#Paleontology #Geology #Fieldwork #FossilFriday #ECR
February 13, 2026 at 4:42 PM
🚨 UK Student Palaeo Research Opportunity 🚨
Brymbo Fossil Forest are offering students the chance to get involved in active palaeontology research & excavations ⚒️ at a unique #Carboniferous fossil site in Wales 🏴 - See below for more details ⬇️
#Paleontology #Geology #Fieldwork #FossilFriday #ECR
Brymbo Fossil Forest are offering students the chance to get involved in active palaeontology research & excavations ⚒️ at a unique #Carboniferous fossil site in Wales 🏴 - See below for more details ⬇️
#Paleontology #Geology #Fieldwork #FossilFriday #ECR
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Palaeoscolecids from the early Cambrian Guanshan biota, Yunnan Province, China onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology #FossilFriday
February 13, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Palaeoscolecids from the early Cambrian Guanshan biota, Yunnan Province, China onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #PapersinPalaeontology #FossilFriday
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
I just read a paper describing a new species (a fossil, but still a new species), but the actual taxonomic description is relegated to the Supplementary material! 😱😟
Why is the taxonomy being treated like a bibliographic footnote? 😡#Botany #taxonomy
Why is the taxonomy being treated like a bibliographic footnote? 😡#Botany #taxonomy
February 10, 2026 at 12:01 PM
I just read a paper describing a new species (a fossil, but still a new species), but the actual taxonomic description is relegated to the Supplementary material! 😱😟
Why is the taxonomy being treated like a bibliographic footnote? 😡#Botany #taxonomy
Why is the taxonomy being treated like a bibliographic footnote? 😡#Botany #taxonomy
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
A piece of Glossopteris leaf from the late Permian of Antarctica ~260 million years old 🌳⛏️. Broken but showing nice detail of the veination. Glossopterids are seed plants that were found on all of today's southern continents during the Permian. Happy #FossilFriday! #paleobotany #botany
February 13, 2026 at 2:40 PM
A piece of Glossopteris leaf from the late Permian of Antarctica ~260 million years old 🌳⛏️. Broken but showing nice detail of the veination. Glossopterids are seed plants that were found on all of today's southern continents during the Permian. Happy #FossilFriday! #paleobotany #botany
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
‘I used to be a mountain’ by Maarten Inghels onboards.be/nl/product/m...
📷 Maarten Inghels/Onboards Biennale
#urbangeology
📷 Maarten Inghels/Onboards Biennale
#urbangeology
February 13, 2026 at 9:40 AM
‘I used to be a mountain’ by Maarten Inghels onboards.be/nl/product/m...
📷 Maarten Inghels/Onboards Biennale
#urbangeology
📷 Maarten Inghels/Onboards Biennale
#urbangeology
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
#FindsFriday
Fresh out of the ground two years ago, at Castleward in Derby
An intact stoneware flagon from Young's Botanic Brewery, Derby. This company was active in late 19th-early 20th century, and specialised in these lovely stoneware containers. I wonder if there was any botanical beer inside?
Fresh out of the ground two years ago, at Castleward in Derby
An intact stoneware flagon from Young's Botanic Brewery, Derby. This company was active in late 19th-early 20th century, and specialised in these lovely stoneware containers. I wonder if there was any botanical beer inside?
February 13, 2026 at 2:59 PM
#FindsFriday
Fresh out of the ground two years ago, at Castleward in Derby
An intact stoneware flagon from Young's Botanic Brewery, Derby. This company was active in late 19th-early 20th century, and specialised in these lovely stoneware containers. I wonder if there was any botanical beer inside?
Fresh out of the ground two years ago, at Castleward in Derby
An intact stoneware flagon from Young's Botanic Brewery, Derby. This company was active in late 19th-early 20th century, and specialised in these lovely stoneware containers. I wonder if there was any botanical beer inside?
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
So, what happened is that old people love apprenticeships, so we created a payroll tax of 0.5% to fund them, but most companies don't really train through apprenticeships anymore so a lot of professional qualifications restructured as apprenticeships to take advantage of that funding.
Exclusive: Leadership and management apprenticeships are on the chopping block under plans to find savings and tilt the apprenticeship system towards young people, skills minister Jacqui Smith has confirmed https://feweek.co.uk/management-apprenticeships-on-the-chopping-block-minister-confirms/
Management apprenticeships on the chopping block, minister confirms
Government gears up to tell employers which apprenticeships 'aren't appropriate for public funding'
feweek.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 2:51 PM
So, what happened is that old people love apprenticeships, so we created a payroll tax of 0.5% to fund them, but most companies don't really train through apprenticeships anymore so a lot of professional qualifications restructured as apprenticeships to take advantage of that funding.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Fossil Friday #304: A Heartwarming Tully Reunion #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #FossilFriday #Tully #Tullymonster
Fossil Friday #304: A Heartwarming Tully Reunion
This is the “Fossil Friday” post #304. Expect this to be a regular feature of the website. We will post fossil pictures you send in to esconi.info@gmail.com. Please include a short description or story. Check the #FossilFriday Bluesky/Twitter hash tag for contributions from around the world! For Valentines Day, we have a nice heartwarming Tullymonster reunion story we received from long-time ESCONI member and Mazon Creek Collector Jim Alann.
esconi.org
February 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Fossil Friday #304: A Heartwarming Tully Reunion #fossils #paleontology #MazonCreek #FossilFriday #Tully #Tullymonster
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
The tech behind 'Pop Rocks' candy was patented in 1961, but the product wasn't launched until 1976.
They're created by putting a super-saturated solution of sugar (sucrose) in a chamber pressurized with CO2 to 50 atmospheres (730 psi).
Gas-filled bubbles form, then are captured in the crystals.
They're created by putting a super-saturated solution of sugar (sucrose) in a chamber pressurized with CO2 to 50 atmospheres (730 psi).
Gas-filled bubbles form, then are captured in the crystals.
June 18, 2025 at 12:21 PM
The tech behind 'Pop Rocks' candy was patented in 1961, but the product wasn't launched until 1976.
They're created by putting a super-saturated solution of sugar (sucrose) in a chamber pressurized with CO2 to 50 atmospheres (730 psi).
Gas-filled bubbles form, then are captured in the crystals.
They're created by putting a super-saturated solution of sugar (sucrose) in a chamber pressurized with CO2 to 50 atmospheres (730 psi).
Gas-filled bubbles form, then are captured in the crystals.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
We have had lots of calls of concern today following the big landslide at Stonebarrow. The beach remains open but just take caution! There are hazard signs up as you walk from the car park to the beach, so please read the signs. (1/3)
February 13, 2026 at 1:02 PM
We have had lots of calls of concern today following the big landslide at Stonebarrow. The beach remains open but just take caution! There are hazard signs up as you walk from the car park to the beach, so please read the signs. (1/3)
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Discworld QOTD, from Wyrd Sisters
February 11, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Wyrd Sisters
Nice weather for liverworts
💚☔💚☔💚
💚☔💚☔💚
February 13, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Nice weather for liverworts
💚☔💚☔💚
💚☔💚☔💚
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
NUDE ELON MUSK: The invisible clothes I'm wearing are a product of xAthleisure, which will roll out self-dressing outfits within two years at the latest
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
February 12, 2026 at 7:10 PM
NUDE ELON MUSK: The invisible clothes I'm wearing are a product of xAthleisure, which will roll out self-dressing outfits within two years at the latest
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
👉 This half-term we’re inviting the public to join us in decorating thousands of fossil models, which will then be included in our Geopark In The Dark Event!
📆 Fun for all the family! Join us in Leicester, Feb 14-22.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/paint-the-pr...
📆 Fun for all the family! Join us in Leicester, Feb 14-22.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/paint-the-pr...
February 13, 2026 at 10:14 AM
👉 This half-term we’re inviting the public to join us in decorating thousands of fossil models, which will then be included in our Geopark In The Dark Event!
📆 Fun for all the family! Join us in Leicester, Feb 14-22.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/paint-the-pr...
📆 Fun for all the family! Join us in Leicester, Feb 14-22.
🌐 Read more on our website: www.charnwoodforest.org/paint-the-pr...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Ooooh. Cool new paper on origins of life. A simple 45-nucleotide RNA molecule that can perfectly copy itself.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A small polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize itself and its complementary strand
The emergence of a chemical system capable of self-replication and evolution is a critical event in the origin of life. RNA polymerase ribozymes can replicate RNA, but their large size and structural ...
www.science.org
February 13, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Ooooh. Cool new paper on origins of life. A simple 45-nucleotide RNA molecule that can perfectly copy itself.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
#FossilFriday Cousins in life, companions in death. Belemnite guard by chance preserved in the body chamber of the ammonite Parkinsonia from the Jurassic.
February 13, 2026 at 7:20 AM
#FossilFriday Cousins in life, companions in death. Belemnite guard by chance preserved in the body chamber of the ammonite Parkinsonia from the Jurassic.
Galactic presidential mantra. Possibly Universal.
"Can we drop your ego for a moment? This is important." "If there's anything more important than my ego around, I want it caught and shot now."
February 13, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Galactic presidential mantra. Possibly Universal.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
The splendid website London Pavement Geology (www.londonpavementgeology.co.uk) has been extended across the UK and tells you where to find treasures hidden in plain sight. Here are some London fossils from the LSE and Somerset House.
February 1, 2026 at 9:39 AM
The splendid website London Pavement Geology (www.londonpavementgeology.co.uk) has been extended across the UK and tells you where to find treasures hidden in plain sight. Here are some London fossils from the LSE and Somerset House.
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
What would you say, if said that there is a “Billion Years” in the heart of the City of London?
What if I told you that there are many unremarkable buildings in London, with stone facades that have travelled far and can have spellbinding histories spanning over billions of years.
#Londongeology
What if I told you that there are many unremarkable buildings in London, with stone facades that have travelled far and can have spellbinding histories spanning over billions of years.
#Londongeology
February 2, 2026 at 5:37 PM
What would you say, if said that there is a “Billion Years” in the heart of the City of London?
What if I told you that there are many unremarkable buildings in London, with stone facades that have travelled far and can have spellbinding histories spanning over billions of years.
#Londongeology
What if I told you that there are many unremarkable buildings in London, with stone facades that have travelled far and can have spellbinding histories spanning over billions of years.
#Londongeology
Reposted by Dr Susannah Lydon
Suffolk rain patters down on two Devon exiles (immigrants, if you prefer).
* A Dartmoor Granite with Orthoclase phenocrysts big as horses' teeth, a quotation from the vasty batholith.
* A block of Calcflinta of elvish toughness, sourced from its metamorphic aureole.
#Devon #Dartmoor #Geology
* A Dartmoor Granite with Orthoclase phenocrysts big as horses' teeth, a quotation from the vasty batholith.
* A block of Calcflinta of elvish toughness, sourced from its metamorphic aureole.
#Devon #Dartmoor #Geology
February 13, 2026 at 9:22 AM