Gavin Foster
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thefosterlab.bsky.social
Gavin Foster
@thefosterlab.bsky.social
2.9K followers 820 following 480 posts

Palaeoclimatologist and isotope geochemist at the University of Southampton. Love/hate relationship with mass spectrometers. Researcher of climate science, coral reefs, biomineralisation, laser ablation, isotopes and geology. Views my own .. more

Videos
Environmental science 45%
Geology 24%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

kityates.bsky.social
Kit Yates @kityates.bsky.social · 11h
One in five children infected in the recent London measles outbreak were reportedly hospitalised.
Don’t believe the anti-vaxxers when they say “it’s a mild disease” or “it’s better to get immunity naturally”.
It isn’t.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

ianhall.bsky.social
Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 1d
🌊 One of the ocean's saltiest regions is freshening: What it means for circulation

phys.org/news/2026-02...
One of the ocean's saltiest regions is freshening: What it means for circulation
The southern Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia is becoming less salty at an astonishing rate, largely due to climate change, new research shows.
phys.org

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

ianhall.bsky.social
Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 1d
Climate extremes × demographic momentum = famine amplification

Climate change could expose >1.1 billion people to at least one severe food crisis by 2100 under high emissions

Mitigation halves the risk

theconversation.com/climate-chan...
Climate change could expose 1.1 billion people to hunger by 2100 (but there’s good news too) – AI modelling study
Without rapid cuts to fossil fuels and a shift to clean energy, climate change could drive over a billion into hunger by 2100, hitting Africa hard.
theconversation.com

Reposted by Katharine Hayhoe, Scott C. Doney, A. E. Dessler , and 7 more

weatherwest.bsky.social
Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 3d
Great piece out today in Physics Today on historical origins, contemporary relevance, & fundamental irreplaceability of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which remains at imminent risk of dismantling for partisan political reasons.
What the National Center for Atmospheric Research means to the atmospheric sciences
Born out of a time of great need for the federal government, NCAR plays a role with few analogues.
physicstoday.aip.org

Reposted by Unai Pascual, Gavin L. Foster, Gavin A. Schmidt , and 3 more

edhawkins.org
Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 3d
Updated climate indicators graphics, now including 2025

ed-hawkins.github.io/climate-visu...
Graphic showing changes in CO₂, global temperatures and global sea levels over the last 2025 years. Steep increases are visible after the industrial revolution.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

geochemgroup.bsky.social
The Geochemistry Group @geochemgroup.bsky.social · 3d
A reminder that early bird registration for the GGRiP meeting closes in 3 days (15th Feb). After this, prices will increase!

Please visit the GGRiP website ggrip2026.co.uk to register NOW. You have another two weeks until the abstract submission deadline (27th Feb).

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

williamripple.bsky.social
Prof William Ripple @williamripple.bsky.social · 4d
Concerned about the Point of No Return? Today we published a paper on the risk of a hothouse Earth trajectory. You can read it here: authors.elsevier.com/c/1mbW49C~Iu...

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

ianhall.bsky.social
Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 5d
Repealing the endangerment finding does not repeal
ΔF ≈ 5.35 ln(C/C₀) W·m-2
CO2 still traps heat. Physics remains undefeated.

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Trump set to repeal landmark climate finding in huge regulatory rollback this week
The administration of President Donald Trump is set this week to overturn an Obama-era scientific finding that carbon dioxide endangers human health, removing the legal basis for federal greenhouse ga...
www.reuters.com

thefosterlab.bsky.social
Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 6d
The scientific case is won, the Paris Agreement means all the countries of the world agreed to action, yet it still remains a challenge to shift the dial. Some good news here but depressing that climate change action remains political. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Communicating the need for climate action - Nature Climate Change
It is essential to understand the best way to frame a persuasive message aimed at increasing concern about climate change and support for pro-environmental action. Now a Registered Report presents a l...
www.nature.com

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

kityates.bsky.social
Kit Yates @kityates.bsky.social · 6d
Ever notice that multiple‑choice quizzes often feel strangely predictable? I recently dug into why answers so often sit in the middle—and what this reveals about our deep, systematic difficulty with randomness. It’s more surprising than you might think. 🧵👇
1/10

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

ianhall.bsky.social
Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 6d
You can hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete on a chapter, just not on physics.

www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
US judiciary scraps climate chapter from scientific evidence manual
The U.S. federal judiciary has withdrawn a chapter from the newest edition of its reference manual on scientific evidence that addressed climate change after Republican state attorneys general argued ...
www.reuters.com

Reposted by Jonathan A. Eisen, Brian A. Nosek, Gavin L. Foster , and 25 more

theo.io
Theo Sanderson @theo.io · 7d
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!

bluesky-map.theo.io

I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Bluesky Map
Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.
bluesky-map.theo.io

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

edhawkins.org
Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 10d
A new all-electric double-decker Climate Stripes bus has started taking passengers around Reading today.

The bus shows the warming stripes for Reading back to the 1860s and will hopefully help start climate conversations amongst passengers.

#ShowYourStripes

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

ianhall.bsky.social
Ian Hall @ianhall.bsky.social · 10d
🌊 Scientific expedition confirms vast freshwater reserve beneath ocean floor

IODP EXP 5O1

www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Scientific expedition confirms vast freshwater reserve beneath ocean floor
Researchers yet to fully understand how freshwater is trapped in pockets under seafloor
www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

obialik.bsky.social
Dr. Or M. Bialik |📚|🔬|🌊|⚒️ @obialik.bsky.social · 10d
#WeekendReading: Ouyang et al. on the Phanerozoic onset of large-scale continental weathering. It does lean on K/Al, which I am having some issues with, but a good amount of other proxies show up as well. 🧪⚒️

Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
A cartoon showing shifting cycling of K and Al. Note that the fluxes indicated by the size of arrows are normalized to show relative changes.

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Shannon Vallor, Richard S.J. Tol , and 20 more

lennson.bsky.social
Lennart Jonasson @lennson.bsky.social · 11d

thefosterlab.bsky.social
Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 13d
I really hope this works - great for the region and UK in general. Also a great advert for how Geology and Geologists can have a really positive impact on shaping our Green Future 🧪⚒️
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The lithium boom: could a disused quarry bring riches to Cornwall?
Known as ‘white gold’, lithium is among the most important mined elements on the planet – ideal for the rechargeable batteries used in tech products. Can Europe’s largest deposit bring prosperity to t...
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Timothy Snyder, Gavin L. Foster, Steve Peers , and 15 more

bencollins.bsky.social
Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 14d
Definitely seems like they destroyed the country on purpose.
Jeffrey Epstein emailing Peter Thiel: Finding things on their way to collapse was much easier than finding the next bargain. ... Return to tribalism. Counter to globalization. Amazing new alliances.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

zackpolanski.bsky.social
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 14d
Let's talk about who funds Reform.

Let's talk about how disastrous Brexit has been.

Let's talk about why Gorton & Denton must vote Green & stop Reform.

Why so quiet, Nigel Farage?
Zack Polanski challenges Nigel Farage to show down debate.

Reposted by Scott C. Doney, Gavin L. Foster, Stephen D. Murphy , and 3 more

eos.org
Eos @eos.org · 14d
There’s no tipping point beyond which ocean acidification kills corals, new research shows. With every creeping bit of acidification, corals just continue to die off. 🧪🌊 eos.org/articles/cor...
Coral Diversity Drops as Ocean Acidifies - Eos
As seawater becomes steadily more acidic, complex branching corals die off and are replaced with hard boulder corals and algae.
eos.org

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Peter Jacobs

en.afp.com
AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · 14d
🐠 OceanXplorer: a 'one-stop shop' for marine research

AFP reports from OceanXplorer, a high-tech marine research vessel, as it studies seamounts off Indonesia. The ship pairs scientific research with high-end media content to make marine biology and conservation accessible.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

marrickg.bsky.social
🌎Mar-rick🌐🇺🇸 @marrickg.bsky.social · 15d
Let's ask the question: How many times do the following people show up being named in the Epstein Files:

President Joe Biden: 0
President Barack Obama: 0
MN Governor Tim Walz: 0

President Donald Trump: 4,500

Does any Republican not see the problem?

Reposted by Simon L. Lewis, Gavin L. Foster, Ian Butler

zackpolanski.bsky.social
Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 15d
People are struggling.

We need to lower bills, protect our NHS and rebuild our public services.

My interview with #BBCLauraK

Great to see Green Party membership rising once again!

youtu.be/lMmDM_PvHyc?...
Green Party is the party "of the 99%", says leader Zack Polanski | Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
YouTube video by BBC Politics
youtu.be

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

peterdutoit.com
Peter du Toit @peterdutoit.com · 16d
Here is what is often not understood: Adaptation has physical limits and when those are reached there is only one option - retreat

#ClimateCrisis #Adaptation
‘Feels like a losing battle’: the fight against flooding in Somerset
Emergency pumps are deployed in attempt to stop water inundating homes around River Parrett
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster, Ben Barr, John Foot , and 1 more

greenparty.org.uk
The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 17d
Say hello to Hannah Spencer—councillor, plumber, greyhound lover and your Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton 💚
INTRODUCING! Hannah Spencer Green Party candidate for GORTON & DENTON Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of the Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

climatereefs.bsky.social
Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs (SPP 2299) @climatereefs.bsky.social · 18d
The DFG Priority Programme “Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs” (SPP 2299) has released a new video highlighting the programme’s current research activities and outlining upcoming scientific priorities.

Check out the new video on our YouTube channel:
youtu.be/PUQUnIhgVEk?...
SPP 2299 Research & Future Directions
YouTube video by Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs
youtu.be

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

ausarchosaur.bsky.social
Ausarchosaur @ausarchosaur.bsky.social · 19d
Found a startling comparison using real photographs of one reef over the decades.
https://oceandoctor.org/why-we-wont-quit-the-caribbean/

thefosterlab.bsky.social
Gavin Foster @thefosterlab.bsky.social · 19d
Very effective illustration of what has happened to Florida's coral reefs in response to anthropogenic climate and environment change. The loss of this important ecosystem is all but complete - attempts to rescue it discussed here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... 🪸🧪🌊
A schematic image showing Recent changes in reef zonation of western Atlantic coral reefs, brought about by lack of recruitment of elkhorn, staghorn, and massive boulder corals. Without these key reef builders, the reefs have already measurably eroded. Image credit: Rashpal Dhilon. Adapted from ref. 6, which is licensed under CC BY 4.0. The panel on the left labeled Late Pleistocene to ~1978 shows a vibrant ecosystem, the middle panel (the 1980s) is depleted but still many corals remain (though some key species are lost). The panel on the right (2020s) is like a moonscape with a few hardy species left.

Reposted by Valerie M. Delmotte, Peter Thorne, Gavin L. Foster

edhawkins.org
Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 19d
When it rains, it now rains more.

For those experiencing the flooding in south-west England, it is worth remembering that rainfall in winter has increased by about 25% overall.

And, the rainfall has also become more intense: when it rains, it now rains more, increasing the risk of flooding.

Reposted by Gavin L. Foster

davidho.bsky.social
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 20d
People in 2050 would give trillions of dollars just to have the climate that we enjoy today.
Number of people living in extreme heat to double by 2050 if 2C rise occurs, study finds
Scientists expect 41% of the projected global population to face the extremes, with ‘no part of the world’ immune
www.theguardian.com