Matthew Fagan
@velocitree.bsky.social
Moving at the speed of tree.
Tweeting about forest ecology, conservation, remote sensing, and sustainable landscapes.
All opinions my own.
Tweeting about forest ecology, conservation, remote sensing, and sustainable landscapes.
All opinions my own.
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter weather. Follow AP for live updates.
Groundhog Day live updates: Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter
Tens of thousands of people are gathering for Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog that lives in a tree stump, to predict if the already long and cold winter across much of the United States will go on for another six weeks or if an early spring is around the corner.
bit.ly
February 2, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter weather. Follow AP for live updates.
And yet, given the profit margins of the current journal system, and its parasitic relationship to free labor by scientists, I am am hopeful that the new AI crisis will force systemic change that is sorely overdue. And if not, burning it all down for a few years and starting afresh is good too.
January 30, 2026 at 6:34 PM
And yet, given the profit margins of the current journal system, and its parasitic relationship to free labor by scientists, I am am hopeful that the new AI crisis will force systemic change that is sorely overdue. And if not, burning it all down for a few years and starting afresh is good too.
For certain: “I’m scared that this type of thing is going to do to science journals what AI-generated bug reports is doing to bug bounties. We’re truly living in a post-scarcity society now, except that the thing we have an abundance of is garbage, and it’s drowning out everything of value.”
It never fails to surprise me how many scientists seem to believe actually reading to "find relevant research," and writing, are not thinking, are not essential to the grandiose goals they have of "doing science."
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/n...
arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/n...
New OpenAI tool renews fears that “AI slop” will overwhelm scientific research
New "Prism" workspace launches just as studies show AI-assisted papers are flooding journals with diminished quality.
arstechnica.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:32 PM
For certain: “I’m scared that this type of thing is going to do to science journals what AI-generated bug reports is doing to bug bounties. We’re truly living in a post-scarcity society now, except that the thing we have an abundance of is garbage, and it’s drowning out everything of value.”
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
Reality keeps asserting itself whether we’re ready or not. We are watching sea urchins collapse across oceans, another reminder that Earth systems don’t care about our attention, consensus, or permission. A dramatic rethink of security has never been clearer.
gizmodo.com/the-sea-urch...
gizmodo.com/the-sea-urch...
The Sea Urchin Apocalypse Is Real, and It Might Be Spreading Globally, Scientists Warn
New research has uncovered a mass die-off of sea urchins living in the Canary Islands—one that could signal an ongoing marine pandemic.
gizmodo.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Reality keeps asserting itself whether we’re ready or not. We are watching sea urchins collapse across oceans, another reminder that Earth systems don’t care about our attention, consensus, or permission. A dramatic rethink of security has never been clearer.
gizmodo.com/the-sea-urch...
gizmodo.com/the-sea-urch...
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
In our latest article we argue that the problems with carbon offsets can't be fixed. The problem is causal complexity which observational methods can't sort out. open access link in the second post. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Why carbon offsets may fail in complex systems: A causal inference perspective
Social-ecological system dynamics present a fundamental challenge to the attribution of changes in carbon stocks to actions taken by carbon offset sel…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:43 PM
In our latest article we argue that the problems with carbon offsets can't be fixed. The problem is causal complexity which observational methods can't sort out. open access link in the second post. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
Fast-growing trees are set to dominate the #forests of the #future — but at a cost🌳
Our Nature Plants (@natplants.nature.com) study shows a global shift toward "sprinter" tree species, while slow-growing, functionally critical #trees face elevated #extinction risk. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our Nature Plants (@natplants.nature.com) study shows a global shift toward "sprinter" tree species, while slow-growing, functionally critical #trees face elevated #extinction risk. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Global functional shifts in trees driven by alien naturalization and native extinction - Nature Plants
This study finds that native tree extinctions and alien naturalizations are pushing forests towards fast-growing, resource-demanding species. This global shift could affect carbon storage and ecosyste...
www.nature.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Fast-growing trees are set to dominate the #forests of the #future — but at a cost🌳
Our Nature Plants (@natplants.nature.com) study shows a global shift toward "sprinter" tree species, while slow-growing, functionally critical #trees face elevated #extinction risk. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our Nature Plants (@natplants.nature.com) study shows a global shift toward "sprinter" tree species, while slow-growing, functionally critical #trees face elevated #extinction risk. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
This pre-print suggests that forest conservation is good for biodiversity, but large-scale afforestation is *bad* for biodiversity, and also will have little impact on short-medium term climate, underscoring the need for rapid emissions reductions. assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-822...
assets-eu.researchsquare.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:32 PM
This pre-print suggests that forest conservation is good for biodiversity, but large-scale afforestation is *bad* for biodiversity, and also will have little impact on short-medium term climate, underscoring the need for rapid emissions reductions. assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-822...
I find myself shouting Amen! At several points. This should be required reading for conservation scientists: www.butlernature.com/2026/01/16/b...
Beyond the doom loop: the case for informed optimism
Conservation has never lacked alarming facts. What it increasingly lacks is attention. After years of grim headlines, many people do not just feel sad. They disengage. They stop reading, stop donating...
www.butlernature.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I find myself shouting Amen! At several points. This should be required reading for conservation scientists: www.butlernature.com/2026/01/16/b...
Cows are smart. As I have long maintained, any animal smart enough to rest in the shade at high noon is worth respecting. www.popsci.com/environment/...
Veronika the Cow shocks scientists by using a tool
The 13-year-old bovine is crushing stereotypes of bovine intelligence.
www.popsci.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Cows are smart. As I have long maintained, any animal smart enough to rest in the shade at high noon is worth respecting. www.popsci.com/environment/...
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
Beyond the doom loop: the case for informed optimism
Conservation does not suffer from a lack of passion or intelligence. It suffers from fatigue, fragmentation, and an erosion of trust.
www.butlernature.com/2026/01/16/b...
Conservation does not suffer from a lack of passion or intelligence. It suffers from fatigue, fragmentation, and an erosion of trust.
www.butlernature.com/2026/01/16/b...
Beyond the doom loop: the case for informed optimism
Conservation has never lacked alarming facts. What it increasingly lacks is attention. After years of grim headlines, many people do not just feel sad. They disengage. They stop reading, stop donating...
www.butlernature.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Beyond the doom loop: the case for informed optimism
Conservation does not suffer from a lack of passion or intelligence. It suffers from fatigue, fragmentation, and an erosion of trust.
www.butlernature.com/2026/01/16/b...
Conservation does not suffer from a lack of passion or intelligence. It suffers from fatigue, fragmentation, and an erosion of trust.
www.butlernature.com/2026/01/16/b...
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
The National Weather Service is now hiring for both entry-level and seasoned meteorologist positions. Apply by January 29!
The entry-level positions are available in:
▪️ Houston, TX
▪️ Ft. Worth, TX
▪️ Hastings, NE
▪️ Great Falls, MT
▪️ Marquette, MI
Apply: www.usajobs.gov/job/854675700
The entry-level positions are available in:
▪️ Houston, TX
▪️ Ft. Worth, TX
▪️ Hastings, NE
▪️ Great Falls, MT
▪️ Marquette, MI
Apply: www.usajobs.gov/job/854675700
January 16, 2026 at 8:15 PM
The National Weather Service is now hiring for both entry-level and seasoned meteorologist positions. Apply by January 29!
The entry-level positions are available in:
▪️ Houston, TX
▪️ Ft. Worth, TX
▪️ Hastings, NE
▪️ Great Falls, MT
▪️ Marquette, MI
Apply: www.usajobs.gov/job/854675700
The entry-level positions are available in:
▪️ Houston, TX
▪️ Ft. Worth, TX
▪️ Hastings, NE
▪️ Great Falls, MT
▪️ Marquette, MI
Apply: www.usajobs.gov/job/854675700
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
I was talking to someone yesterday about how climate support is just evaporating even in states and among people who were vocal champions, out of fear of alienating voters.
That is a strategic error, and folks really need to take lessons from @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social on how to do better.
That is a strategic error, and folks really need to take lessons from @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social on how to do better.
Update: A bid to safeguard the National Center for Atmospheric Research failed Thursday after the Senate passed a spending package without an amendment to save the center's funding. eos.org/research-and...
Trump Administration Plans to Break Up NCAR - Eos
The Trump administration is planning to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, one of the world’s leading climate and Earth science research laboratories, according to a statement fro...
eos.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I was talking to someone yesterday about how climate support is just evaporating even in states and among people who were vocal champions, out of fear of alienating voters.
That is a strategic error, and folks really need to take lessons from @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social on how to do better.
That is a strategic error, and folks really need to take lessons from @sunrisemvmt.bsky.social on how to do better.
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
In good news, your advocacy for science funding is paying off! Congress has just rejected the massive cuts to NASA's 2026 budget.
(Sadly, they didn't include a provision for saving @ncar-ucar.bsky.social but we use this win to keep fighting!)
(Sadly, they didn't include a provision for saving @ncar-ucar.bsky.social but we use this win to keep fighting!)
You just saved NASA's budget
Here's what Congress rejected of the draconian cuts faced by NASA in FY 2026.
www.planetary.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:08 PM
In good news, your advocacy for science funding is paying off! Congress has just rejected the massive cuts to NASA's 2026 budget.
(Sadly, they didn't include a provision for saving @ncar-ucar.bsky.social but we use this win to keep fighting!)
(Sadly, they didn't include a provision for saving @ncar-ucar.bsky.social but we use this win to keep fighting!)
My Ph.D. student Felipe Saad is at #AGU25, please stop by and say hi to him at his poster!
B43O-2108 Monitoring emergent tropical trees with high-resolution spectral and structural data: Landscape fragmentation and Dipteryx panamensis in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Hall EFG
Thursday: 14:15 - 17:45
B43O-2108 Monitoring emergent tropical trees with high-resolution spectral and structural data: Landscape fragmentation and Dipteryx panamensis in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Hall EFG
Thursday: 14:15 - 17:45
December 16, 2025 at 10:35 PM
My Ph.D. student Felipe Saad is at #AGU25, please stop by and say hi to him at his poster!
B43O-2108 Monitoring emergent tropical trees with high-resolution spectral and structural data: Landscape fragmentation and Dipteryx panamensis in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Hall EFG
Thursday: 14:15 - 17:45
B43O-2108 Monitoring emergent tropical trees with high-resolution spectral and structural data: Landscape fragmentation and Dipteryx panamensis in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Hall EFG
Thursday: 14:15 - 17:45
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
This week’s IBioS member Article Highlight!
Dr. @naomibschwartz.bsky.social and colleagues recently published an article on “The responsible use of global remote-sensing datasets.”
Read more about this article here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dr. @naomibschwartz.bsky.social and colleagues recently published an article on “The responsible use of global remote-sensing datasets.”
Read more about this article here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The responsible use of global remote-sensing datasets - Nature Ecology & Evolution
In this age of abundant remote-sensing data, global datasets are increasingly relied upon to analyse the planet at unprecedented scale and resolution. We offer three considerations on uncertainties an...
www.nature.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:19 PM
This week’s IBioS member Article Highlight!
Dr. @naomibschwartz.bsky.social and colleagues recently published an article on “The responsible use of global remote-sensing datasets.”
Read more about this article here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dr. @naomibschwartz.bsky.social and colleagues recently published an article on “The responsible use of global remote-sensing datasets.”
Read more about this article here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
Systematic review of evidence on Miyawaki forest restoration: Its at least 10,000 times more expensive than other techniques, yet has no well documented benefits besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Tiny forests, huge claims: The evidence gap behind the Miyawaki method for forest restoration
To scale up restoration effectively, practitioners and policymakers should prioritize methods supported by robust empirical evidence rather than relying on untested claims. Our findings highlight the...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Systematic review of evidence on Miyawaki forest restoration: Its at least 10,000 times more expensive than other techniques, yet has no well documented benefits besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
It was an honor to work with this group... and the paper is excellent, but the implications for tropical ecosystems make me really sad. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Hot droughts in the Amazon provide a window to a future hypertropical climate - Nature
Thirty years of forest demographic data, combined with recent ecophysiological measurements, reveal that intense Amazon droughts sharply increase tree mortality once soil moisture falls below a thresh...
www.nature.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It was an honor to work with this group... and the paper is excellent, but the implications for tropical ecosystems make me really sad. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also (filing this under sentences I never thought I would write) I and @forrestf.bsky.social and @simonlewis.bsky.social and others were in an *excellent* French documentary on tree planting. If your French is as bad as mine: Watch it with captions and auto translate: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EFJ...
December 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Also (filing this under sentences I never thought I would write) I and @forrestf.bsky.social and @simonlewis.bsky.social and others were in an *excellent* French documentary on tree planting. If your French is as bad as mine: Watch it with captions and auto translate: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EFJ...
I was happily surprised that our new Comment, “The Responsible Use of Global Remote-Sensing Datasets” is out this week in Nature Ecology and Evolution. I want to thank the editors at @springernature.com for the holiday gift of speed! Please DM me if you would like a copy of the article.
December 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I was happily surprised that our new Comment, “The Responsible Use of Global Remote-Sensing Datasets” is out this week in Nature Ecology and Evolution. I want to thank the editors at @springernature.com for the holiday gift of speed! Please DM me if you would like a copy of the article.
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
Per an NIH source:
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
January 28, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Per an NIH source:
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
“Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
This is going to damage science and charity work in the US beyond repair. Every day the pause goes on, small businesses will fold and student rent won’t get paid. It’s holding a knife to the throat of America. You want to review funding? Do it. But stop it? Might as well toss our dreams in the trash
White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion
January 28, 2025 at 2:48 AM
This is going to damage science and charity work in the US beyond repair. Every day the pause goes on, small businesses will fold and student rent won’t get paid. It’s holding a knife to the throat of America. You want to review funding? Do it. But stop it? Might as well toss our dreams in the trash
Reposted by Matthew Fagan
Large universities with vibrant medical research such as OSU and @osuwexmed.bsky.social need to put pressure on our elected officials. OSU is the 5th largest employer in the state of Ohio, and it owes much of its impact to research funding provided by NIH and other federal agencies.
NIH and other federal health agencies have been instructed to cease external communications indefinitely. This means that grant programs—the money that funds life-saving university and hospital research—are currently in limbo. This includes VA research on veterans’ health.
January 23, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Large universities with vibrant medical research such as OSU and @osuwexmed.bsky.social need to put pressure on our elected officials. OSU is the 5th largest employer in the state of Ohio, and it owes much of its impact to research funding provided by NIH and other federal agencies.
Closed down my Twitter account after ignoring it for more than a year—Elon did the wave goodbye for me. Any starter pack recs for ecological remote sensing folks who like RPGs, gardening, and distracting, funny takes on anything other than US politics? Gonna be a loong four years.
January 23, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Closed down my Twitter account after ignoring it for more than a year—Elon did the wave goodbye for me. Any starter pack recs for ecological remote sensing folks who like RPGs, gardening, and distracting, funny takes on anything other than US politics? Gonna be a loong four years.