They got the idea from this guy.

Fibonacci would have loved Australian wildflowers.

Well met sir.

My time on Moku O Lo’e is almost at an end. The coral spawning was not very successful. Only three of our 40 colonies spawned. Anyway, had a gorgeous visit and the surf was epic for 2.5 weeks. Biggest waves I’ve ridden in years. And that tsunami evacuation night was one to remember.

Touring the Pacific researching my book on the origin & evolution of Life. Last stop was in Palau 🇵🇼 to see this photosynthetic jellyfish in Ongeim'l Tketau seawater lake. They don’t sting and exist entirely through the food from their pink/brown algal symbionts. They swim to stay in the sunlight.

Poisonous mushrooms are in the news in Australia right now. This lovely Amanita muscaria is fruiting out front of the Botany building.

@sturalph.bsky.social giving the laudatio for Dominique who receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for malariology at BioMalPar. #EMBLMalaria

When you don’t let the sticks dry out enough before making them into a fence, or were they hedging their bets?

So I got a cat, first one ever. Her name is Bob and she’s a rescue. Very affectionate and curious. I get why people like them despite always being a fan of Kipling’s “The cat that walked by himself”.

Autumn is here and the Otway Coast is gorgeous as always.

Flexed off for the afternoon to celebrate 67 laps around the sun. A warm 32oC autumn day helped.

Koalas live in the trees on my block at the Otway coast. This one was enjoying new growth low down in a manna gum by the back door.

Off to Adelaide for the weekend. Phew!

Here’s mine

A great week. The newly minted Dr Sophie Collier graduated, along with Masters students Yumin Wong and Nicole Smith, who both got distinctions. Sophie submitted a revised review, and Sarah Farrell, our lab manager, submitted her first paper. Dinner at Brunettis to cap the year off.

It’s a pretty nice afternoon in Melbourne too right now

Do it!

Off to Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah to teach the ASP Concepts in Parasitology Course. There may be surfing involved.