Fiona McMillan-Webster
@fmcmillanwebster.bsky.social
PhD, BSc, science writer, author of The Age of Seeds: How Plants Hacked Time and Why Our Future Depends on It.
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
🏔 Happy #WorldMountainDay!
Check out our latest article on @scienceanu.bsky.social students using AMRF's Mobile Laboratory, purchased with support from TERN, that's now a central part of ANU’s Advanced Field Studies in Functional Ecology course.
Read more: www.tern.org.au/news/reachin...
Check out our latest article on @scienceanu.bsky.social students using AMRF's Mobile Laboratory, purchased with support from TERN, that's now a central part of ANU’s Advanced Field Studies in Functional Ecology course.
Read more: www.tern.org.au/news/reachin...
December 10, 2025 at 11:51 PM
🏔 Happy #WorldMountainDay!
Check out our latest article on @scienceanu.bsky.social students using AMRF's Mobile Laboratory, purchased with support from TERN, that's now a central part of ANU’s Advanced Field Studies in Functional Ecology course.
Read more: www.tern.org.au/news/reachin...
Check out our latest article on @scienceanu.bsky.social students using AMRF's Mobile Laboratory, purchased with support from TERN, that's now a central part of ANU’s Advanced Field Studies in Functional Ecology course.
Read more: www.tern.org.au/news/reachin...
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
Puffins have returned to Northern Ireland’s Isle of Muck (seriously, that’s its name) for the first time in at least 25 years. Tales of puffins on the island “felt more like folklore,” said nature reserves manager Andy Crory, but now they’re coming back. buff.ly/oBQlH6r
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
Puffins: Isle of Muck comeback 'proves restoration works'
Puffins have been seen on the Isle of Muck off Antrim for the first time in at least 25 years
buff.ly
November 29, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Puffins have returned to Northern Ireland’s Isle of Muck (seriously, that’s its name) for the first time in at least 25 years. Tales of puffins on the island “felt more like folklore,” said nature reserves manager Andy Crory, but now they’re coming back. buff.ly/oBQlH6r
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
One morning, during isolation, an entire chorus of birds showed up and started making a huge ruckus — kookaburras, currawongs, crows, butcher birds, a long list. I looked out the window and saw that an owl had landed in the backyard. I brought my daughter to the window to watch.
What's a charming memory you have from the worst period of the pandemic?
November 30, 2025 at 6:09 AM
One morning, during isolation, an entire chorus of birds showed up and started making a huge ruckus — kookaburras, currawongs, crows, butcher birds, a long list. I looked out the window and saw that an owl had landed in the backyard. I brought my daughter to the window to watch.
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
The future's green for turtles.
Once on the brink of extinction, green sea turtles are making a comeback in the Pacific: nest counts on Australia’s Heron Island have risen tenfold since the 1970s, and populations across the Pacific now meet IUCN recovery thresholds.
https://f.mtr.cool/uzimhivdld
Once on the brink of extinction, green sea turtles are making a comeback in the Pacific: nest counts on Australia’s Heron Island have risen tenfold since the 1970s, and populations across the Pacific now meet IUCN recovery thresholds.
https://f.mtr.cool/uzimhivdld
October 21, 2025 at 1:33 AM
The future's green for turtles.
Once on the brink of extinction, green sea turtles are making a comeback in the Pacific: nest counts on Australia’s Heron Island have risen tenfold since the 1970s, and populations across the Pacific now meet IUCN recovery thresholds.
https://f.mtr.cool/uzimhivdld
Once on the brink of extinction, green sea turtles are making a comeback in the Pacific: nest counts on Australia’s Heron Island have risen tenfold since the 1970s, and populations across the Pacific now meet IUCN recovery thresholds.
https://f.mtr.cool/uzimhivdld
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
Bafflingly there are still people out there in the world who think being passionate about nature is “kind of weird”. or “a niche interest”. These people have it all wrong. Nature isn’t some quirky sideline to the main business. It IS the main business.
October 20, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Bafflingly there are still people out there in the world who think being passionate about nature is “kind of weird”. or “a niche interest”. These people have it all wrong. Nature isn’t some quirky sideline to the main business. It IS the main business.
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
“science is bad for tyrants, and always has been”
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
October 2, 2025 at 4:53 AM
“science is bad for tyrants, and always has been”
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
Rest in peace, Dr. Jane Goodall💚
October 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Rest in peace, Dr. Jane Goodall💚
Apparently, they have also banned the word ‘green’
Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned words list www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned words list
It is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to dispute, silence or downplay climate change.
www.politico.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Apparently, they have also banned the word ‘green’
Footpath emoji
September 30, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Footpath emoji
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
🏆 A huge milestone!
The TERN team surveyed our 1000th field plot—a huge achievement in our mission to support ecosystem science across Australia.This occured in WA during a GEO-TREES field campaign, which provides high-accuracy ground data for satellite-derived biomass mapping.
The TERN team surveyed our 1000th field plot—a huge achievement in our mission to support ecosystem science across Australia.This occured in WA during a GEO-TREES field campaign, which provides high-accuracy ground data for satellite-derived biomass mapping.
September 24, 2025 at 4:53 AM
🏆 A huge milestone!
The TERN team surveyed our 1000th field plot—a huge achievement in our mission to support ecosystem science across Australia.This occured in WA during a GEO-TREES field campaign, which provides high-accuracy ground data for satellite-derived biomass mapping.
The TERN team surveyed our 1000th field plot—a huge achievement in our mission to support ecosystem science across Australia.This occured in WA during a GEO-TREES field campaign, which provides high-accuracy ground data for satellite-derived biomass mapping.
Work in progress… pretty sure moss grows faster than I paint but I’m ok with that
September 6, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Work in progress… pretty sure moss grows faster than I paint but I’m ok with that
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
Lunar eclipse fans, there's a total lunar eclipse this weekend! All of Australia (and a bunch of other countries) will be able to see all the best bits. The eclipse will be in the evening of Sunday the 7th or the morning of Monday the 8th of September 🧪🔭🌝
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
When and where can I see Monday's total lunar eclipse from Australia?
A total lunar eclipse, also known as a "blood moon", will be visible across all of Australia next week. Here's what you need to know to get the best view and snap the best photo.
www.abc.net.au
September 5, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Lunar eclipse fans, there's a total lunar eclipse this weekend! All of Australia (and a bunch of other countries) will be able to see all the best bits. The eclipse will be in the evening of Sunday the 7th or the morning of Monday the 8th of September 🧪🔭🌝
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
There are interdimensional portals all over the British countryside. You just have to look.
August 25, 2025 at 11:29 AM
There are interdimensional portals all over the British countryside. You just have to look.
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
The recent DOE climate science report misrepresents the work of many researchers. Carbon Brief asked those cited to review the parts of the report where their work was used, and we collectively found 100+ misleading or false statements: interactive.carbonbr...
August 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The recent DOE climate science report misrepresents the work of many researchers. Carbon Brief asked those cited to review the parts of the report where their work was used, and we collectively found 100+ misleading or false statements: interactive.carbonbr...
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
180 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed by Israel in Gaza. @withmeaa.bsky.social members remember them. Stop killing journalists.
August 15, 2025 at 6:54 AM
180 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed by Israel in Gaza. @withmeaa.bsky.social members remember them. Stop killing journalists.
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
👇
This is a very powerful letter from a current CDC employee.
Dear Decaturish — Silence is the loudest thing in the room
We accept letters to the editor. Letters to the editor are opinions of the authors of the letter, not Decaturish.com. Everyone has an equal opportunity to submit a letter to
www.decaturish.com
August 12, 2025 at 10:56 PM
👇
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
Two new studies in @antiquity.ac.uk show that people with mixed ancestry lived in early medieval south England. 🏺🧪
1,300-year-old skeletons found in England had grandparents from sub-Saharan Africa, DNA studies reveal
A DNA analysis of two people who lived in Britain in the seventh century reveals they had recent African ancestry.
www.livescience.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Two new studies in @antiquity.ac.uk show that people with mixed ancestry lived in early medieval south England. 🏺🧪
August 4, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Persistent mysteries of the universe:
1) what did the Big Bang expand into?
2) where the he’ll did I just put my coffee?
1) what did the Big Bang expand into?
2) where the he’ll did I just put my coffee?
July 23, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Persistent mysteries of the universe:
1) what did the Big Bang expand into?
2) where the he’ll did I just put my coffee?
1) what did the Big Bang expand into?
2) where the he’ll did I just put my coffee?
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
Over 120 mRNA cancer trials are now at risk as the Trump admin cuts funding & tells researchers to scrub “mRNA” from grant proposals.
What started as COVID fearmongering is now derailing life-saving cancer research.
Hope remains - but scientists say time is running out.
zurl.co/YBGNy
What started as COVID fearmongering is now derailing life-saving cancer research.
Hope remains - but scientists say time is running out.
zurl.co/YBGNy
‘Tremendous uncertainty’ for cancer research as US officials target mRNA vaccines
Amid Trump cuts and state-level backlash, experts worry that progress in messenger RNA vaccines could stall
zurl.co
July 14, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Over 120 mRNA cancer trials are now at risk as the Trump admin cuts funding & tells researchers to scrub “mRNA” from grant proposals.
What started as COVID fearmongering is now derailing life-saving cancer research.
Hope remains - but scientists say time is running out.
zurl.co/YBGNy
What started as COVID fearmongering is now derailing life-saving cancer research.
Hope remains - but scientists say time is running out.
zurl.co/YBGNy
Geology folks, what’s going on here? I took these photos recently in Port Hacking (coastline south of Sydney, Australia). Mostly sandstone and is that shale wedged between layers? What story does this tell? #geologysky
July 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Geology folks, what’s going on here? I took these photos recently in Port Hacking (coastline south of Sydney, Australia). Mostly sandstone and is that shale wedged between layers? What story does this tell? #geologysky
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
INNOCENT
He knows he’s not allowed on the sofa. Apparently it doesn’t count if he still has paws touching the ground.
June 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
INNOCENT
Good things can have tipping points, too.
June 14, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Good things can have tipping points, too.
Reposted by Fiona McMillan-Webster
One of the reasons I love this piece is that, in clearly showing why the administration’s attacks on medical research funding are so devastating, it also makes one of the clearest cases for why that funding has always mattered. unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
Medical Research Funding — Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
unbreaking.org
May 30, 2025 at 9:40 PM
One of the reasons I love this piece is that, in clearly showing why the administration’s attacks on medical research funding are so devastating, it also makes one of the clearest cases for why that funding has always mattered. unbreaking.org/issues/medic...