Helen Spafford🇦🇺🌳🐞🦉
@helenspafford.bsky.social
A human being just living my one wild life. Certified nature and forest therapy guide and life coach in Australia. Other titles: scientist, entomologist, academic, professor, manager.
Reposted by Helen Spafford🇦🇺🌳🐞🦉
🦋📉 Insect populations down 75% in <30 years
A new study maps 3,385 connections between stressors behind insect decline. Agricultural intensification tops the list – but many impacts remain overlooked.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/bios...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Insects 🧪
A new study maps 3,385 connections between stressors behind insect decline. Agricultural intensification tops the list – but many impacts remain overlooked.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/bios...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Insects 🧪
Meta-synthesis reveals interconnections among apparent drivers of insect biodiversity loss
Abstract. Scientific and public interest in the global status of insects has surged recently; however, understanding the relative importance of different s
doi.org
April 24, 2025 at 4:06 AM
🦋📉 Insect populations down 75% in <30 years
A new study maps 3,385 connections between stressors behind insect decline. Agricultural intensification tops the list – but many impacts remain overlooked.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/bios...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Insects 🧪
A new study maps 3,385 connections between stressors behind insect decline. Agricultural intensification tops the list – but many impacts remain overlooked.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/bios...
#SciComm #Biodiversity #Insects 🧪
Reposted by Helen Spafford🇦🇺🌳🐞🦉
Four years old today, and ever-more relevant. My #EarthDay commentary with Ray Pierrehumbert (aka @climatebook.bsky.social) "Some say we can ‘solar-engineer’ ourselves out of the climate crisis. Don’t buy it".
Via The @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Via The @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
April 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Four years old today, and ever-more relevant. My #EarthDay commentary with Ray Pierrehumbert (aka @climatebook.bsky.social) "Some say we can ‘solar-engineer’ ourselves out of the climate crisis. Don’t buy it".
Via The @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Via The @theguardian.com:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The researchers show "14 to 17% of cropland is affected by toxic metal #pollution globally and estimate that between 0.9 and 1.4 billion people live in regions of heightened #publichealth and ecological risks." #Agriculture in #Australia pay attention.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Global soil pollution by toxic metals threatens agriculture and human health
Toxic metal pollution is ubiquitous in soils, yet its worldwide distribution is unknown. We analyzed a global database of soil pollution by arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead...
www.science.org
April 23, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The researchers show "14 to 17% of cropland is affected by toxic metal #pollution globally and estimate that between 0.9 and 1.4 billion people live in regions of heightened #publichealth and ecological risks." #Agriculture in #Australia pay attention.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
What a lovely tribute to some of the "little things that run the world" (quote by E.O. Wilson). No matter where you live there will be insects that perform all kinds of services that keep the circle of life turning.
Earth Day 2025: A love song to arthropods eastangliabylines.co.uk/science/eart...
Earth Day 2025: A love song to arthropods eastangliabylines.co.uk/science/eart...
Earth Day 2025: A love song to arthropods
Invertebrates outnumber vertebrates 100 to 1; from Wasp Spiders to Hornets, their wild dramas unfold in meadows near you
eastangliabylines.co.uk
April 22, 2025 at 7:53 AM
What a lovely tribute to some of the "little things that run the world" (quote by E.O. Wilson). No matter where you live there will be insects that perform all kinds of services that keep the circle of life turning.
Earth Day 2025: A love song to arthropods eastangliabylines.co.uk/science/eart...
Earth Day 2025: A love song to arthropods eastangliabylines.co.uk/science/eart...
It's #EarthDay. I am grateful for the little things we cannot see to the grandest forces of nature that keep the web of life intact. No matter how many other worlds there are out there, this one is precious. Let's take care of our home. #Naturetherapy
April 22, 2025 at 7:48 AM
It's #EarthDay. I am grateful for the little things we cannot see to the grandest forces of nature that keep the web of life intact. No matter how many other worlds there are out there, this one is precious. Let's take care of our home. #Naturetherapy
I am fortunate to have seasonal visits from black cockatoos to the tuart trees behind my house. I can't imagine what the world will be like without these wonderful creatures and yet, here we are with a prediction that several species will be extinct in 20 years. www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
These birds could be extinct in 20 years. Meet the people fighting to change that
With all but one of Australia's native black cockatoo species under threat, communities and conservationists are pulling out the stops to restore habitats and food sources.
www.sbs.com.au
April 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I am fortunate to have seasonal visits from black cockatoos to the tuart trees behind my house. I can't imagine what the world will be like without these wonderful creatures and yet, here we are with a prediction that several species will be extinct in 20 years. www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
#caturday is a great time to play with those toys you haven't played with in a while and show your brother how fun they are, but then not let him play with them. #catsofbluesky #blackcat
April 20, 2025 at 2:21 AM
#caturday is a great time to play with those toys you haven't played with in a while and show your brother how fun they are, but then not let him play with them. #catsofbluesky #blackcat
He opens the shutters to catch all the action. #catsofbluesky #blackcat
April 17, 2025 at 11:34 PM
He opens the shutters to catch all the action. #catsofbluesky #blackcat
Another little treasure in my garden started blooming. Going native in the front with no more lawn has been a great decision. Saved water this summer and the birds love it. Just creating my own space for nature bathing #naturetherapy #shinrinyoku
April 14, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Another little treasure in my garden started blooming. Going native in the front with no more lawn has been a great decision. Saved water this summer and the birds love it. Just creating my own space for nature bathing #naturetherapy #shinrinyoku
Hey! This is a really cool study that shows how valuable insects are as indicators in the system AND the value of museums and collections as archives of living history PLUS caddisflies are just cool and I even have a pair of earrings made by caddisfly larvae. Great thread as an explainer.
NEW PAPER, JUST OUT! 👀
Insects from the '70s and '80s were already collecting microplastic, decades before the term microplastic even existed. 🤯
A thread on the surprising history of this pollutant and the incredible insect larvae that helped us uncover it. 🐛
Let's dive in! 🧵👇 1/x
Insects from the '70s and '80s were already collecting microplastic, decades before the term microplastic even existed. 🤯
A thread on the surprising history of this pollutant and the incredible insect larvae that helped us uncover it. 🐛
Let's dive in! 🧵👇 1/x
April 10, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Hey! This is a really cool study that shows how valuable insects are as indicators in the system AND the value of museums and collections as archives of living history PLUS caddisflies are just cool and I even have a pair of earrings made by caddisfly larvae. Great thread as an explainer.
It's not #caturday but I couldnt resist sharing this moment of my boy Mickey (yes, like the song) sitting on the bench under the tree in the backyard. Cats need #naturetherapy too (always supervised) to protect the birds.
April 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
It's not #caturday but I couldnt resist sharing this moment of my boy Mickey (yes, like the song) sitting on the bench under the tree in the backyard. Cats need #naturetherapy too (always supervised) to protect the birds.
I'm not disappointed in the leadership in the US. To be disappointed would imply I had higher expectations. I find the level of disrespect for the leaders of and people of other nations is just appalling.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump says ‘I know what I’m doing’ before stepping back from global tariffs
President says at National Republican Congressional Committee dinner that world leaders are ‘kissing my ass’
www.theguardian.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:16 AM
I'm not disappointed in the leadership in the US. To be disappointed would imply I had higher expectations. I find the level of disrespect for the leaders of and people of other nations is just appalling.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I love that I can like peoples posts of birds, and trees, and nature scenes, and anything that makes me feel better about the crazy mix of spiralling democracy, inhumanity, and depravity. I can like those posts and the algorithms feed me more hopeful views of the world. #naturetherapy
April 8, 2025 at 10:38 AM
I love that I can like peoples posts of birds, and trees, and nature scenes, and anything that makes me feel better about the crazy mix of spiralling democracy, inhumanity, and depravity. I can like those posts and the algorithms feed me more hopeful views of the world. #naturetherapy
April 7, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Our capability to try and maintain stability in the face of disaster is coming to an end. I learned about this risk in my disaster management class from a climate change denier prof. What does recovery look like when you have lost everything and have no insurance? www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer
Action urgently needed to save the conditions under which markets – and civilisation itself – can operate, says senior Allianz figure
www.theguardian.com
April 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Our capability to try and maintain stability in the face of disaster is coming to an end. I learned about this risk in my disaster management class from a climate change denier prof. What does recovery look like when you have lost everything and have no insurance? www.theguardian.com/environment/...
When I am feeling low for whatever reason. I spend time in the natural world and listen to wild stories about being. Being with the more than human world soothes my soul. #nature #foresttherapy #shinrinyoku #beautiful
March 30, 2025 at 2:56 AM
When I am feeling low for whatever reason. I spend time in the natural world and listen to wild stories about being. Being with the more than human world soothes my soul. #nature #foresttherapy #shinrinyoku #beautiful
What's so interesting?
March 29, 2025 at 3:21 AM
What's so interesting?
Well you would think I had a communicable disease being seated all alone on the other side of the restaurant with a sea if tables between me and the nearest diner. What is it about a table for one that is so disturbing? #singlediner
March 26, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Well you would think I had a communicable disease being seated all alone on the other side of the restaurant with a sea if tables between me and the nearest diner. What is it about a table for one that is so disturbing? #singlediner
If there are no humans to measure time, will time still exist? Or be necessary?
March 23, 2025 at 8:41 AM
If there are no humans to measure time, will time still exist? Or be necessary?