Laurel Anderson
@laurelscipoet.bsky.social
Plant ecologist/poet. I love teaching, learning, and writing about our incredible planet Earth. Research: plants and global change, collaborative research/education networks EREN and MEFA. Views my own. Poetry pubs at https://laurelandersonpoetry.com/.
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Day 8️⃣ of our Ocean Art Advent Calendar... Microscopic magic of the sea-son!
Diatoms, radiolarians and other plankton that form the foundation of ocean life. Beautiful artwork by Rebecca Cusack.
hashtag#MicroscopyMonday hashtag#OceanScience hashtag#FestiveOceanArt
Diatoms, radiolarians and other plankton that form the foundation of ocean life. Beautiful artwork by Rebecca Cusack.
hashtag#MicroscopyMonday hashtag#OceanScience hashtag#FestiveOceanArt
December 8, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Day 8️⃣ of our Ocean Art Advent Calendar... Microscopic magic of the sea-son!
Diatoms, radiolarians and other plankton that form the foundation of ocean life. Beautiful artwork by Rebecca Cusack.
hashtag#MicroscopyMonday hashtag#OceanScience hashtag#FestiveOceanArt
Diatoms, radiolarians and other plankton that form the foundation of ocean life. Beautiful artwork by Rebecca Cusack.
hashtag#MicroscopyMonday hashtag#OceanScience hashtag#FestiveOceanArt
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10
The Tasselled Wobbegong is a master of disguise that can eat a fish almost as big as itself in one gulp. It's classified as a shark, but when it lays on the sea floor it looks like a harmless rug if you manage to see it. But with powerful jaws and sharp teeth they are no fish to mess with.
December 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Crochet mandala street decorations, a collective creation by women in Licata, Italy #WomensArt
(via Howtofeelgood. net)
(via Howtofeelgood. net)
December 7, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Crochet mandala street decorations, a collective creation by women in Licata, Italy #WomensArt
(via Howtofeelgood. net)
(via Howtofeelgood. net)
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
RFK Jr.'s claim that COVID vaccines are deadly? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. In this new extraordinarily large study, vaccinated individuals had a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19 and a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those unvaccinated. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination and 4-Year All-Cause Mortality Among Adults in France
This cohort study uses the data from all adults aged 18 to 59 years living in France on November 1, 2021, to evaluate whether there is an association of receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with long-t...
jamanetwork.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
RFK Jr.'s claim that COVID vaccines are deadly? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. In this new extraordinarily large study, vaccinated individuals had a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19 and a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those unvaccinated. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
I can’t resist posting another photo of Aseroe rubra (Anemone Stinkhorn). This was the largest specimen I found and nicely shows the remains of the ‘egg’ it emerged from. Surrey 4/12/25 #fungi #FungiFriends
December 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I can’t resist posting another photo of Aseroe rubra (Anemone Stinkhorn). This was the largest specimen I found and nicely shows the remains of the ‘egg’ it emerged from. Surrey 4/12/25 #fungi #FungiFriends
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
The Black Death was history's worst documented demographic disaster. New research shows it was also a bizarre anomaly, the unlikely result of volcanic eruptions, multiple consecutive poor harvests in Italy, a war between Genoa, Venice and the Mongols, AND a Black Sea plague outbreak. @science.org
Medieval volcano may have indirectly sparked Europe’s Black Death
Crop failures caused by eruptions possibly forced grain imports from plague-ridden regions
www.science.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The Black Death was history's worst documented demographic disaster. New research shows it was also a bizarre anomaly, the unlikely result of volcanic eruptions, multiple consecutive poor harvests in Italy, a war between Genoa, Venice and the Mongols, AND a Black Sea plague outbreak. @science.org
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
BREAKING: The DHS walks back its retaliation against the suspended #fema36 signatories of the Katrina Declaration. We are proud of these public servants for speaking up and continue to rally behind all patriots using their rights to call out the Trump admin's dangerous policies.
December 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
BREAKING: The DHS walks back its retaliation against the suspended #fema36 signatories of the Katrina Declaration. We are proud of these public servants for speaking up and continue to rally behind all patriots using their rights to call out the Trump admin's dangerous policies.
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
🚨NEW AD LAUNCH🚨
It’s my birthday, so we’re launching our final ad for the campaign called “Shake Up.”
We’ve got 8 days to make history and to shake up Washington! Donate today to keep our ad on air through the election!
secure.actblue.com/donate/aftyn...
It’s my birthday, so we’re launching our final ad for the campaign called “Shake Up.”
We’ve got 8 days to make history and to shake up Washington! Donate today to keep our ad on air through the election!
secure.actblue.com/donate/aftyn...
November 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
🚨NEW AD LAUNCH🚨
It’s my birthday, so we’re launching our final ad for the campaign called “Shake Up.”
We’ve got 8 days to make history and to shake up Washington! Donate today to keep our ad on air through the election!
secure.actblue.com/donate/aftyn...
It’s my birthday, so we’re launching our final ad for the campaign called “Shake Up.”
We’ve got 8 days to make history and to shake up Washington! Donate today to keep our ad on air through the election!
secure.actblue.com/donate/aftyn...
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
“Choosing to write is also choosing to make meaning. Studies suggest that having a sense of agency is both a prerequisite for, and an outcome of, writing.”
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
Writing doesn't just help you process your thoughts.
Neuroscientists have found it physically changes your brain in ways that build resilience and help you handle everyday stress and challenges.
buff.ly/8PdXnTT
Neuroscientists have found it physically changes your brain in ways that build resilience and help you handle everyday stress and challenges.
buff.ly/8PdXnTT
Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges
Resilience is often presented as feats of bravery and endurance. But everyday practices like journaling, drafting a text or even writing a to-do list are manifestations of a capacity to adapt.
buff.ly
November 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
“Choosing to write is also choosing to make meaning. Studies suggest that having a sense of agency is both a prerequisite for, and an outcome of, writing.”
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
ChatGPT isn’t mentioned once in this article but it’s impossible not to read it as a powerful critique.
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Canadian Forests started doing this almost 20yrs ago 😕
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
New research warns that Africa's forests, once vital allies in the fight against climate change, have turned from a carbon sink into a carbon source.
phys.org
November 29, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Canadian Forests started doing this almost 20yrs ago 😕
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
The orchid mantis’ petal-shaped legs allow it to glide 50% to 200% farther than other invertebrates. #ScienceMagArchives https://scim.ag/44wjOC4
With winged legs, orchid mantis sets gliding record
Camouflaged like a flower, these predators also have a getaway trick
scim.ag
November 28, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The orchid mantis’ petal-shaped legs allow it to glide 50% to 200% farther than other invertebrates. #ScienceMagArchives https://scim.ag/44wjOC4
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Watch this video before you do your Black Friday shopping on Amazon.
November 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Watch this video before you do your Black Friday shopping on Amazon.
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
A rare sea slug who dares to make food from sunlight found in waters near a beach not too far from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Really interesting adaptation. If only we could do this trick…
A rare photosynthesizing sea slug has been found off N.S. Here's why scientists are excited | CBC News
Researchers believe Elysia chlorotica holds promise for medical advances, but it's been too elusive to study.
www.cbc.ca
November 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A rare sea slug who dares to make food from sunlight found in waters near a beach not too far from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Really interesting adaptation. If only we could do this trick…
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Let's not confuse the people giving the stupid orders with the people who have to deal with following them, who are often good and decent people.
Apparently she offered to cover other people's shifts so they could go home to their families for the holiday.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
Two National Guard members were tasked with serving the nation. One is dead as the other fights for his life after shooting | CNN
On a day when many families gather across the country to give thanks, a National Guard member’s family is mourning her death after an ambush-style shooting in Washington, DC, as her colleague fights f...
www.cnn.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Let's not confuse the people giving the stupid orders with the people who have to deal with following them, who are often good and decent people.
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Many ecological studies assume that space-for-time substitutions can be proxies for missing time series. Here the authors show congruence between the two in the direction but not the magnitude of plant and arthropod community responses to land-use intensification 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Congruent direction but different magnitude of biodiversity response to land-use intensification in space and time - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Many ecological studies assume that space-for-time substitution approaches can be suitable proxies for unavailable time series. Here the authors show congruence between the two approaches in the direc...
www.nature.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Many ecological studies assume that space-for-time substitutions can be proxies for missing time series. Here the authors show congruence between the two in the direction but not the magnitude of plant and arthropod community responses to land-use intensification 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
The draft dodging idiot posted a pic of this West Point plaque. It contains these words:
“Our American Code of Military Obedience requires that, should orders and the law ever conflict, our officers must obey the law.”
That is precisely what Senator Mark Kelly told officers to do. #NoSedition
“Our American Code of Military Obedience requires that, should orders and the law ever conflict, our officers must obey the law.”
That is precisely what Senator Mark Kelly told officers to do. #NoSedition
November 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The draft dodging idiot posted a pic of this West Point plaque. It contains these words:
“Our American Code of Military Obedience requires that, should orders and the law ever conflict, our officers must obey the law.”
That is precisely what Senator Mark Kelly told officers to do. #NoSedition
“Our American Code of Military Obedience requires that, should orders and the law ever conflict, our officers must obey the law.”
That is precisely what Senator Mark Kelly told officers to do. #NoSedition
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
"Reflections from #COP30" | I and other @upenn.edu climate experts offer our thoughts about the latest U.N. climate conference and where we go from here. Via @perryworldhouse.bsky.social & @kleinmanenergy.bsky.social:
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...
November 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
"Reflections from #COP30" | I and other @upenn.edu climate experts offer our thoughts about the latest U.N. climate conference and where we go from here. Via @perryworldhouse.bsky.social & @kleinmanenergy.bsky.social:
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/news-and-ins...
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
Extra CO2 stimulates #photosynthesis of trees and reduces water losses through transpiration. But does that stimulate growth of #tree stems? Our paper today in NatClimateChange led by Quan Zhang uses theory & data to show that strong growth stimulation is unlikely.🌎🌐🍁
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Increased efficiency of water use does not stimulate tree productivity - Nature Climate Change
The authors theoretically delineate the maximal increases in tree growth that can be expected from increases in plant intrinsic water-use efficiency, which increases with rising CO2. They highlight en...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Extra CO2 stimulates #photosynthesis of trees and reduces water losses through transpiration. But does that stimulate growth of #tree stems? Our paper today in NatClimateChange led by Quan Zhang uses theory & data to show that strong growth stimulation is unlikely.🌎🌐🍁
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Laurel Anderson
In 2026 it will become apparent that the post-cold-war era of international development is unquestionably over econ.st/4pnqhHz
Photo: Malin Fezehai/New York Times/Redux/Eyevine
Photo: Malin Fezehai/New York Times/Redux/Eyevine
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
In 2026 it will become apparent that the post-cold-war era of international development is unquestionably over econ.st/4pnqhHz
Photo: Malin Fezehai/New York Times/Redux/Eyevine
Photo: Malin Fezehai/New York Times/Redux/Eyevine