Researchers have identified superparamagnetic macrophages in the livers of rock pigeons to be crucial for magnetic sensing. The finding uncovers an unexpected role for immune cells in sensory perception and may fundamentally change our understanding of animal navigation. https://scim.ag/4nTQ3nq

Found out a poster of me has been put in the hallways of my undergrad uni, Cardiff. Diolch to @drmikepj.bsky.social for the pic and letting me know! #phd #academia

I’ve just been asked one of the most important questions of my entire PhD. What colour should l bind my hardbound thesis in? Cambridge Blue (a light spring green, #85B09A) is a popular choice with my supervisor’s past students. I need the public's opinion! All colours are on the table. #phd

So, Reading University recorded 33.1°C today, which beats the previous all-UK May daily record. Kew Gardens says, “hold my beer”, recording 35.1°C. For the same weather patterns, these temperatures would have been low-30s in a past climate. Burning fossil fuels has made these heatwaves hotter.

Happy 100th Sir David Attenborough! While I haven’t met Sir David in person, I was asked to work on his Frozen Planet II series while a PhD student. Making sure the scripts and stories Attenborough would be narrating were all scientifically sound was an exciting and surreal undertaking.

I’m now certified to drive powerboats in Antarctica as part of my seal scientist duties! Ty to Andrew Simpson Foundation for training me up so well. The money the foundation earns goes back into their mission of providing young people, regardless of background, access to water based sports/hobbies!

Have you watched LIFE UNEARTHED yet!? Binge the first 2 episodes on the PBS app, Apple TV or Amazon in the U.S. and Canada. Outside the U.S. or Canada? Catch the first episode of LIFE UNEARTHED right here: youtu.be/XFXHwz8PgcY?... Come for the tardigrades, stay for the epic views. 🧪🦠

Visited the National Physical Laboratory to present the results of my thesis & new work on using radar to detect Antarctic seals with the German Aerospace Centre (@dlr-de.bsky.social). Ended up winning the award for best presentation. Thanks to RSPsoc for hosting! #phd #academia #antarctica

Passed my viva and (pending minor corrections) am a “Dr of Seals”! Thanks to my supervisors @ptfretwell.bsky.social and Gareth Rees for guiding me to this stage. #academia #phd #cambridge @bas.ac.uk @scottpolar.bsky.social @ukri.org @wwf.org.uk

What would a 'Foundation Model' for ecology look like? In our new preprint, we explore this emerging idea & outline a roadmap for foundation models in Ecology (ecoFMs)👇 Really great working with @rachelparkinson.bsky.social @hcerbone.bsky.social @polarprem.bsky.social et al doi.org/10.32942/X2V...

Bluesky, we need your help to count walrus! 🦭 Previously on "Walrus from Space", volunteers like you sifted through around 500,000 satellite images to support our conservation research. Now we're asking the you to help us count the walrus in those images 👀 ➡️ geohive.vantor.com/walrus/login

Discover how wildfire monitoring data from #CopernicusAtmosphere and ERA5 climate data from #CopernicusClimate underpin key findings in the Arctic Climate Change Update 2024 published by AMAP. The assessment shows the region has warmed about three times faster than the global average since 1979. ⬇️

#Arctic air temperature rank by month over the satellite era - now updated through January 2026... + Ranks: 1=warmest (red), 47/48=coldest (blue) + Download higher resolution: zacklabe.com/arctic-tempe...

Calling all RSB members - don't forget to sign up for this week's member-exclusive webinar, 'Seals from Space', exploring the cutting-edge methods being used to study Antarctic ice seals. 📆 Thursday 29 January, 16:00 - 17:00, online Find out more and book your place: my.rsb.org.uk/item.php?eve...

“The researchers used drones carrying sterile petri dishes to capture droplets from the exhaled breath of whales…they confirmed for the first time that a potentially deadly whale virus, known as cetacean morbillivirus, is circulating above the Arctic Circle.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Was searching for details of a panel I was on regarding the use of AI in science and wildlife storytelling, and found myself mentioned in a blogpost covering the topic. It feels so odd to see yourself written about but luckily it was all nice! #phd #academia

❄ November 2025: Arctic sea ice extent ranked second-lowest for November in the 47-year satellite record at 12% below average. Antarctic extent was the fourth-lowest for the month, 7% below average. Find out more ⬇️

In our Climate Report my coauthors and I say: We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. Consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now. Read report here doi.org/10.1093/bios...

PhD thesis submitted. Thank you to all the people who helped me get to this stage and those who kept me going through the final stretch. @bas.ac.uk @wwf.org.uk #cambridgeuni

The Caspian Seal is the Caspian Sea’s only marine mammal. Each year adults head north to gather on ice and pup, molt on northern islands, then disperse to central & southern basins. Slow-reproducing and commercially exploited, they are listed under CMS Appendices I & II: www.cms.int/sites/defaul...

In three days, our iconic red planes will take off from Canada to make the epic journey across the world to Antarctica. These flights mark the start of a new polar science season. BUT ALSO that means there's three days left to send your name to Antarctica with us! tickettoantarctica.com

I’m on vacation walking in the Dolomites. Today I hiked near the Marmolada glacier - what was once a vast mass of ice is now streaked with bare rock and thinning fast. Just looked it up: the glacier has retreated ~7 m in the past year alone Climate change in action… www.unipd.it/news/campagn...

🗺️NEW: BAS Map Catalogue is live! Explore Antarctica and the Arctic through our collection of professional maps. Perfect for educators, adventurers, and polar enthusiasts. Many available on open licence for free download. #PolarMaps #Antarctica

Cumulus clouds spin around a broad area of high pressure over Texas today.

Sea surface temperatures are warming across the entire periphery of the #Arctic Ocean in September. This is especially observed in areas with long-term declines in sea ice concentration, such around the Chukchi and Kara Seas. Data from NOAA OISSTv2.1. For more info arctic.noaa.gov/report-card/...

❄ August 2025: Arctic sea ice extent 12% below the 1991–2020 average for the month, ranking 8th-lowest on record. Antarctic sea ice extent ranked 3rd-lowest for August. More in the #C3S Climate Bulletin 👉 climate.copernicus.eu/sea-ice-cove...

Emerging evidence of abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment Our study, lead by @climatenerilie.bsky.social Published today

🚨 Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *lowest* on record (JAXA data) • about 350,000 km² below the 2010s mean • about 1,010,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,590,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,150,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...

We have 3 years before we burn through the carbon budget for 1.5°C World leaders promised action in 2015. Since then: 🔥 Record fossil fuel use 🌲 More deforestation 📈 Rising emissions This isn’t a lack of solutions. It’s a lack of will. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Breaking news: it appears Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica are declining faster than predicted. Latest satellite data shows a massive 22% drop in penguin numbers over the last 15 years in key regions. This is more than double the rate of loss that experts had expected... 🧵 1/8

Hello! 👋 We're thrilled to launch our new Bluesky account and can't wait to share all things Arctic with you! Watch this space for all our latest news, stories, opportunities and events!

This week I had my penultimate council meeting as a Trustee of the Royal Geographical Society. I’ve had an incredible time helping guide the society and trying to make geography for all. My role on the Expeditions and Fieldwork committee is now up for election.

Oh my days

Sea ice in the Arctic and around Antarctica cool our climate, drive ocean circulation across the planet, and provide a unique habitat for polar ecosystems. Sea ice amounts have now fallen to their lowest since we started measuring them. This is not good. 🌊🥼❄️🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Really proud to have some of our Wildlife from Space projects featured in the AGE OF AI exhibition at Bletchley Park.

#bluesky in the UK today. 6 degrees Celsius.

Calling all my Polar Pals. A friend from Cornwall stumbled upon this photo of elephant seals that she found on the ground in while taking out the rubbish. I’m wondering if anyone can ID the location? I want to say it’s South Georgia but I’m not sure.

Yesss bruv. I’ve just successfully used a high performance computer (!!!) to run an AI model to detect seals from space 🫨🫨. It now takes half the time! My coding and tech skills have just levelled up and I’m feeling proud! #student #phd #AI #academia #conservation

You know what, it may not be perfect but the fact I’ve got an AI model detecting Antarctic seals from satellite images is pretty good considering it’s my 1st time coding in Python. Being able to apply AI to a real world problem for conservation feels great. #phd #AI #academia #conservation

1 degrees Celsius. I’ve been told that’s Jupiter above the crescent moon. Arctic winds bring us the most beautiful skies. #UK #arctic #weather #sky

Cheffing up a jackfruit biriyani, thyme and rosemary roast potatoes, cumin, honey and garam masala roasted carrots, a cheddar mushroom and spinach pie and an orange zest, hazelnut and date cake with the sis. 2nd pic is mint leaves from the garden about to get pounded intk chutney #christmas

It’s a Christmas miracle. I think I’ve somehow managed to make an AI system that counts Antarctic seals from space #phd #academia #deeplearning #AI

Passed through our little museum on the last work day before I clock off for the Christmas break. I keep forgetting that the earliest emperor penguin egg ever recovered is on the floor beneath my desk. #cambridge #Antarctica #penguins #christmas

3 hrs of discussion & debate with fellow trustees of the Royal Geographical Society done! As the only student in a room full of academics & industry experts the imposter syndrome usually makes me reserved. But at this meeting I said F it and made some suggestions that were received well! 1/2

Attending a great talk as a student and going up to the researcher at the end to tell him it how sick it was only to be met with “I’ve been wanting to meet you for ages!” is the academic equivalent of greeting the mandem with the perfect echo inducing dap. An excellent day for sure.

Asked Siri to create a reminder to update my food journal and I now get a daily reminder to update my feud journal which is honestly a better use of my time

And here's the cute animal tax that must be paid to compensate any followers for the other 80% of my content that is primarily waffle (and not the good kind).

I’ve been informed on good authority that things at Skyblue are currently popping off. I’m a PhD student at Cambridge who is a big fan of seals, cold places, wildlife film & trying to make the world a slightly better place. If any of that sounds like what you fancy too, lmk so I can find my nerds

A drunk geezer materialised from thin air to ask me if I was alright while I was taking pics outside. The look on his face when I said northern lights and pointed upwards. I think he found God in that sky #uk #London #northernlights #aurora