I will consider forgiving all the Oirish nonsense in “House of Guinness” if it includes a two-episode mini-arc entirely about William Sealy Gosset and the origin of the t-test.

Calamari anyone?

The conundrum we find everywhere. Far too little for for the insects, but far too much for the farm lobby (the EU tried to go for 7%, paid for with subsidies, but has now pretty much abolished it, as did the UK as soon as it Brexited).

Pollinators aren’t just bees & butterflies—wasps, flies & beetles matter too! 🌼🐝🪲 Learn how to record them all in our entoLEARN webinar with Prof @jeffollerton.bsky.social. Date: 2nd October Tickets £12.50 Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1334343349...

4. Pollinators like wild bees, butterflies and hoverflies are in trouble all across the planet. A new study published in Science looks at the impacts of farmland:

Pollinators such as wild #bees, #butterflies, and #hoverflies are in trouble worldwide. A major new study, published in Science, shows that the oft-quoted figure of 10% semi-natural habitat in farmland landscapes is far too little to safeguard pollinators jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/09/26/p...

🌸🐝 What do pollinators really need beyond flowers? Find out with Prof @jeffollerton.bsky.social in Gardening for Pollinators: It’s About More Than Just Flowers! Join us on 14 Jan 2026 on this Online Symposium. Check it out here: 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1419239717...

On Thursday, October 2 at 6:30pm, I’m running an online webinar on the theme of Surveying for Pollinators for the Biological Recording Company as part of their Skills for Ecology series. Follow this link for more details: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/09/19/s... #biodiversity #bees #butterflies #ecology

A new review gives us a deeper understanding of the evolution of plant-pollinator interactions! A brilliant critical review of the Grant–Stebbins model of how plants evolve by Kathleen Kay and Bruce Anderson just published. Read more about it here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/09/12/a...

If you are in or around Cambridge next week, I’m giving a talk on Friday 12th September at the Cambridgeshire Bird Club about my recent book 'Birds & Flowers: An Intimate 50 Million Year Relationship'. More details here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/09/04/j...

Are the gaps in the UK distribution of Common Elder real or an artifact of under-recording? That's the topic that I explore in my latest blog post - read it here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/08/30/w... #botany #biodiversity #trees #NatureWriting #ecology

There is a new book about the artist forthcoming on Sept 1 - Maria Sibylla Merian by Catherine Powell-Warren @lhartbooks.bsky.social, www.lundhumphries.com/collections/... Getty Publications, shop.getty.edu/products/mar...

Even more fascinating after reading ‘Birds and flowers’ book by @jeffollerton.bsky.social #BirdPollination #Generalists #Ecology

Urban habitats may not be supporting as many female #bees... "Since females are the ones responsible for nest-building and and potentially #pollination, as they visit more flowers, this imbalance could have long-term effects on bee populations and the pollination services they provide." #nature

(Bee) Sex in the city: As part of a recent study led by Muzafar Sirohi, we explored how urban conditions might be influencing the timing of bee emergence and the sex ratios of different species. Read more about it here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/08/08/b... #pollinators #bees #biodiversity #ecology

🐝 Learn how to survey bees, butterflies & more! Join Prof @jeffollerton.bsky.social on 2 Oct for a practical webinar on pollinator monitoring. £12.50 | Online | All levels welcome Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1334343349... #Ecology #Pollinators #Webinar 🌍 🧪

🧵1/4 🐛🔍 Join us for a new Wednesday series on amazing pollinators that benefit and inspire us. Are you curious? Of course you are! 😄 ⬇️🧵 #AmazingPollinators #ProjectButterfly #ButterflyEffect #NatureIsConnected #Pollinators #PlantsForPollinators #SaveTheBees #ScienceForAll #BiodiversityMatters

Maria Sibylla Merian was the first person to describe "bird-eating" #spiders, although it was dismissed as fantasy until a man confirmed it! It's a story I discuss in my book "Birds & Flowers: An Intimate 50 Million Year Relationship" www.mutualart.com/Article/The-...? #Ornithology #Biodiversity

"Hørren stod i blomster. Den har sådanne dejlige blå blomster så bløde som vingerne på et møl og endnu meget finere." ("The flax was in full bloom; it had pretty little blue flowers as delicate as the wings of a moth, or even more so.") (1849 fairy tale "The Flax" by Hans Christian Andersen)

🐝 Learn how to survey bees, butterflies & more! Join Prof @jeffollerton.bsky.social on 2 Oct for a practical webinar on pollinator monitoring. £12.50 | Online | All levels welcome Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1334343349... #Ecology #Pollinators #Webinar 🌍 🧪

In a new study jointly led by Steffani Queiroz and Marsal Amorim — and part of my ongoing collaboration with a brilliant team of Brazilian #hummingbird researchers — we explored how plant – #pollinator interactions shift over time. Read more here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/07/02/f... #biodiversity

Reddingsaksjon for kystlyng og insekter @butterfly-project.bsky.social Butterfly's Norwegian Living Lab butterflylivinglabs.no, coordinated by @mayb-on.bsky.social, covered by Vi Menn, Norway's largest weekly lifestyle magazine for men. @unibergen.bsky.social @vitenskapsteori.bsky.social

Book review of 'The Dales Slipper: Past-Present', by Paul Redshaw. It deals with an almost mythological species in British botany, due to its extreme rarity, and the secrecy and protectiveness about where it grows Read more here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/06/24/b... #NatureWriting #Botany #orchids

🧵1/10 🌿🐝 It’s Saturday — and we’re closing out #PollinatorWeek with a final deep dive into the wondrous diversity of #pollinators. Most people think of bees, but the story is much bigger… #PollinatorsWeaveConnections

🧵3/10 🔍 How diverse can pollinators get? @jeffollerton.bsky.social  explores this in a fascinating piece: 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/tzisemggva #BiodiversityMatters

🧵2/10 🪰 Did you know flies are pollinators too? And it’s not just insects — birds, bats, even lizards can pollinate plants. The world of pollination is wildly diverse and utterly fascinating. 🦋🦇🐦🐭 🌺 Let’s explore the pollinator diversity with expert insights from @jeffollerton.bsky.social  👇

🧵1/9 🌍💫🐝💐 #PollinatorsWeaveConnections We kicked off #PollinatorWeek by exploring how pollinators connect with people and ecosystems. Today, let’s flip the lens: how can science help protect these vital creatures and the services they provide? 🧠🦋 #FutureForPollinators #ProjectButterfly #pollinators

🧵6/6 That's all for today — join us tomorrow morning for more pollinator-powered science and stories! Until then, stay curious. 💚 Let’s build a #FutureForPollinators — one post at a time. 🌍💫🐝💚💐 #PollinatorWeek #PollinatorsWeaveConnections

🧵5/6 🐝 And if you’re keen to see how the nutritional landscape shapes bee health, this accessible summary is a must-read: 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/lmsdwmjyef So much to learn, and it's all absolutely fascinating! 🌺🦋

🧵4/6 🧠 Curious about how insects sense and respond to nutrients in their environment? Dive into the ecology of nutrient perception: 👉

🧵3/6 📚 Prefer reading? We’ve got you covered: 🧭 Start your journey into the world of plant-pollinator interactions here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/qgnkcuygnn 📝 And here’s a blog bringing the science to life with vibrant storytelling 👉

🧵2/6 Plant-Insect Interactions Team led by Sara Leonhardt explores how pollinators find, use, and compete for food — and how nutrition shapes their behaviour, fitness & role in ecosystems.🧪🦋🌱 🎧 Fancy a podcast? Tune in to this episode on pollinators: 👉

🧵1/6 #PollinatorsWeaveConnections 🌍💫🦋💐 We kicked off #PollinatorWeek by exploring how global pollinator stewardship supports human wellbeing — a wonderful web of life that connects us all to pollinators. 💚🌸 Ready for more? Let's zoom in on the #pollinator biology! 🔬

(1/2) #LivingLabs focus on 📍 Northern Jutland 🌿🐝 What if bioenergy could boost pollinators too? In #NorthernJutland, agroforestry meets organic pig farming—producing both premium pork 🐖 and willow for bioenergy.

In this new paper we discuss the importance of data quality in plant-pollinator databases and suggest methodologies for improving it: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/06/09/a... #biodiversity #pollinators #ecology #bees #botany

(2/2) 🦋Which pollinators visit #flax and how do they benefit nearby plants🌿? Can flax farming boost biodiversity and reduce environmental impact🧑‍🌾? We're exploring these questions in #Zeeland. More next week! #ButterflyEUProject #PollinatorsMatter #LivingLabs #Biomaterial

#LivingLabs focus on 📍 Zeeland (Netherlands) Farmers in Zeeland grow a variety of crops: onions, wheat, legumes, sugar beets, and flax! Flax has been grown for textile production since the Middle Ages. Now, flax fibers are exported, and rest products are processed into building materials🏘️ (1/2)

Pollinators severely affected by microplastic: https://f.mtr.cool/ctcfllkaup New threats faced by bees:

🗑️🐛Plastic pollution is a pollinator crisis — clogging nesting sites, contaminating flowers, and disrupting entire food chains. This #WorldEnvironmentDay, rethink plastic, protect #pollinators, and choose action to safeguard life. #BeatPlasticPollution 👇Links to further info in the post below.

In a new study just published, I teamed up with some Brazilian colleagues to explore how the different features of garden flowers help sustain #pollinators throughout the year in a subtropical urban garden. Read more about it here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/05/30/a... #biodiversity #ecology #bees

(2/2) Intensive almond farming threatens biodiversity & pollinators. We're testing agroecological practices to measure effects on: 🐝 Pollinator health & diversity 🌼 Pollination & almond yield 🗓️ New site every Thursday—stay tuned! #ButterflyEUProject #PollinatorsMatter #Agroecology #AlmondFarming

🌍 We are taking you on a journey across our diverse research sites! First stop: 📍 #LivingLabs – #Murcia @pdelarua.bsky.social 🌸 Did you know 38% of organic crops in Murcia are almond trees? These trees support rural life & heritage—but rising demand brings challenges (1/2).

This #WorldBiodiversityDay we're highlighting one of the most #threatened groups of tetrapod: Anurans. Crucial gaps in our knowledge exist for more than half of all species, preventing effective #Conservation. This is especially a problem for biphasic species...so what can be done? A 🧵(1/4) 🌍🧪

🌸 Happy #BiodiversityDay! @ipbes.net defines living in harmony with nature as living peacefully alongside all organisms, recognizing our interdependence while ensuring sustainability. 💫🧪 Together, let's conserve, restore & sustainably use life on Earth! 🌍

Welcome to the Science feed! Please read our FAQs for instructions for how to be added as a contributor: bossett.io/science-feed/ Mod introductory posts linked below⬇️ Use the test tube emoji on posts you want to appear in the feed🧪 Please like the feed and make sure you follow our feed rules:

Why does biodiversity matter?🧪 Four CBMA researchers share their thoughts on how it sustains life, ecosystems, and the future of our planet. 🎥 Watch the video & find out what drives our research. #CBMA #ARNET #BiodiversityDay #BiodiversityMatters

Please follow the Butterfly Project account for updates on this EU-funded #pollinator conservation project #bees #biodiversity #butterflies #pollinators #ecology

An important nature conservation site in the Scottish Borders is under threat from a huge plantation forestry scheme. Please consider giving to this crowdfunding drive to support a legal challenge by #RestoreNature www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-todri...

I have been a beekeeper and would like to be again, but getting beehives to 'Save the bees!' is like a sheep farm to support biodiversity. You can do it well and it can have positive impacts, but more domesticated animals won't save wild populations (don't @ me about sheep, struggled for metaphor)

Have we passed “peak honey bee” in Britain? I’ve posted occasional updates on hive numbers on my blog, but the last of these was in 2022. It feels like it’s time for another - on #WorldBeeDay2025! Read more here: jeffollerton.co.uk/2025/05/20/h... #bees #pollinators #biodiversity #FAO #ecology