It's #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience, #11February. What better time to learn about June Almeida (1930-2007), a Glasgow-born lab technician with no formal qualifications who discovered human coronavirus in 1964. Read more from @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social: www.nms.ac.uk/discover-cat...

To celebrate Women in STEM day on Wednesday 11 February we’ve printed some banners to highlight some of the incredible work that the women of Bio Sci at Bristol have achieved over the years! Pop into the LSB for the remainder of Feb to check out who’s done what and when!

Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.

The production of organic matter and its consumption by heterotrophs, including microbes and animals, is a defining feature of almost all life on Earth. But these two processes also govern our climate and environment, controlling CO2 levels and the oxygenation of the atmosphere.

Bumper and Peanut, two very good bois from Medical Detection Dogs, have been trained to sniff out Parkinson's disease in a study from the Uni of Bristol Vet School and @manchester.ac.uk. Hey @rorycj.bsky.social do you think #SophieFromRomania wants to sign up? www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/ju...

My thanks to @capcbristol.bsky.social for publicising (www.bristol.ac.uk/primaryhealt...) the Friends and Family Handbook (www.womensaid.org.uk/information-...) recently launched by Women's Aid Federation of England. The handbook is for informal supporters of someone experiencing domestic abuse.

Every day she dreads watching that final swirl of soapy water disappear. It means facing whatever is on the other side of the shower door. Soon, it will carry blood. #30Words30Days #Swirl

Taking a few deep breaths, I gather up all my courage. Other people find this so easy. Finally, I click ‘Share screen’. ‘Thank you everyone for coming to this webinar…’ #30Words30Days #gather

My bow lands on the strings. Three triumphant chords, then a lilting melody which lowers and fades, awaiting the… non-existent orchestra. I’m no Jacqueline du Pré, but I can dream.

Engine rumbling, metal clanging, the skip truck rolled away, taking with it the jettisoned trappings of their life together. She wished she could chuck out her unwanted memories as easily. #30Words30Days #Skip

After scrolling through Facebook, browsing Instagram, watching a couple of cute cat videos, checking the headlines and eventually contemplating a blank document, I finally admit defeat on yesterday’s #30Words30Days #challenge.

He rummaged through his desk drawers, his coat pockets and his shopping bag, to no avail. Eventually a seven-year-old came to the rescue. ‘Your glasses are on your head, Grandad.' #30Words30Days #rummage

As the girls approached, he flexed his biceps in the traditional strongman pose, muscles rippling under his tanned, oiled skin. Eyes locked on the ice-cream van, they walked straight past. #30Words30Days #ripple

Pigeon pecks at spilt seed Overconfident, not seeing how the Undergrowth trembles with feline excitement Now at last, her chance - Cat pounces, claws spring out Explosion of feathers and blood #30Words30Days #POUNCE p.s. It got away, but there are still feathers all over my garden!

‘I’ve lost the thread,’ my mother cries in distress. Alas, she’s right. Her thoughts and memories are springing apart, unweaving like Penelope’s tapestries, collecting torn and raw-edged around her feet. #30Words30Days #weave

We attached all kinds of things to our instruments; a knotted handkerchief, a cloth tote bag, even an old sock. COVID precautions certainly made wind band rehearsals a bit different. #30Words30Days #wind

I prepare the family feast; chopping, dicing, sprinkling herbs, adding seasoning, basting and stirring. ‘Eww what’s these twigs?’ ‘Bit spicy for me.’ ‘Is there ketchup?’ Next year they’re getting pizza. #30Words30Days #feast

Hannah swooped down on the mouse, plonking an ice-cream tub over it. ‘I’m taking this outside.’ Felix, who’d been planning hours of fun with the squeaky toy, lashed his tail. #30Words30Days #swoop

Calum launched himself down the waterslide with a joyous yell, which changed tone on his parting company with the mat, and again on his crotch’s encounter with a loose rivet. #30Words30Days #Slide

‘This session will stretch your mind as well as your body,’ intoned the yoga instructor on the screen. ‘Good for you luv,’ said Louise, stretching for her glass of wine. #30Words30Days #Stretch (This was genuinely on the yoga video I chose to do this morning. I did actually do the yoga though!)

She paused to collect herself, looking round at her once beloved home, the photos, the trinkets. Then she walked out for the last time. No-one found the body for days. #30words30days #Collect

She wiggles her hips, slowly at first, then faster, before performing a series of graceful springs, each one higher than the last. No use. Still can’t do up her jeans.

‘Just pop your clothes off, pop up on the bed and I’ll pop along in a moment with the speculum.’ Cervical smears sound a lot more fun than they are. #30Words30Days #Pop #WhyAllThePopping

That glugglug-fizz from the first champagne of the night was one of her favourite sounds. She was less enamoured of the tinkle-fizz of the morning Alka-Seltzers. #30Words30Days #fizz

The Spanish called him a vicious pirate, who attacked ships and plundered their treasure. The English knew him as the hero explorer Francis Drake. Always check who's telling the story. #30Words30Days #plunder

Elsie wandered down to the beach, and disappeared. The tide took her, folks said. Only gulls get close enough to Joe’s houseboat to hear her laughter, and they’re not telling. #30Words30Days #wander

This week's bit for @bylinetimes.bsky.social commemorates that time I was ceremonially cut in two and disemboweled by the NHS. Caution: contains Andrew Lansley (No paywall) www.bylinesupplement.com/p/russell-jo...

‘What activities does she like?’ The walls are hung with bright, daubed paintings and clumsy needlework. The care home nurse smiles; I fight back tears. The parent-child switch is complete. #30Words30Days #Switch

Pls re-skeet! There's a postdoc job available to join us in Bristol! We're looking for a molecular cell biologist to help us investigate plasma membrane proteostasis in neurons. Apply here by 23 April: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMO097/r.... If interested, do contact me and check out grieve-lab.com! Thanks!

The Triangle went jingle-jangle – loudly, exuberantly, and three bars early. Monica faced the massed accusing stares of conductor, orchestra, and audience, and gave up her percussionist dreams there and then. #30Words30Days #jangle

Colm ignored the briefing. ‘Health and Safety Regs are for wazzocks,’ he opined. As he plummeted groundwards, he reflected that maybe flip-flops weren’t suitable for climbing on scaffolding after all. #30Words30Days #flip

Her eyes swivelled in her head as she fell to the ground, arms and legs hammering the floor. 'Another tantrum, Amy?' sighed her mother. 'We're still going to the dentist'. #30Words30Days #swivel

She gazed at him through the confetti fluttering down around her, and knew he was the man she wanted to spend her life with. Pity she’d just married someone else. #30Words30Days #flutter

Her head bowed, she murmurs apologies, while he tells her the latest thing she’s done wrong. Inside, she floats away on dreams, her mind whispering stories he could never understand. #30Words30Days #Float

Our choir’s 'family friendly' concerts are noisy and chaotic. But when a little girl twirls down the aisle in her princess dress, lost to the music, it’s all worth it. #30Words30Days #Twirl

Once, words and thoughts flowed, one to another. She came to conclusions, made decisions, presented reports. Now, they judder, stall, restart. She cannot focus. Her colleagues are incomprehensible. Bloody menopause. #30Words30Days #Flow

1/3 - Congratulations to Prof Alastair Hay, who has been awarded Senior Investigator status by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). 🎉 NIHR Senior Investigators are among the most prominent & prestigious researchers funded by the NIHR. www.bristol.ac.uk/primaryhealt...

From ocean soundscapes to advising Netflix's Our Oceans, Prof. Steve Simpson shares amazing insights into marine biology & climate solutions. Discover how his Science Communication for a Better Planet MSc students create real-world change, below the-bristol-mix.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2025/01/08/t...

Can I ask you to share a PhD advert at Bristol Uni please? Rhomboid proteases play a role in neurons that is essential for life- but it is not characterised. Got a student interested in cell biology, electrophysiology and neurobiology? Send them our way! tinyurl.com/56f24f7c

The journal prompt asks me how I intend to grow this year. I think of the cluttered house, the dead-end job, the elderly parent, the exhaustion. I will grow... smaller. #30Words30Days #grow

From our local reserve; Hedge Mustard, Marsh Marigold, Hawthorn and Cowslip. #WildflowerHour

More from the woods: three-nerved sandwort, wild strawberry and forget-me-not. #WildflowerHour

Surveys are starting up again! Bluebells and bugle to trumpet the occasion. #WildflowerHour

Sanicle growing amongst bluebells #WildflowerHour

CONCERT - Bristol Choral Society sings Duruflé's Requiem Saturday 18 November 2023 7 pm Clifton Cathedral Tickets £15, under 25s £5 Book at www.bristolchoral.co.uk/Durufl%C3%A9...

Here's where I'm spending the weekend recording with Bristol Choral for our second CD! Let's hope it isn't the 'difficult second album '.