The Sahara Desert Hasn’t Always Been a Dry, Desolate Landscape. Some Scientists See Signs It May Be Greening Again. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu... @thesundaylongread.bsky.social

It can often feel as though we live on a stiflingly demystified little planet. But I'd be surprised if 1% of readers have heard of the subject of my latest article: the Ennedi Reserve, in northeast Chad, among the grandest anonymous places on Earth. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-natu... 1/

Glorious (the article, if not the subject). Want to Reach Nirvana? Try a Colonoscopy. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/m...

This is an incredible (and incredibly) brave bit of writing, and a sobering reflection of the state of the media open.substack.com/pub/stevesch...

No small joy to back in Jordan for the first time in 16 years.

Characteristically lucid synopsis from Goldberg. The supposed hysterics and catatrophists were merely those unhindered by "it couldn't happen here" denial. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...

Latest armchair escapism from me - on Turks & Caicos' secret underground... www.travelandleisure.com/turks-caicos...

Rogue state.

A belated bump for @noemamag.com's Top 10 Reads Of 2025, which features my deep-dive on solar storms, alongside some mind-expannding long-reads on geopolitics, AI, consciousness and bulldozers. A shaft of light in the cognitive murk. Read things! www.noemamag.com/noemas-top-1...

They’re currently getting a(nother) glow up. I was also a frequent visitor when I lived in the area though it has been a little while. High time to go back. bsky.app/profile/henr...

Lovely thread about the New Year's Eve dinosaur dinner at Crystal Palace. Interesting to note that I recently had the opportunity to poke my head inside the iguanodon, and there's no way you could seat more than 3 or 4 people in its belly. The famous sketch below exhibits much artistic license!

www.ft.com/content/2451... @longreads.com

Strongly recommend this as a breakfast read. You don’t have to have grown up in south London to enjoy it, but I confess that it helps

Another delightful ICYMI - the dinosaurs of Crystal Palace get a new lease of life - great piece here from FT mag on the history of this crazy Victorian project (many hours of my SE London childhood spent staring at a muddy member of the troupe) www.ft.com/content/2451...

Rounding off the year with a nice local story about the 'Crystal Palace Dinosaurs': their past and present, their exalted place in the history of science, and the latest project to conserve them for future generations - in today's @ftweekend.com. as.ft.com/r/aa778cba-5...

Hi all. The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs are the subject of a fantastic article, by Henry Wismayer, in today’s FT Magazine. We are proud to have advised, and be featured in it. We’re lead to believe that it is Christmas soon, so here’s a free link - our gift to you all xx as.ft.com/r/aa778cba-5...

Rounding off the year with a nice local story about the 'Crystal Palace Dinosaurs': their past and present, their exalted place in the history of science, and the latest project to conserve them for future generations - in today's @ftweekend.com. as.ft.com/r/aa778cba-5...

Check out our best longform journalism & essays of the year, with stories covering everything from the last days of social media to the unseen fury of solar storms. #reading #longform

Thrilled to share my latest long-read for @noemamag.com, in which I talked to existential risk expert Luke Kemp about why societies collapse, and why his analysis of historical data indicates that our own is heading towards catastrophe. www.noemamag.com/humanitys-en...

Weekend bump for my latest - on the rise and fall of nations, the curse of oligarchy, and our headlong rush towards Armageddon. Have a great Sunday! www.noemamag.com/humanitys-en...

"Unlike the floods, droughts & hurricanes that have beset human civilizations since ancient times, space weather is not an age-old threat.” — @henrywismayer.bsky.social

I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.

Thrilled to share my latest long-read for @noemamag.com, in which I talked to existential risk expert Luke Kemp about why societies collapse, and why his analysis of historical data indicates that our own is heading towards catastrophe. www.noemamag.com/humanitys-en...

lol

must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

Under Musk, X has become a global iteration of Radio des Milles Collines. To spend even five minutes on there nowadays is to watch millions of people being radicalised to the brink of 1930s-level hatred in real time.

“Like the Biblical Noah loading pairs of animals onto his ark, scientists & archivists are salvaging fragile bits of our world that are at risk of disappearing forever.” —Jess McHugh #preservation #conservation

Head in hands wondering how this could happen to me, the popular president who posted a video of myself shitting on everyone 2 weeks ago

Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.

For more on how to survive the climate upheaval, read my book of solutions Nomad Century

📖 Still time to pick up a ticket for my talk about the inspiration behind #SmallEarthquakes with @karennedwards.bsky.social at the Book Elephant in south London tomorrow evening. 🗓️ Fri 10 Oct, 6.30pm 🎟️ Tickets info👇🏽 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shafik-meg...

Rather splendidly, I've also landed in this year's 'Best American Food and Travel Writing'. Here's the piece that made the cut (another @noemamag.com joint): www.noemamag.com/nice-view-sh... With thanks again to Bryant Terry and @jayasaxena.com for selecting.

Very pleasing to see @noemamag.com's latest print edition drop through my letterbox. It includes my piece about solar storms, and is a pretty beautiful thing. Link here if you want to buy a copy: shop.noemamag.com.

We spent two years compiling THE PUB. It's lovingly assembled with a star selection of authors from Katy Hessel to John Banville. It's by far the best thing we've ever done - please support us by purchasing a copy here: backstory.london/products/the...

Genuinely got a bit teary at this one. I may not know the specific pub but I know the archetype. Like The Farriers in Bermondsey, looks a state outside but couldn’t have been more welcoming when we stepped in. A bemused but friendly ‘why are you in here?’ curiosity.

This sounds great, and not just because I'm in it!

I'm very proud to contribute to this splendid magazine, an antidote to a world that often feels like it's growing more impatient and incurious by the day.

Took me a while to catch up with this fascinating story by @henrywismayer.bsky.social in @noemamag.com but glad I did. It's a great weekend read: www.noemamag.com/the-unseen-f...

Surreal to stumble across 'Last of Us' creator Craig Mazin discussing the movie adaptation potential of my recent @noemamag.com article on solar storms on his 'Scriptnotes' podcast. Naturally, if anyone wants to option the rights feel free to get in touch! open.spotify.com/episode/083q...

Amazing read on the science and possible consequences of solar storms by @henrywismayer.bsky.social: www.noemamag.com/the-unseen-f...

Always very validating to make @longreads.com's top 5 of the week, alongside a fascinating and diverse list of stories.

Treasure island: exploring the riches of southern Greenland—I’d come with a small group of journalists on a trip organised by the tourist board to show off both the capital and the country’s far south. www.ft.com/content/b1b9... @henrywismayer.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Sunday bump for my latest, in which I got to quote Greenland's ex-prime minister calling Trump an idiot - for good reason and with feeling. A small catharsis. www.ft.com/content/b1b9...

My latest - on blue icebergs, pilots in sealskin boots, ancient Norse settlements, and "that idiot". For @ftweekend.com. www.ft.com/content/b1b9...

Can count the number of UK newspapers that have increased their freelance contributor rates in this time on the fingers of no hands.

Thrilled to discover that I have just been followed by an AI-travel itinerary generator called 'Triptimizer'. Perhaps, if I'm really lucky, they will harvest information from the dozens of travel articles I've written over the years without any acknowledgement or compensation whatsoever.

STRATA is officially out in the world today! Very grateful to @wwnorton.com for publishing this book, and to @sarahmgilman.bsky.social for gracing the pages with her beautiful illustrations. So looking forward to sharing this with readers! Find upcoming events here: laurapoppick.com

Lucid, morally authoritative, and utterly damning. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/o...