New paper! We show that rare earth elements don’t just replace carbonate minerals — they start by growing as highly ordered layers on their surfaces. Fascinating step in understanding REE behavior! Funded @researchireland.ie @geolsurvie.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social @tcddublin.bsky.social

How do volcanic rocks lock away CO2? Hydrothermal carbonates in #Svalbard basalts show natural Ca-Mg–Fe trapping of carbon, offering clues for climate tech in basalt-based storage. #ClimateSolutions doi.org/10.1016/j.cc... Research funded by @researchireland.ie & @geolsurvie.bsky.social via iCRAG.

Honored to receive a Certificate & Special Commendation as runner-up for the Award for Excellence in Supervision at @tcddublin.bsky.social. Thanks Prof. Martine Smith & Provost Prof. Linda Doyle for the recognition — and my students & colleagues from the Sch. of Natural Sciences for the inspiration!

Fantastic Teaching Awards ceremony Trinity College Dublin, with our President and Provost, Prof. Linda Doyle, and great colleagues from SNS, Martin Sokol. Beautiful academic atmosphere. Proud to be part of this dynamic and inspiring institution.

I am deeply honoured to receive the Inspiring Educator Award from @tcddublin.bsky.social today. I want to sincerely thank our students for their curiosity, engagement, and generosity of spirit for this wonderful recognition, as well as to the Centre for Academic Practice at TCD. Thanks you all!

La purpurina no es tan divertida como parece: ¿sabías que puede cambiar la química del océano? Nos lo cuentan Kristina Petra Zubovic y @jdrodrigueztcd.bsky.social‬:

Ahora traducido al español! /// Now translated into Spanish! "El lado oscuro de la purpurina: el microplástico que puede alterar la química de los océanos.", por Kristina Petra Zubovic y Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco en @es.theconversation.com theconversation.com/el-lado-oscu...

Impressive and beautiful solar halo this morning in Dublin. Cirrus clouds containing ice crystals and sunlight refraction and scattering produce this phenomenon. Easier (and safer) to see with sunglasses, of course.

Désormais en français : notre étude sur les paillettes et la biominéralisation a également été publiée dans l’édition française de «The Conversation» theconversation.com/la-face-cach...

Our research in @thetimes.com: "Glitter could stop sea creatures forming shells" Researchers say the effect on calcium crystals used by coral, molluscs and sea urchins poses a ‘serious threat’ to species. www.thetimes.com/article/363b...

New research shows microplastics in glitter can disrupt how marine life builds its shells and reefs.

#Glitter’s sparkle hides a darker side – it can change the chemistry of our #oceans Glitter may seem harmless, but new research shows it could disrupt how marine life builds shells and reefs, posing a hidden threat to ocean ecosystems. theconversation.com/glitters-spa... #microplastics

NEW PAPER: Nanophase REE phosphate crystallization induced by vivianite oxidation: mechanistic insights and mineralogical implications by Maddin et al from @tcddublin.bsky.social Funding @researchireland.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social @geolsurvie.bsky.social Paper: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

Hot off the Press! New Geochemical Perspectives: The Evolution of Atmospheric Composition and Climate: Why Earth is a Habitable Planet, by James F. Kasting. Read more here: buff.ly/l8k86Mp #OpenAccess:

Microplastics pollution from glitter can disrupt marine biomineralization. This raises fresh concerns about the long-term environmental impact of microplastic pollution on marine ecosystems. News release: www.tcd.ie/news_events/... Paper: enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10....

NEW PAPER — Crystallisation of CaCO₃ polymorphs induced by layered PET-based microplastic particles. doi.org/10.1186/s123...

Some fun with SEM and crystals…

NEW open-access PAPER — “Mechanistic Insights into the Early-Stage Crystallization and Nanophase Formation of Metastable Light Rare-Earth Carbonates” doi.org/10.1021/acs.... funded by Research Ireland, Geological Survey Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Happy to announce that my @tcddublin.bsky.social PhD student Luca Terribili has passed his PhD viva with minor corrections. Great science discussion! His research was funded by @researchireland.bsky.social, Geological Survey Ireland & EPA-Ireland as part of the Frontiers for the Future programme.

Spotted comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) after the sunset earlier today, from Clontarf, Dublin. If the horizon is clean it can be found with the naked eye. #CometA3 #TsuchinshanATLAS #CometATLAS

Beautiful Northern Lights from #Clontarf area, #Dublin — just an hour ago. #northernlights #geomagneticstorm

NEW open-access PAPER: "Chemical Textures on Rare Earth Carbonates: An Experimental Approach to Mimic the Formation of Bastnäsite" in Global Challenges, by Melanie Maddin et al. 1st study showing how the mineral bastnäsite forms from complex fluids. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

New research unveils extreme complexity in formation of rare earth mineral vital for tech industry www.tcd.ie/news_events/...

So many images obtained of the northern lights with two different cameras. I don’t even know where to begin… #aurora #Auroraborealis #NorthernLights #Solarstorm #Solarstorm2024

More Northern light pictures from home. Dublin, Ireland.

A quick view taken 30 mins ago of the group of solar active group (sunspots) that originated the current solar storm and northern lights these days.

Thanks proton-proton cycle, solar wind, magnetosphere and visible radiation (among others) for the beautiful display of #NorthernLights in the sky of Dublin.