claireasher

claireasher, 25 days ago to Fashion

I did my PhD field work in Brazil's Cerrado, so this is especially heartbreaking to read.

Earthsight report links supply chains of fashion giants H&M and Zara to large-scale illegal deforestation, land-grabbing, violence and corruption in Brazil.

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/04/report-links-hm-and-zara-to-major-environmental-damage-in-biodiverse-cerrado/ #Fashion #Environment #Deforestation #Brazil

claireasher, 1 month ago to random

Hey #plant folks! This cactus has got a bit out of hand. What can I do?

I’m thinking of cutting off the most disobedient column and replanting it. I know I need to let the cutting callus - anything else I should know? Will the main plant likely be ok?

#houseplant #cactus

futurebird, 2 months ago to random

Her long legs, her dark eyes, her golden hair.

The face of the same ant as seen from the front.
The faster of the ant has golden hairs. So much beauty in an unexpected place.

claireasher, 2 months ago to environment

Not a single waterway in England or Northern Ireland is in good overall health, according to a Rivers Trust report.

• 54% of rivers in England failed to pass chemical and ecological tests because of pollution from water industry releases of treated and untreated sewage
• Agricultural pollution contributes to 62% of waterways in England failing to meet good standards for chemical and biological pollution.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/26/british-irish-rivers-desperate-state-pollution-report-trust #Environment #Ecology #Pollution #Rivers

claireasher, 3 months ago to random

Happy International Day of Women & Girls in Science!
🧬🔬🔭🧪🚀🤿🌎🌱👩🏻‍🔬

#WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM

claireasher, 3 months ago to wildlife

British Sugar is the sole buyer and processor of UK-grown sugar, but currently the company provides no way for beet farmers who choose not to use neonics to market their sugar as neonic-free. And as consumers, we have no way of knowing if the sugar we buy is affected.

Sign the petition to tell British Sugar you want them to support farmers who choose not to use neonics.

https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/142500/petition/1 #Wildlife #Environment #Pesticide #Neonics #Biodiversity

claireasher, 6 months ago to climate

'Accelerated ice melt in west Antarctica is inevitable for the rest of the century no matter how much carbon emissions are cut, research indicates. The implications for sea level rise are “dire”, scientists say, and mean some coastal cities may have to be abandoned.'

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/23/rapid-ice-melt-in-west-antarctica-now-inevitable-research-shows #ClimateChange #SeaLevelRise #Antarctica

claireasher, 7 months ago to random

In my latest article for @mongabay, I explore how ocean microplastic pollution is affecting plankton and marine microbial communities.

Emerging evidence suggests this disruption at the base of the food chain could have knock-on effects for climate, nitrogen cycling and ocean oxygen.

https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/microplastics-pose-risk-to-ocean-plankton-climate-other-key-earth-systems/ #PlanetaryBoundaries #Microplastic #Pollution #Marine #Plankton

claireasher, 7 months ago to SciComm

Each year I teach a workshop for PhD students on science communication on social media. A lot has changed in the last year and I'm updating my slides to include new social media sites.

What do you think of Mastodon as a platform to communicate science? What are its pros / cons?

#SciComm

claireasher, 10 months ago to climate

A rapid reduction in fossil fuels, essential to avoid devastating climate breakdown, would have minimal financial impact on the vast majority of people, new research has shown.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/22/fossil-fuel-assets-loss-study?CMP=share_btn_tw

#Climate #Economy #FossilFuels

claireasher, 1 year ago to science

Now I've got my bearings and Mastodon is letting me upload photos, I'm going to try my #introduction post again!

I'm Claire and I'm a UK-based freelance #science writer and communicator w/ a background in #biology, #evolution + #genetics. I write regularly for Mongabay, BBC Science Focus + more. My book, #BraveGreenWorld came out last year. I also host the #RobotTalk #podcast. I'm Interested in conservation, climate, sustainability, robots, evolution, animal behaviour, politics + more.

A woman with a lip piercing and medium-brown hair tied back, wearing a dark blue t-shirt and a silver necklace.
Claire Asher, Billy Heaney, Sue Perkins and Josie Long wearing face masks and standing behind three desks with microphones on them at the Nature Table recording at London Zoo. Billy is holding a stuffed badger, Claire is holding a bonsai tree.
A black book with a photo of the Earth from space. The text reads: Brave Green World. How science can save our planet. Chris Forman & Claire Asher