Prof Col Macpherson
@colinmacpherson.bsky.social
Rock ̵e̵t̵ ̵ scientist @durhamearthsci.bsky.social 🧪⚒️
Husband, dad, typographical errer
Husband, dad, typographical errer
Wait. This can’t be right. What is this strange, joyous feeling? 🏴💙💪
Back at the World Cup after 28 years.
Back at the World Cup after 28 years.
November 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Wait. This can’t be right. What is this strange, joyous feeling? 🏴💙💪
Back at the World Cup after 28 years.
Back at the World Cup after 28 years.
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
so I've been playing around with AI (GPT), asking it how Pt-bearing sulfide layers form in layered intrusions. I asked critical questions, prompted it to think about physics, and after many iterations, it came up with this model. Utter nonsense, violating physics! Be very careful of AI.
November 18, 2025 at 3:55 AM
so I've been playing around with AI (GPT), asking it how Pt-bearing sulfide layers form in layered intrusions. I asked critical questions, prompted it to think about physics, and after many iterations, it came up with this model. Utter nonsense, violating physics! Be very careful of AI.
Nope. It would appear there is not. 🤦♂️
November 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Nope. It would appear there is not. 🤦♂️
Good grief, is there no end to the ways Scotland make themselves agonising to support 🏴
November 15, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Good grief, is there no end to the ways Scotland make themselves agonising to support 🏴
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
The application deadline for these has been extended (due to them being open an unreasonably short time initially, not b/c we got too few applications). Dust off your CV, friends. 🧪⚒️
🚨FOUR tenure track positions in my dept @ucalgary.bsky.social @ucalgaryscience.bsky.social in applied & computational geophysics, subsurface geochemistry, sedimentary geology, and sustainable soil science. careers.ucalgary.ca/search/jobs?...
(please reskeet widely!) #academicsky 🧪⚒️🇨🇦
(please reskeet widely!) #academicsky 🧪⚒️🇨🇦
Opportunities
matching 'earth'
Search 4 Careers available at University of Calgary.
careers.ucalgary.ca
November 13, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The application deadline for these has been extended (due to them being open an unreasonably short time initially, not b/c we got too few applications). Dust off your CV, friends. 🧪⚒️
OTD in 1988 Steve Archibald's iconic clincher for @thehibees.bsky.social against Hearts. First Edinburgh derby match I had missed in years. I was sat in A&E having just ruptured two knee ligaments playing in goal for @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social AFC. #GGTTH 💚⚽
November 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
OTD in 1988 Steve Archibald's iconic clincher for @thehibees.bsky.social against Hearts. First Edinburgh derby match I had missed in years. I was sat in A&E having just ruptured two knee ligaments playing in goal for @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social AFC. #GGTTH 💚⚽
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Rosalind Franklin died at 37 of ovarian cancer attributed to radiation exposure from the methods she & her assistant used to photograph a cross-section of the DNA double helix.
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Rosalind Franklin died at 37 of ovarian cancer attributed to radiation exposure from the methods she & her assistant used to photograph a cross-section of the DNA double helix.
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Meanwhile, Watson won a Nobel off that work & survived to the ripe old age of 97 by simply: stealing those notes!
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
I remain absolutely confused that people *ever* thought screwing with the abyssal sea floor would "get better" after mining.
In 1979, a Mining Test Ravaged the Pacific Seafloor— 44 Years Later, New Evidence Reveals It’s Likely Forever
dailygalaxy.com/2025/11/in-1...
dailygalaxy.com/2025/11/in-1...
In 1979, a Mining Test Ravaged the Pacific Seafloor— 44 Years Later, New Evidence Reveals It’s Likely Forever
A 1979 deep-sea mining test left marks on the Pacific seafloor that remain nearly untouched over four decades later. New research uncovers what really happened in the ocean depths—and why it matters m...
dailygalaxy.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I remain absolutely confused that people *ever* thought screwing with the abyssal sea floor would "get better" after mining.
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Using nitrogen isotopes in seaweed over a 2-year period we have been able to pinpoint the source of poor water quality in Scarborough - further research is required in Scalby Beck to pinpoint the sources of human sewage and agricultural manure
www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
Seaweed study prompts water quality investigation - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Using nitrogen isotopes in seaweed over a 2-year period we have been able to pinpoint the source of poor water quality in Scarborough - further research is required in Scalby Beck to pinpoint the sources of human sewage and agricultural manure
www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
🌋Did you know that there's more volcanic activity under the waves than on land?
Find out how underwater explosions impact our planet at the WHOI Ocean Learning Hub, a free resource that's perfect for educators, students, and the ocean-curious:
go.whoi.edu/volcano
📸 via ROV Jason 2009 © #WHOI
Find out how underwater explosions impact our planet at the WHOI Ocean Learning Hub, a free resource that's perfect for educators, students, and the ocean-curious:
go.whoi.edu/volcano
📸 via ROV Jason 2009 © #WHOI
November 5, 2025 at 12:00 AM
🌋Did you know that there's more volcanic activity under the waves than on land?
Find out how underwater explosions impact our planet at the WHOI Ocean Learning Hub, a free resource that's perfect for educators, students, and the ocean-curious:
go.whoi.edu/volcano
📸 via ROV Jason 2009 © #WHOI
Find out how underwater explosions impact our planet at the WHOI Ocean Learning Hub, a free resource that's perfect for educators, students, and the ocean-curious:
go.whoi.edu/volcano
📸 via ROV Jason 2009 © #WHOI
If you are ever close by then do this walk - both the scenery and geology are glorious. It's where we take @durhamearthsci.bsky.social freshers for their first fieldtrip and is always a stunning day out (even in this year's downpour!)
Country diary (Part 2): autumn colours in Teesdale
"The various parts of the waterfall, sparkled in the autumn sunshine and all seemed well in the world"
northeastbylines.co.uk/region/north...
"The various parts of the waterfall, sparkled in the autumn sunshine and all seemed well in the world"
northeastbylines.co.uk/region/north...
Country diary (Part 2): autumn colours in Teesdale
"The various parts of the waterfall, sparkled in the autumn sunshine and all seemed well in the world"
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 11:01 AM
If you are ever close by then do this walk - both the scenery and geology are glorious. It's where we take @durhamearthsci.bsky.social freshers for their first fieldtrip and is always a stunning day out (even in this year's downpour!)
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
🚨 new paper and proud supervisor moment 🚨
A former 4th year undergraduate research project student has published her work: www.jvolcanica.org/ojs/index.ph...
Social sensing the 2018 Kīlauea Volcanic eruption through community Facebook use
#volcanology #risk #hazards 🧪⚒️🌋
A former 4th year undergraduate research project student has published her work: www.jvolcanica.org/ojs/index.ph...
Social sensing the 2018 Kīlauea Volcanic eruption through community Facebook use
#volcanology #risk #hazards 🧪⚒️🌋
Social sensing the 2018 Kīlauea Volcanic eruption through community Facebook use
| Volcanica
www.jvolcanica.org
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
🚨 new paper and proud supervisor moment 🚨
A former 4th year undergraduate research project student has published her work: www.jvolcanica.org/ojs/index.ph...
Social sensing the 2018 Kīlauea Volcanic eruption through community Facebook use
#volcanology #risk #hazards 🧪⚒️🌋
A former 4th year undergraduate research project student has published her work: www.jvolcanica.org/ojs/index.ph...
Social sensing the 2018 Kīlauea Volcanic eruption through community Facebook use
#volcanology #risk #hazards 🧪⚒️🌋
Splendid timing for my crust/mantle evolution lecture on Monday. 😃 Dreadful timing as that lecture is already five minutes too long 😩🧪⚒️
Earth's crust extracted from the mantle post-3.5 Ga - revealed by these exquisite Laser Ablation Sr isotope maps. Great example new technology yielding new information about the Earth. Also the lowest 87/86Sr ever measured on Earth (0.700050)!! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Splendid timing for my crust/mantle evolution lecture on Monday. 😃 Dreadful timing as that lecture is already five minutes too long 😩🧪⚒️
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
📢 PhD opportunity at Newcastle University!
👉"Reconstructing past ice-sheet retreat and ice-ocean interactions from marine sediment cores".
This project will use new marine sediment cores to constrain the timing and drivers of past ice-sheet retreat.
More details: iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
👉"Reconstructing past ice-sheet retreat and ice-ocean interactions from marine sediment cores".
This project will use new marine sediment cores to constrain the timing and drivers of past ice-sheet retreat.
More details: iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
November 3, 2025 at 1:58 PM
📢 PhD opportunity at Newcastle University!
👉"Reconstructing past ice-sheet retreat and ice-ocean interactions from marine sediment cores".
This project will use new marine sediment cores to constrain the timing and drivers of past ice-sheet retreat.
More details: iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
👉"Reconstructing past ice-sheet retreat and ice-ocean interactions from marine sediment cores".
This project will use new marine sediment cores to constrain the timing and drivers of past ice-sheet retreat.
More details: iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...
Stunning TV this was
Great news - one of the best mini-series ever with a dazzling & eccentric screenplay by Troy Kennedy Martin & superb direction by Martin Campbell is back on iplayer.
If you haven’t seen it then you’re in for a real treat.
Come for Bob Peck, stay for Joe Don Baker.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
If you haven’t seen it then you’re in for a real treat.
Come for Bob Peck, stay for Joe Don Baker.
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Edge of Darkness - Series 1: 1. Compassionate Leave
Thriller set in a world of obsessive state security. Ronald Craven is haunted by the murder of his daughter and begins his own investigation into her death.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Stunning TV this was
Well this will cause a bit of a stink ... 🧪⚒️🌋🌍
www.geochemicalperspectivesletters.org/article2539/...
www.geochemicalperspectivesletters.org/article2539/...
Halogens in proto-Iceland plume basalts | Geochemical Perspectives Letters
www.geochemicalperspectivesletters.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Well this will cause a bit of a stink ... 🧪⚒️🌋🌍
www.geochemicalperspectivesletters.org/article2539/...
www.geochemicalperspectivesletters.org/article2539/...
Happy World Lemur Day!
October 31, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Happy World Lemur Day!
If you wanna look on my works,
You’re gonna look with despair,
Make it last for ever,
Now two trunkless ends,
With visage toppled over,
The sculptors did achieve,
The countenance of Ozy
Saying “l’m the King of Kings”
I’ll tell you where I went,
Where I winnow winnow went …
Ozymandias Spice
You’re gonna look with despair,
Make it last for ever,
Now two trunkless ends,
With visage toppled over,
The sculptors did achieve,
The countenance of Ozy
Saying “l’m the King of Kings”
I’ll tell you where I went,
Where I winnow winnow went …
Ozymandias Spice
Once upon a desert sandy
As through winds the trav'ling man he
Spied the face of Ozymandy
Lying, simply lying there
Suddenly there was some writing
Pon the plinth that he was sighting
That the sand and time were blighting
Quoth the statue, "Now despair"
As through winds the trav'ling man he
Spied the face of Ozymandy
Lying, simply lying there
Suddenly there was some writing
Pon the plinth that he was sighting
That the sand and time were blighting
Quoth the statue, "Now despair"
There was an old man you could gaze
At his works in despair in a daze
If you looked upon them
And were mere mortal men
'Ozymandias mighty', it says
At his works in despair in a daze
If you looked upon them
And were mere mortal men
'Ozymandias mighty', it says
October 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
If you wanna look on my works,
You’re gonna look with despair,
Make it last for ever,
Now two trunkless ends,
With visage toppled over,
The sculptors did achieve,
The countenance of Ozy
Saying “l’m the King of Kings”
I’ll tell you where I went,
Where I winnow winnow went …
Ozymandias Spice
You’re gonna look with despair,
Make it last for ever,
Now two trunkless ends,
With visage toppled over,
The sculptors did achieve,
The countenance of Ozy
Saying “l’m the King of Kings”
I’ll tell you where I went,
Where I winnow winnow went …
Ozymandias Spice
Bought most of my food and sent postcards home from the Ferry Stores when I did my undergraduate mapping dissertation in Ardnamurchan (many moons ago). This is very sad news. ⚒️
‘Morrisons killed us’: UK’s most westerly village shop closes after half a century
‘Morrisons killed us’: UK’s most westerly village shop closes after half a century
The Ferry Stores, in the remote village of Kilchoan, will shut its doors after struggling to fight off the decline in footfall and the advent of home delivery services
Morag Doherty says the men in the village will have to get their newspapers elsewhere now.
On Friday, the 66-year-old will close the doors of The Ferry Stores in Kilchoan, on the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula in Highland , for the final time. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Bought most of my food and sent postcards home from the Ferry Stores when I did my undergraduate mapping dissertation in Ardnamurchan (many moons ago). This is very sad news. ⚒️
To identify birefringence use SEQUENCES of interference colours. Olivine phenocrysts in this Rio Grande alkali basalt demonstrate this for 4th order green. Magentas near top of orders are particularly useful for this. 🧪⚒️🌋 🧵1/2 #ThinSectionThursday
October 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
To identify birefringence use SEQUENCES of interference colours. Olivine phenocrysts in this Rio Grande alkali basalt demonstrate this for 4th order green. Magentas near top of orders are particularly useful for this. 🧪⚒️🌋 🧵1/2 #ThinSectionThursday
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
👇💯👇
I find there's a huge mismatch between the standard advice that people give about scientific conference talks, and how people actually give talks.
So I picked out the most important pieces of advice that are most often ignored. 🧪
So I picked out the most important pieces of advice that are most often ignored. 🧪
The best scientific talk advice that gets ignored
Here are some prescriptions for a case of UCPS (Unengaging Conference Presentation Syndrome).
scienceforeveryone.science
October 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
👇💯👇
Imaginative ways to say "I doubt that very much" #37. PJ Wyllie, 1984. 🧪⚒️🌋 #ScienceWriting #scicomm
October 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Imaginative ways to say "I doubt that very much" #37. PJ Wyllie, 1984. 🧪⚒️🌋 #ScienceWriting #scicomm
Etendeka alkaline dolerite for #ThinSectionThursday. XPL view showing vibrant, equant olivine crystals (mid-right), and classic ophitic texture of plagioclase laths (black and white) surrounded by very large clinopyroxenes. 🧪⚒️
October 23, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Etendeka alkaline dolerite for #ThinSectionThursday. XPL view showing vibrant, equant olivine crystals (mid-right), and classic ophitic texture of plagioclase laths (black and white) surrounded by very large clinopyroxenes. 🧪⚒️
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
Holy ground for geologists! Holyrood Park in Edinburgh.
Showing our University of Edinburgh undergrad students where the discipline of Earth sciences began:
When James Hutton noticed this crystalline rock sandwiched between burnt sandstone layers, and realized the Earth was old!
Showing our University of Edinburgh undergrad students where the discipline of Earth sciences began:
When James Hutton noticed this crystalline rock sandwiched between burnt sandstone layers, and realized the Earth was old!
October 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Holy ground for geologists! Holyrood Park in Edinburgh.
Showing our University of Edinburgh undergrad students where the discipline of Earth sciences began:
When James Hutton noticed this crystalline rock sandwiched between burnt sandstone layers, and realized the Earth was old!
Showing our University of Edinburgh undergrad students where the discipline of Earth sciences began:
When James Hutton noticed this crystalline rock sandwiched between burnt sandstone layers, and realized the Earth was old!
Reposted by Prof Col Macpherson
If you’re attending #EGU26 and are working on caldera volcanism consider submitting an abstract to GMPV7.5! Looking forward to convening this session! 🌋
October 23, 2025 at 5:56 AM
If you’re attending #EGU26 and are working on caldera volcanism consider submitting an abstract to GMPV7.5! Looking forward to convening this session! 🌋