John Tweedie
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johntweedie.bsky.social
John Tweedie
@johntweedie.bsky.social
Earth Sciences graduate. But studying for a second degree in History with the OU. Love birdwatching, getting outdoors or snuggling indoors with a good book.
Reposted by John Tweedie
The very same! We have a talk about his sketchbooks here if you want to learn more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5rh...
Science & Satire | The Remarkable Cartoons of Richard Owen
YouTube video by Linnean Society
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I was so engrossed watching a webcam looking over Brodick Bay that I was nearly reaching for my binoculars to get a better view of a bird. www.cottagesonarran.co.uk/arran-webcam/
Arran Webcam | Booking Information | Cottages on Arran
View our Live Arran Webcam, giving a clear view of Goat Fell from the village of Brodick. Book your accommodation in Arran today and start planning your trip.
www.cottagesonarran.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Reposted by John Tweedie
306 of #365Minerals 🧪⚒️

Leadhillite:
- A carbonate mineral
- Has a high density since it contains lead (~2.5 times more dense than quartz)
- Can be yellow, blue or green
- Forms in the oxidised zone of lead deposits
- Named after Leadhills in Scotland, its type locality #minerals #MineralMonday
November 3, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
331 of #365Minerals 🧪⚒️

Andalusite:
- An aluminosilicate mineral
- A polymorph of kyanite and sillimanite
- A common low grade metamorphic mineral
- Used in the production of high temperature ceramics
- Named after Andalusia in Spain #minerals
November 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
With all the nonsense around genAI over the past few years, it's easy to forget that machine learning can be a useful tool, such as in this research where it was used (alongside more traditional chemical analysis) to detect signs of ancient life. carnegiescience.edu/chemical-evi...
Chemical evidence of ancient life detected in 3.3-billion-year-old rocks
New study shows life’s signature still exists in rocks long after the original biomolecules are gone.
carnegiescience.edu
November 27, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Bold materials and colours of the bespoke terracotta cladding of the new extension to Glencairn House, Dumbarton. A new public library and museum has been created by Page\Park. pagepark.co.uk/project/glen...
November 27, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Do you ever find yourself reading something but just not taking it in? You're looking at the words, but by the end of a paragraph you've no idea what you read?

I've pretty much always got a book on the go every day, but I think I need to give myself a few days break. #BookSky
November 27, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
I spoke to my deep passion of bogs and peatlands in this TEDx talk. Will you join me in becoming a bog champion? m.youtube.com/watch?v=mWt9...
Bogs are real superheroes, cast as villains | Dr. Merritt Turetsky | TEDxBoulder
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
m.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Coming up in March 2026 at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is an exhibition called Earth Matters, to celebrate the life and work of James Hutton on his 300th birthday. I don't see anything on the Botanics website yet, but see the following: www.designexhibitionscotland.co.uk/earth-matters/
Earth Matters - open call - Design Exhibition Scotland
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Design Exhibition Scotland are delighted to announce an open call to artists, makers, craftspeople and designers based in Scotland to submit expressions of interest ...
www.designexhibitionscotland.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
"Basalt is boring."

That's fighting talk that is!

It was said tongue in cheek, but it was interesting to learn about how phenocrysts in the basalt suggest the magma cooled slightly for the crystals to form before it flowed as a lava over the surface. #CaltonHill #geology
November 25, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Man arrested over mountain of dumped rubbish in Oxfordshire. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Man arrested over Oxfordshire waste mountain
A 39-year-old man is arrested after the huge pile of rubbish was found in Oxfordshire.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
London 2012: look at all the people turning out for the torch montage. It felt like a time full of optimism, whatever happened? www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKlc...
Torch Montage including David Beckham - London 2012 Olympics
YouTube video by Olympics
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Current issue of BBC Wildlife has an article by Neil Ansell about his hearing loss and his quest to hear particular birds before he can no longer hear them.

He has a book out about this from @birlinn.bsky.social, The Edge of Silence. birlinn.co.uk/product/the-...
The Edge of Silence | Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher - buy books online
A journey like no other. Acclaimed nature writer Neil Ansell has suffered from progressive hearing loss his whole life. As his world is becoming ever more silent, he suddenly hears something quite une...
birlinn.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Ironic that the DOGE employees brought in to gut federal agencies are now federal employees.
November 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Tomorrow at 6 pm is an online talk from @geowalks.scot on Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill.

Register to attend at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wheres-the...
Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill
Join us online with geologist Angus Miller to uncover the volcanic secrets behind Calton Hill’s creation
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
Winter Is Coming: And the Earth’s oldest organisms are prepping. 🥶
Even a Single Bacterial Cell Can Sense the Seasons Changing | Quanta Magazine
Though they live only a few hours before dividing, bacteria can anticipate the approach of cold weather and prepare for it. The discovery suggests that seasonal tracking is fundamental to life.
www.quantamagazine.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I've read a fair few books this year on the history of life on Earth, and I'm looking forward to this new one due out in March 2026: Andrew H. Knoll - Earth and Life. #Booksky press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Earth and Life
From the world-renowned geobiologist and bestselling author of A Brief History of Earth, the epic story of a planetary conversation four billion years in the making
press.princeton.edu
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
It was inevitable.

Someone has put a cone on the cone on the pigeon on the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow.
November 23, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Two incredible photos from Clive Oppenheimer’s book Mountains of Fire showing the same scene before and after a volcanic eruption on Montserrat. The church was obliterated by nuées ardentes (part of a pyroclastic flow).
November 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I wonder why farmers have never tried creating terraces in our upland areas? You don't even have to go to tropical countries to find terraces - they're in Italy too where they grow lemons and olives. www.dezeen.com/2025/10/24/l...
Eight Indigenous technologies that could turn the tide on how we manage water
Architect Julia Watson has followed up her seminal book Lo-TEK with a new volume focused specifically on Indigenous approaches to extreme water scenarios. Here, she shares an exclusive preview of eigh...
www.dezeen.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
Want to visit Siccar Point but can’t get out or it’s too far away?

@callanbentley.bsky.social has made this amazing online field-guide, including gigapan images and some fantastic virtual outcrops that you can explore in 3D. Check it out!

opengeology.org/historicalge...
VFE: Siccar Point, Scotland – Historical Geology
opengeology.org
November 22, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The James Hutton Deep Time Trail is happening! A grant has been provided which will enable to the development of the trail to go ahead. But extra support is still welcome - if you can, please contribute. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/siccar-point
Building the James Hutton Deep Time Trail
We are raising vital funds for a new Deep Time Trail at Siccar Point to celebrate the life and legacy of James Hutton for his Tercentenary.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by John Tweedie
A first for me and @geologyjohnson.bsky.social to see trilobites in the wild. Look at the beautiful preservation 😍

Rocks likely heterolithic limestone with black shake and chert interbeds from late Devonian-early Carboniferous from southern Belgium.

#FossilFriday
November 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by John Tweedie
Looking forward to finding out about the #geology and history of Calton Hill with @caltonhill.bsky.social & @geowalks.scot at this event next week! 🌋

"Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill", Tues 25 November, 6pm, online
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wheres-the...
November 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Got a lift to and back from St Andrews today and we came back past the Ochils. Passing through Alva, the sun had just set and the sky glowed with a glorious golden radiance, while the hill Dumyat was looking spectacular in deep silhouette and giving the impression of being much higher than it is.
November 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM