Mary Mulvihill Association
@rememberingmary.bsky.social
Commemorating the life and work of pioneering science writer and broadcaster Mary Mulvihill by supporting science journalism, communication and heritage
This week marked Clean Air Week 2025 in Ireland.
Over the past few years more and more studies have been published highlighting the links between poor air quality and lung related illnesses.
In addition, it is believed that exposure to poor air increases the risk of cardiovascular problems.🧵1/6
Over the past few years more and more studies have been published highlighting the links between poor air quality and lung related illnesses.
In addition, it is believed that exposure to poor air increases the risk of cardiovascular problems.🧵1/6
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
This week marked Clean Air Week 2025 in Ireland.
Over the past few years more and more studies have been published highlighting the links between poor air quality and lung related illnesses.
In addition, it is believed that exposure to poor air increases the risk of cardiovascular problems.🧵1/6
Over the past few years more and more studies have been published highlighting the links between poor air quality and lung related illnesses.
In addition, it is believed that exposure to poor air increases the risk of cardiovascular problems.🧵1/6
Best of luck to everyone involved in all the amazing Science events taking place 😃.
#scienceweek2025
www.scienceweek.ie/whats-on
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP30) is also taking place in Brazil.
Tracking #cop30
unfccc.int/cop30
What a week for Science Communication🎙🎤🧬🦠🌳.
#scienceweek2025
www.scienceweek.ie/whats-on
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP30) is also taking place in Brazil.
Tracking #cop30
unfccc.int/cop30
What a week for Science Communication🎙🎤🧬🦠🌳.
November 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Best of luck to everyone involved in all the amazing Science events taking place 😃.
#scienceweek2025
www.scienceweek.ie/whats-on
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP30) is also taking place in Brazil.
Tracking #cop30
unfccc.int/cop30
What a week for Science Communication🎙🎤🧬🦠🌳.
#scienceweek2025
www.scienceweek.ie/whats-on
The 2025 United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP30) is also taking place in Brazil.
Tracking #cop30
unfccc.int/cop30
What a week for Science Communication🎙🎤🧬🦠🌳.
Last week we launched the 2026 Mary Mulvihill Student Media Award. The prestigious science communication award, gives students from all across the island of Ireland the chance to win €2000. 💶🏆👏
This year's award theme is 'Time'. ⏳
Full details below:
marymulvihillaward.ie/award/
#science
#media
This year's award theme is 'Time'. ⏳
Full details below:
marymulvihillaward.ie/award/
#science
#media
October 14, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Last week we launched the 2026 Mary Mulvihill Student Media Award. The prestigious science communication award, gives students from all across the island of Ireland the chance to win €2000. 💶🏆👏
This year's award theme is 'Time'. ⏳
Full details below:
marymulvihillaward.ie/award/
#science
#media
This year's award theme is 'Time'. ⏳
Full details below:
marymulvihillaward.ie/award/
#science
#media
The time has arrived (no pun intended) to announce that the theme for The 2026 Mary Mulvihill Award will be ..... Time ⌛⏰⌚⏱.
We are all very excited to see the different directions entrants will explore with this theme.
marymulvihillaward.ie/2025/10/04/2...
The clock is ticking .....😊
#time
We are all very excited to see the different directions entrants will explore with this theme.
marymulvihillaward.ie/2025/10/04/2...
The clock is ticking .....😊
#time
October 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The time has arrived (no pun intended) to announce that the theme for The 2026 Mary Mulvihill Award will be ..... Time ⌛⏰⌚⏱.
We are all very excited to see the different directions entrants will explore with this theme.
marymulvihillaward.ie/2025/10/04/2...
The clock is ticking .....😊
#time
We are all very excited to see the different directions entrants will explore with this theme.
marymulvihillaward.ie/2025/10/04/2...
The clock is ticking .....😊
#time
That brings the story of 'Life' series to an end. Good luck to everyone who entered this year's #MaryMulvihillAward. 🤞🤞🤞
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
That brings the story of 'Life' series to an end. Good luck to everyone who entered this year's #MaryMulvihillAward. 🤞🤞🤞
Although for good reason there is much doom and gloom around the current status of life on planet Earth, surely the fact we have never known so much about the impact of our actions nor have we had so many ways of improving the situation, offers opportunity to change. 🧵29/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Although for good reason there is much doom and gloom around the current status of life on planet Earth, surely the fact we have never known so much about the impact of our actions nor have we had so many ways of improving the situation, offers opportunity to change. 🧵29/31
With the consequences of climate change already being experienced by many around the globe, there are some who believe the future of our species lies beyond this planet. 🧵28/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
With the consequences of climate change already being experienced by many around the globe, there are some who believe the future of our species lies beyond this planet. 🧵28/31
Much focus has recently been placed on climate tipping points, events which if triggered could lead to a cycle of environmental collapse. Many scientists believe that 5 of these thresholds are at immediate risk of being crossed, and 3 more could be reached in the 2030s. 🧵27/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Much focus has recently been placed on climate tipping points, events which if triggered could lead to a cycle of environmental collapse. Many scientists believe that 5 of these thresholds are at immediate risk of being crossed, and 3 more could be reached in the 2030s. 🧵27/31
Dr. Jane Goodall echoed what many other conservationists have said in recent years by claiming, ‘we are in the midst of the sixth great extinction’. Species loss is occurring at a rate estimated to be between 100-1000 faster than the natural background rate of extinction. 🧵25/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall echoed what many other conservationists have said in recent years by claiming, ‘we are in the midst of the sixth great extinction’. Species loss is occurring at a rate estimated to be between 100-1000 faster than the natural background rate of extinction. 🧵25/31
Some scientists believe we have now left behind the Holocene Epoch and entered the Anthropocene. This term describes a period of time during which human activities have impacted the environment enough to constitute a distinct geological change. 🧵24/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Some scientists believe we have now left behind the Holocene Epoch and entered the Anthropocene. This term describes a period of time during which human activities have impacted the environment enough to constitute a distinct geological change. 🧵24/31
For the past 11,500 years, Earth has been in the Holocene Epoch, a relatively stable time for climate and temperature. January 2025 was the warmest on record globally, despite the fact we are in a la Nina, the cold phase of the the El Nino Summer Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.🧵23/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
For the past 11,500 years, Earth has been in the Holocene Epoch, a relatively stable time for climate and temperature. January 2025 was the warmest on record globally, despite the fact we are in a la Nina, the cold phase of the the El Nino Summer Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.🧵23/31
Despite the advances made in renewable technology, it may be too late for much of the life on this planet. A recent paper published in Nature analysed over 2000 different studies and found human action to be driving biodiversity loss among all species across the planet. 🧵22/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Despite the advances made in renewable technology, it may be too late for much of the life on this planet. A recent paper published in Nature analysed over 2000 different studies and found human action to be driving biodiversity loss among all species across the planet. 🧵22/31
Climate simulations suggest that the extinction of the megafauna may have led to a slight increase in global warming, but the growth of agriculture which would later follow could have led to a slight global cooling. Thus the net change being small. 🧵20/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Climate simulations suggest that the extinction of the megafauna may have led to a slight increase in global warming, but the growth of agriculture which would later follow could have led to a slight global cooling. Thus the net change being small. 🧵20/31
In the millenia before the industrial revolution, mankind was having an impact on the global environment. The use of fire, spread of agriculture and the extinction of the megafauna are clear examples. 🧵19/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
In the millenia before the industrial revolution, mankind was having an impact on the global environment. The use of fire, spread of agriculture and the extinction of the megafauna are clear examples. 🧵19/31
But all these advances have come at a cost. Up to the beginning of the 1800s, carbon emissions had remained relatively stable. However, since the arrival of the industrial revolution this has changed. 🧵18/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
But all these advances have come at a cost. Up to the beginning of the 1800s, carbon emissions had remained relatively stable. However, since the arrival of the industrial revolution this has changed. 🧵18/31
By AD1, human population is thought to have reached as high 170 million. Excluding a couple of short exceptions, this figure would continue to steadily grow over the next 1700 years reaching 1 billion by the start of the 19th century. 🧵16/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
By AD1, human population is thought to have reached as high 170 million. Excluding a couple of short exceptions, this figure would continue to steadily grow over the next 1700 years reaching 1 billion by the start of the 19th century. 🧵16/31
From the Plague of Justinian (541-549 AD, ~ 50 million deaths), to the Black Death (1334-1353 AD,~ 200 million deaths) up to the 100 million people who lost their lives to the Spanish Flu (1918). As we developed, so too did microorganisms. 🧵14/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
From the Plague of Justinian (541-549 AD, ~ 50 million deaths), to the Black Death (1334-1353 AD,~ 200 million deaths) up to the 100 million people who lost their lives to the Spanish Flu (1918). As we developed, so too did microorganisms. 🧵14/31
Plagues and other infectious diseases have no doubtfully threatened humans for as long as we have lived with animals, but the first documented epidemic is believed to have occurred in Athens in the year 430BC, killing up to 75, 000 people or 25% of the population. 🧵13/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Plagues and other infectious diseases have no doubtfully threatened humans for as long as we have lived with animals, but the first documented epidemic is believed to have occurred in Athens in the year 430BC, killing up to 75, 000 people or 25% of the population. 🧵13/31
As humans shifted away from hunting and gathering, and became more dependent on agriculture as well as the domestication of animals, it changed the course of infectious diseases. 🧵11/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
As humans shifted away from hunting and gathering, and became more dependent on agriculture as well as the domestication of animals, it changed the course of infectious diseases. 🧵11/31
Although there is evidence for small settlements dating back 300,000 years ago, the first evidence for a civilisation on a city scale is that of Catalhoyuk in southern Anatolia in Turkey. Remains of this city have been dated to 9, 000 years ago. 🧵10/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Although there is evidence for small settlements dating back 300,000 years ago, the first evidence for a civilisation on a city scale is that of Catalhoyuk in southern Anatolia in Turkey. Remains of this city have been dated to 9, 000 years ago. 🧵10/31
Soon afterward the first agricultural revolution would begin. This period would see many people transition from a nomadic life to that of a farmer, creating the conditions for permanent settlements.🧵9/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Soon afterward the first agricultural revolution would begin. This period would see many people transition from a nomadic life to that of a farmer, creating the conditions for permanent settlements.🧵9/31
In 2020, a research team from South Korea put forward a mathematical model testing 3 hypotheses for the extinction of Neanderthals: that they were assimilated into H. Sapiens, a climate catastrophe or that H. Sapiens outcompeted them. The findings point to the last case.🧵7/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
In 2020, a research team from South Korea put forward a mathematical model testing 3 hypotheses for the extinction of Neanderthals: that they were assimilated into H. Sapiens, a climate catastrophe or that H. Sapiens outcompeted them. The findings point to the last case.🧵7/31
Some people living in Euroasia are believed to be composed of up to 2% of Neanderthal DNA. While people living in Oceania were found to have between 2-4% of Denisovan DNA. 🧵4/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Some people living in Euroasia are believed to be composed of up to 2% of Neanderthal DNA. While people living in Oceania were found to have between 2-4% of Denisovan DNA. 🧵4/31
At one point, some time around 300,000 years ago, up to 9 hominid species roamed the Earth. But by 40,000 years ago, we Homo Sapiens were the only ones left. More than just being the last ones left, we now carry the genetic code of these ancient hominids. 🧵3/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
At one point, some time around 300,000 years ago, up to 9 hominid species roamed the Earth. But by 40,000 years ago, we Homo Sapiens were the only ones left. More than just being the last ones left, we now carry the genetic code of these ancient hominids. 🧵3/31
In part 3, we reached the point where humans had left Africa. In the final part of our story, we look at what ,we humans have learned about life , and how we have come to use it for our own purposes and finally we consider how some are now looking beyond this planet. 🧵2/31
April 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
In part 3, we reached the point where humans had left Africa. In the final part of our story, we look at what ,we humans have learned about life , and how we have come to use it for our own purposes and finally we consider how some are now looking beyond this planet. 🧵2/31