It's #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience, #11February. What better time to learn about June Almeida (1930-2007), a Glasgow-born lab technician with no formal qualifications who discovered human coronavirus in 1964. Read more from @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social: www.nms.ac.uk/discover-cat...

To celebrate Women in STEM day on Wednesday 11 February we’ve printed some banners to highlight some of the incredible work that the women of Bio Sci at Bristol have achieved over the years! Pop into the LSB for the remainder of Feb to check out who’s done what and when!

Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.

The production of organic matter and its consumption by heterotrophs, including microbes and animals, is a defining feature of almost all life on Earth. But these two processes also govern our climate and environment, controlling CO2 levels and the oxygenation of the atmosphere.

Rage Against the Miocene@organiccarbon.bsky.social · last yr.

Earth system feedbacks are very complex - there are positive but also negative feedbacks; tipping points that are subject not just to thresholds but the rate of change. Our new paper reveals some of that complexity with respect to the composition of peat vegetation: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Bumper and Peanut, two very good bois from Medical Detection Dogs, have been trained to sniff out Parkinson's disease in a study from the Uni of Bristol Vet School and @manchester.ac.uk. Hey @rorycj.bsky.social do you think #SophieFromRomania wants to sign up? www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/ju...

Bio Detection dogs successfully detect Parkinson’s disease by odour, study finds

People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have an odour that can be reliably detected from skin swabs by trained dogs, a new study shows. The research, in collaboration with Medical Detection Dogs and the ...

bristol.ac.uk

My thanks to @capcbristol.bsky.social for publicising (www.bristol.ac.uk/primaryhealt...) the Friends and Family Handbook (www.womensaid.org.uk/information-...) recently launched by Women's Aid Federation of England. The handbook is for informal supporters of someone experiencing domestic abuse.

New Friends and Family Handbook gives advice on how to support someone experiencing domestic abuse

A new Friends and Family Handbook, written by Dr Alison Gregory, an Independent Academic and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, has been la...

bristol.ac.uk

Every day she dreads watching that final swirl of soapy water disappear. It means facing whatever is on the other side of the shower door. Soon, it will carry blood. #30Words30Days #Swirl

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 3 - Swirl Happy Writings! ✏️ #swirl #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #30words30daysJune2025

Taking a few deep breaths, I gather up all my courage. Other people find this so easy. Finally, I click ‘Share screen’. ‘Thank you everyone for coming to this webinar…’ #30Words30Days #gather

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 30 - Gather Happy Writings! ✏️ #30words30daysCommunity #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #writingprompts #prompts

My bow lands on the strings. Three triumphant chords, then a lilting melody which lowers and fades, awaiting the… non-existent orchestra. I’m no Jacqueline du Pré, but I can dream.

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 29 - String Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #String

Engine rumbling, metal clanging, the skip truck rolled away, taking with it the jettisoned trappings of their life together. She wished she could chuck out her unwanted memories as easily. #30Words30Days #Skip

After scrolling through Facebook, browsing Instagram, watching a couple of cute cat videos, checking the headlines and eventually contemplating a blank document, I finally admit defeat on yesterday’s #30Words30Days #challenge.

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 25 - Challenge Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #Challenge

He rummaged through his desk drawers, his coat pockets and his shopping bag, to no avail. Eventually a seven-year-old came to the rescue. ‘Your glasses are on your head, Grandad.' #30Words30Days #rummage

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 26 - Rummage Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #Rummage

As the girls approached, he flexed his biceps in the traditional strongman pose, muscles rippling under his tanned, oiled skin. Eyes locked on the ice-cream van, they walked straight past. #30Words30Days #ripple

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 24 - Ripple Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #ripple

Pigeon pecks at spilt seed Overconfident, not seeing how the Undergrowth trembles with feline excitement Now at last, her chance - Cat pounces, claws spring out Explosion of feathers and blood #30Words30Days #POUNCE p.s. It got away, but there are still feathers all over my garden!

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 23 - Pounce Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #pounce

‘I’ve lost the thread,’ my mother cries in distress. Alas, she’s right. Her thoughts and memories are springing apart, unweaving like Penelope’s tapestries, collecting torn and raw-edged around her feet. #30Words30Days #weave

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 22 - Weave Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #weave

We attached all kinds of things to our instruments; a knotted handkerchief, a cloth tote bag, even an old sock. COVID precautions certainly made wind band rehearsals a bit different. #30Words30Days #wind

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 21 - Wind Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #wind

I prepare the family feast; chopping, dicing, sprinkling herbs, adding seasoning, basting and stirring. ‘Eww what’s these twigs?’ ‘Bit spicy for me.’ ‘Is there ketchup?’ Next year they’re getting pizza. #30Words30Days #feast

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 20 - Feast Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #feast

Hannah swooped down on the mouse, plonking an ice-cream tub over it. ‘I’m taking this outside.’ Felix, who’d been planning hours of fun with the squeaky toy, lashed his tail. #30Words30Days #swoop

Calum launched himself down the waterslide with a joyous yell, which changed tone on his parting company with the mat, and again on his crotch’s encounter with a loose rivet. #30Words30Days #Slide

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 18 - Slide Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #slide

‘This session will stretch your mind as well as your body,’ intoned the yoga instructor on the screen. ‘Good for you luv,’ said Louise, stretching for her glass of wine. #30Words30Days #Stretch (This was genuinely on the yoga video I chose to do this morning. I did actually do the yoga though!)

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 17 - Stretch Happy Writings! ✏️ #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #FlashFiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #ShortWriting #30words30daysCommunity #WritingPrompts #prompts #Stretch

She paused to collect herself, looking round at her once beloved home, the photos, the trinkets. Then she walked out for the last time. No-one found the body for days. #30words30days #Collect

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 16 - Collect Happy Writings! ✏️ #writingcommunity #amwriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #shortwriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #collect

She wiggles her hips, slowly at first, then faster, before performing a series of graceful springs, each one higher than the last. No use. Still can’t do up her jeans.

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 15 - Wiggle Happy Writings! ✏️ #writingcommunity #amwriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #shortwriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #wiggle

‘Just pop your clothes off, pop up on the bed and I’ll pop along in a moment with the speculum.’ Cervical smears sound a lot more fun than they are. #30Words30Days #Pop #WhyAllThePopping

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 14 - Pop Happy Writings! ✏️ #writingcommunity #amwriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #shortwriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #pop

That glugglug-fizz from the first champagne of the night was one of her favourite sounds. She was less enamoured of the tinkle-fizz of the morning Alka-Seltzers. #30Words30Days #fizz

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 13 - Fizz Happy Writings! ✏️ #writingcommunity #amwriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #shortwriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #fizz

The Spanish called him a vicious pirate, who attacked ships and plundered their treasure. The English knew him as the hero explorer Francis Drake. Always check who's telling the story. #30Words30Days #plunder

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 12 - Plunder Happy Writings! ✏️ #writingcommunity #amwriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #shortwriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #plunder

Elsie wandered down to the beach, and disappeared. The tide took her, folks said. Only gulls get close enough to Joe’s houseboat to hear her laughter, and they’re not telling. #30Words30Days #wander

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 11 - Wander Happy Writings! ✏️ #writingcommunity #amwriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #shortwriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #wander

This week's bit for @bylinetimes.bsky.social commemorates that time I was ceremonially cut in two and disemboweled by the NHS. Caution: contains Andrew Lansley (No paywall) www.bylinesupplement.com/p/russell-jo...

Russell Jones's Week Moment: My Cancerversary

15 years after the removal from his kidney of the biggest tumour in Stockport, Russell Jones commemorates the agony and reflects on the heroism of the NHS doctors and nurses who saw him through

bylinesupplement.com

‘What activities does she like?’ The walls are hung with bright, daubed paintings and clumsy needlework. The care home nurse smiles; I fight back tears. The parent-child switch is complete. #30Words30Days #Switch

Danielle Baldock ✏️@danielle-baldock.bsky.social · last yr.

#30words30days Day 10 - Switch Happy Writings! ✏️ #writingcommunity #amwriting #flashfiction #microfiction #microlit #writing #shortwriting #30words30dayscommunity #writingprompts #prompts #switch

Pls re-skeet! There's a postdoc job available to join us in Bristol! We're looking for a molecular cell biologist to help us investigate plasma membrane proteostasis in neurons. Apply here by 23 April: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMO097/r.... If interested, do contact me and check out grieve-lab.com! Thanks!