Martin Hodson
@martinjhodson.bsky.social
Work at both universities in Oxford, UK. Teach climate and biodiversity loss. Research in plant, archaeological and environmental science. Investigating carbon sequestration in phytoliths within the soil. Principal Tutor for www.cres.org.uk
REMINDER: Trump has overseen a larger fall in coal-fired power than any other US president (ie, other things equal, the EPA repealing power-plant CO2 rules means more coal power,…but other things are not equal, because most coal plants are old and expensive) www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-tru...
My recent paper has been reviewed! bioengineer.org/forty-five-y...
Forty-five years studying plant silicon and phytoliths: a personal
When Martin J. Hodson walked through the door of Dafydd Wynn Parry’s office at Bangor University in Wales on 20 October 1980, he had no idea that the encounter would define the next four and a half d
bioengineer.org
If you are in the Bedfordshire, UK area, then this event might appeal to you!
August was joint-hottest month ever recorded globally - Temperatures reached 1.65C above preindustrial levels, months before #ElNino system reaches full strength @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social #climatecrisis Story by @fionaharvey.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...
August was joint-hottest month ever recorded globally
Temperatures reached 1.65C above preindustrial levels, months before El Niño system reaches full strength
theguardian.com
Thanks to the International Phytolith Society (IPS) for posting my blog, "A new personal history of plant silicon and #phytolith research", promoting my recent paper. #plantscience 🧪 🏺 phytoliths.org/blog/4807/a-...
My latest paper is a cross between autobiography, history and review. 45 years of plant silicon and #phytolith research!! #PlantScience #SoilScience 🧪 🏺 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
This is what the billionaire press and many politicians were campaigning so hard to destroy. Their freedom to drive took precedence over our children's freedom to thrive. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
Researchers find capacity stunted by pollution restored after introduction of ultra-low emission zone
theguardian.com
Just received proofs for The Routledge Handbook of Ecotheology. We have an incredible group of scholars and it was a privilege to work with each one. Take a look at the TOC. We’re hoping it’ll be out this autumn.
‘We cannot magic up more water’: the supply problems putting housing targets in England at risk
‘We cannot magic up more water’: the supply problems putting housing targets in England at risk
Council leaders say crumbling infrastructure and lack of water are jeopardising government’s plans for new homes The government’s housebuilding agenda is hitting the stark reality of a lack of water and crumbling infrastructure across the east and south-east of England. Half the country was declared to be in serious drought this week, for the second consecutive year, with the Environment Agency warning of dire consequences for the economy, environment and wildlife. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Extremely scary findings’ show #climatecrisis is supercharging Europe’s wildfire weather - Latest study says global heating has made hot, dry and windy conditions in Spain at least 20 times more likely @wwattribution.bsky.social Story by me www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
‘Extremely scary findings’ show climate crisis is supercharging Europe’s wildfire weather
Latest study says global heating has made hot, dry and windy conditions in Spain at least 20 times more likely
theguardian.com
A cave in GunaiKurnai Country holds 25,000 years of burnt grass, laid down layer by layer, plus a standing stone erected 2,000 years ago. New phytolith evidence backs up what oral tradition always said. #Archaeology #IndigenousKnowledge #Archaeobotany www.anthropology.net/p/grasses-of...
Grasses of Grief and Ghosts: What 25,000 Years of Ash Tell Us About Ritual at Cloggs Cave
A Australian cave site shows people burning grass, deliberately and repeatedly, for longer than agriculture has existed anywhere on Earth
anthropology.net
The Daily Telegraph has raced through all five stages of climate denial this week. But this is, perhaps, the most ridiculous column so far: "Without minimising the severe downsides…especially on some poorer nations, many in Britain would enjoy the kind of warmer climate predicted by modellers..."
So, I finally did a TED talk, and it got released today. I seem to have been quite intense, but I'm grateful they left in my Trump joke. www.ted.com/talks/bill_m...
Our last, best chance to cool the Earth
We're living through oil wars, wildfire smoke and extreme weather driven by a warming planet. But environmentalist Bill McKibben says one thing is finally going right: the price of clean energy has pl...
ted.com
Friendly reminder that these things aren't impacted by closing the Strait of Hormuz so maybe, just maybe, we should implement them to avoid being impacted by future conflicts: -Solar panels -Wind turbines -Battery storage -Electric vehicles -Bicycles -Natural fertilizers -Electric heat pumps
++BREAKING++ The Daily Telegraph has... *rubs eyes* ...published something sensible about climate change: "I’m coming to the view that the Online Right is going wrong, eschewing compassion or charm, talking itself into corners of angry irrelevance. Take climate change."
This looks like a promising development. BBC News - Going with the flow: Renewable energy battery breakthrough www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Renewable energy: QUB flow battery breakthrough
A 3D-printed battery designed at Queen's University Belfast could speed up energy storage research.
bbc.co.uk
“So next time someone tells you Canada’s fires can be solved by raking the forests, you can point out that the thing filling their sky with smoke is a lightning-struck, drought-primed boreal forest doing what a warming climate is making it do more and more often.”
Canada's boreal wildfires aren't just bad forest management
Higher fire season temperatures are strongly correlated with increased area burned
theclimatebrink.com
🚨 Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels and exposure to their volatile prices is costly In the 100 days since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran, the EU had to pay an additional 37 billion euros due to the fossil fuel price shock Enter electrification 👇 🧵1/3
Have you been to a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing yet? Find one near you: www.nebriefing.org/screening-map Or maybe consider hosting one in your community or workplace with our guidance: www.nebriefing.org/host-the-film #NationalEmergencyBriefing #PEBuk #climatecrisis
National Emergency Briefing
Find a People's Emergency Briefing screening near you, or spot a gap that you can fill by hosting a screening.
nebriefing.org
In the Church Times today! I helped put this document together. Hope it encourages individuals and churches to take action. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
Tackling climate change integral to Christian discipleship, Bishops’ teaching document says
Environment essential to following Jesus, Archbishops of Canterbury and York say
churchtimes.co.uk
Why Does California's Pygmy Forest Stay So Impossibly Tiny? Pygmy Forest trees are 100-150 years old yet only reach 6-8 feet tall, 40 times smaller than normal conifers Hardpan soil layer blocks water and nutrient up... #BotanicalMysteries #CaliforniaNaturalWonders #PlantBiology #Nature #Science
Why Does California's Pygmy Forest Stay So Impossibly Tiny?
Pygmy Forest trees are 100-150 years old yet only reach 6-8 feet tall, 40 times smaller than normal conifers Hardpan soil layer blocks water and nutrient uptake, creating the extreme dwarfing effect T
mazingamazingly.blogspot.com
Hope for All Creation is a theological response to the environmental crises from the @churchofengland.org I was pleased to be involved in writing this document (particularly the science sections) which can be downloaded for free here: www.churchofengland.org/sites/defaul...
It feels deeply ironic to be posting about climate scepticism when today is likely to break the temperature record Again.
The John Ray Initiative@johnrayinitiative.bsky.social · 3mo agoThe science of climate change has been clearly established for decades. We are seeing the impacts now with worse to come. Yet, as Ian Paul's recent blog demonstrates, scepticism persists. Martin Hodson challenges the sceptics & finds encouragement in the rise of renewables jri.org.uk/climate-chan...
Reform UK councillors have introduced a motion to rescind King's Lynn and West Norfolk's climate emergency declaration and deprioritise decarbonisation efforts The council were going to vote on it on Thursday But the meeting has been postponed due to extreme heat
This talk by Benjamin Moller is the first time I have seen anything on carbon sequestration in #phytoliths not in a phytolith or plant silica meeting. It relates this to enhanced weathering. I have been thinking this way for a while, but this guy has done it!! Excellent! youtu.be/1DAwuJSLQ5Y?...
CDI Symposium 2026: Phytolith-occluded organic carbon, Benjamin Möller
YouTube video by Dirk Paessler
youtu.be
🎉 Incredible milestone for clean energy in the UK: over £100 billion has been invested since our government came into office, increasing our energy security and generating more green jobs and growth than ever. 👉 Find out more via @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Calling all who are working in Biblical Studies, Theology, Ancient Languages (Greek & Hebrew), Early Christianity, Church history, Ecclesiology and are from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacifica Region. Please comment if you'd like to be added. go.bsky.app/EgfsUDM
Im still in disbelief. Each new model that comes out - somehow - raises the expectation of a record breaking El Niño incoming. If for nothing other than my own clarity, I need to plot it - just to see how 2026 stacks up “IF” the models are right. And as you can see… holy cow! 1/
After 22 years at the helm of CRES as Principal Tutor, I have announced that I wish to step down in September 2027. This will allow time for a good handover. We have split my role in two (PT and Conference Organiser) to make it more manageable. We are alos looking for a paid partime administrator.
The John Ray Initiative@johnrayinitiative.bsky.social · 3mo agoJoin the team! We’re recruiting for three key roles to support the Christian Rural and Environmental Studies distance learning course. 1. Principal Tutor 2. Conference Organiser 3. Administrator Find out more, including full details of how to apply, on our website. cres.org.uk/join-the-cre...
