Gary Grant retweeted
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A journey across the islands to help native #woodlands grow 🌱 This autumn, #volunteers from the Uists, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis travelled to #Skye to collect seeds from native trees, including hazel, hawthorn, dog rose, downy birch and elder.
Gary Grant retweeted
Roughly 580 million years ago, bizarre biological structures larger than humans thrived in complete oceanic darkness despite lacking a mouth or gut.
Paleontologists call these ancient entities rangeomorphs.
These deep-sea anomalies dominated the planet long before true animals, yet their exact classification remains a profound scientific puzzle.
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Gary Grant retweeted
La seda es una de las mayores maravillas que la naturaleza y el ingenio humano han producido, venerada desde hace milenios como la reina de las fibras textiles por su caída perfecta, su delicadeza al tacto y su icónico brillo natural.
Su historia, ligada estrechamente al arte, el comercio y la alta costura, abarca miles de años de evolución cultural y fascinación científica.
A diferencia de las fibras artificiales que intentan imitarla, la belleza de la seda pura proviene de su estructura microscópica única.
El hilo producido por el gusano de seda (Bombyx mori) no es cilíndrico, sino que tiene una estructura triangular similar a la de un prisma.
La historia de la seda comenzó en la antigua China hace más de 4,500 años. Según la leyenda, la emperatriz Leizu (esposa del Emperador Amarillo) estaba tomando el té bajo una planta de morera cuando un capullo de gusano cayó dentro de su taza caliente.
Al intentar sacarlo, descubrió que el capullo comenzaba a desenredarse en un hilo largo, suave y extremadamente fuerte.
Those aren't ears on this nudibranch's head — they're "rhinophores!"
These ear-like structures help these sea slugs detect chemicals in the water and can be smell or taste receptors.
Learn more about unusual ocean animals like this one at oceana.ly/4BtwGba
Gary Grant retweeted
The claim nuclear is more reliable than renewables is a myth.
WindWaterSolar has not only met a higher percent (12.8%) of demand during its worst 5 minutes in all of 2026 than nuclear during its best 5 minutes (12.0%), but has also met seasonal & daily demand better than nuclear from 2023-26 on the @CaliforniaISO grid.
WWS output (left) is predictably consistent all year, peaking in early summer close to demand (late summer)
Nuclear output is flat most of the year (not following demand). The rest of the year (1-2 months), it decreases by 50%.
P.S., WWS' peak 5-minute output in 2026 is 165% of demand, or 13.75 times that of nuclear's peak output vs demand (12.0%).
Gary Grant retweeted
Useful reminder to those complaining about refugees in Europe: if you want less refugees, your main enemy is the US Military Industrial Complex.
Gary Grant retweeted
There are mussel shells along Midwestern rivers with neat circles cut out of them. The missing pieces went onto somebody’s shirt.
By 1905, Muscatine, Iowa, was producing 1.5 billion buttons a year. Workers cut them from freshwater mussel shells hauled out of American rivers. “Pearl buttons” came from the shell itself, the lustrous inner layer called mother-of-pearl.
The harvesting equipment was simple and ugly. A boat dragged lines of metal hooks across a mussel bed. When a hook touched the animal inside, it clamped shut. Its own reflex helped pull it out of the river.
At the factories, workers drilled circular blanks from the shells, ground and polished them, then drilled the sewing holes. Women sorted the finished buttons by color. A clothing manufacturer wanted thousands that matched. The river supplied different species, different shades.
As nearby beds thinned out, suppliers went farther afield. Mussels take years to grow. A factory could cut through the supply much faster.
In 1908, Congress established the Fairport Biological Station near Muscatine to research and propagate freshwater mussels. Button manufacturers supplied the land. Their industry had reached the point where keeping the animals reproducing had become a federal research problem.
The punched shells went back into rivers or found other uses. In Indiana, factory waste surfaced roads and walkways. Some lined graves.
A shell full of round holes is worth a second look. You’re seeing what was left after someone cut the merchandise out.
Gary Grant retweeted
LOOK! Decorator Crabs are the most incredible crustaceans, literally invisible as they manoeuvre through the reef! 🦀🪸
Gary Grant retweeted
The hornbill approved…@BBC birdwatching article posted 15:33, landed on the balcony 15:35… #Singapore #hornbill
Birdwatching rewires the brain and slows cognitive decline bbc.com/future/article/20261…
Gary Grant retweeted
This close-up of a Jumping Spider covered in pollen, captured by photographer John Oliver Dum, won second place in the 2026 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition
Gary Grant retweeted
Basic education piece:
Not all Jewish people are Zionists.
Lots of Zionists aren't Jews.
The Board of Deputies largely self identity as Zionists.
The Media often report the Board of Deputies as the opinion of Jewish people.
Yet many Jewish people say #NotInOurName
Gary Grant retweeted
Fritillaria imperialis L.
Liliaceae
Fars province, Iran
April 2026
Elevation 2550m
It is the best-known native bulbous plant in Iran, deeply rooted in Iranian culture, especially among the local communities of the Zagros Mountains.
#Fritillaria #liliaceae #botany #ecology
Gary Grant retweeted
Professor @Glenn_Diesen's account is a rather damning reflection of what Europe’s current political class has become.
Apparently, we have reached a point where political narratives are so fragile, and the egos defending them even more so, that factual dissenting arguments are no longer met with evidence and reason, but with labels, smears, and increasingly, sanctions.
One might have expected Europe’s leaders to demonstrate intellectual confidence, political maturity, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable questions. Instead, too many appear more interested in policing the boundaries of acceptable opinion than examining the consequences of their own policies.
And after years of deteriorating European security, diminishing diplomatic influence, and increasingly questionable political judgment, perhaps a little more introspection would be in order.
But then again, defending a narrative is considerably easier than defending a record.
How utterly pathetic.
@battleforeurope @LostinEU @JudgingFreedom @Truly60
The very public execution of my professorship and reputation continues in Norway. Today’s media article about me makes three claims that are misleading and/or false.
1) The article dismisses my claim that my research is being criminalized as the journalists merely cite the dismissive comments from the university - no arguments are apparently required.
It is not possible for an academic anymore to analyse the policies of rival powers by assessing their security concerns, as it will be smeared by the government, the government’s NGOs and the media as “legitimizing” the enemy and supporting their narratives. The current Defence Minister singled me out with the accusation of spreading propaganda and criticised two podcasters for even speaking with me (as I have already been cancelled by the media in Norway). How was this accusation by the Defence Minister substantiated? I had argued that NATO expansion triggered the war in Ukraine, which the Defence Minister denounce as dangerous “Russian propaganda”, with no need to substantiate his vile accusation. I can cite a sea of evidence and also refer to statements by American and European political leaders, ambassadors, intelligence chiefs, and others to make my case. However, the purpose is not to engage in debate, but to smear, censor, and cancel. By going after an individual academic for challenging official truths, the government has already claimed a monopoly on the truth. Academics should have their arguments scrutinised and criticised, but these are severe personal attacks from the government without the possibility of even defending myself. How is this not criminalising the research of an academic?
I cannot even speak at any events in Norway without the event being cancelled. The last event I agreed to speak at was because I shared the stage with the former CIA officer John Kiriakou. A newspaper had the event at a church cancelled, and when the backup location did not also cancel, the journalist simply printed in the paper that it had been cancelled so people would not show up. Is this normal? I must use my allotted holiday days to attend conferences because any event I attend can be presented as “controversial,” and then the NGOs and journalists will go after the reputation of the university. Is this normal? Every newspaper article about me merely refers to me as “controversial” or “pro-Russian” without ever assigning meaning to these labels or presenting my argument.
I have argued, much like former CIA director Burns, that if the West attempts to pull Ukraine into the NATO orbit, then there would be war and Ukraine would be destroyed. This is considered a “pro-Russian” argument. Arguing that we should respect the will of most Ukrainians who want negotiations to end the war is also considered a “pro-Russian” argument, while in contrast, boycotting diplomacy, deporting Ukrainian refugees, and calling for the conscription of Ukrainian women is “pro-Ukrainian”.
2) To avoid addressing any of my arguments, the journalists go on to uncritically cite personal attacks against me, pointing out that I have been called a propagandist by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. This is a “non-governmental organisation” financed by the government and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which was set up by Reagan and the CIA director in 1983 to manipulate the civil society of other states. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee has been relentless in its smears on social media to have me fired, writing hit pieces in the media, pushing to cancel my speaking events, writing a letter to my university, and even posting a picture of my house on social media. This is a governmental "human rights organisation" that cites human rights concerns to build the case for war.
3) Lastly, to further avoid addressing my actual arguments, they simply cite the fact that arguments I made at a debate last year have been “wholly or partially debunked” by a fact-check. The state-run media (NRK) invited the state-run military defence institute (FFI) to fact-check three of my claims. What claims did they "debunk"?
My first claim was that only 20% of Ukrainians wanted NATO membership between 1991 and the regime change in February 2014. The fact-checker argued that the number went up by the middle of 2014 (after Russia responded by seizing Crimea), which is a completely meaningless comment intended to muddy the waters, as my argument was about the previous era.
My second claim was that Zelensky had argued in an interview with The Economist in March 2022 that there were some Western countries that would like a long war with Russia to weaken a strategic rival, even if it would result in the destruction of Ukraine. The fact-checker argued that not all Western countries wanted a long war and that it was not an official policy. I never claimed it was an official policy, as it was primarily the US and UK pushing for a long war.
My third claim was that the US and UK sabotaged the Istanbul peace agreement in April 2022. The fact-checker claimed this was incorrect and suggested that it could only be based on one statement by David Arakhamia. The fact-checker did not want to mention that both mediators also confirmed it: Turkey’s foreign minister and the former Israeli prime minister both said that Russia and Ukraine were close to a deal, but the US and UK saw an opportunity to weaken Russia by fighting with Ukrainians. Zelensky’s former adviser Arestovych confirmed it, and the Ukrainian ambassador Chaly, who participated in the negotiations, confirmed that Putin was willing to do almost anything to end the war. The former head of the German armed forces confirmed that Boris Johnson sabotaged it, and Boris Johnson himself wrote articles warning about a “bad peace” and arguing for “strategic patience.” I am being fact-checked by war propagandists.
Unfortunately, none of my arguments matter because in Norway there is no debate and no interest in any arguments. Reality means nothing anymore as war narratives must be defended against inconvenient truths. I used to be naïve and think that the endless smears were caused by misunderstanding, as I had simply not been able to convey my arguments properly. However, the endless articles with smears and labels are deliberate lies and deceptions.
Gary Grant retweeted
69% of the world's fresh water is currently used in agriculture. Industry accounts for 19%, while only 12% is used by households and communities. Today's industrial agriculture is also destroying biodiversity. We need to rethink.💚☘️🌿🌱🌲🌳🍀💚
Gary Grant retweeted
Again.
Gary Grant retweeted
🌳@wakelyns Agroforestry Tree Management Booklet 📖
This resource from @OrgResCent captures expertise & lessons in #Agroforestry management from retired Wakelyns Head Arborist Paul Jackson, highlighting the key challenges & changes.
Learn more ➡️ agricology.co.uk/resource/wa…
Gary Grant retweeted
Other work by the Ladybird artists
Song Thrush and Cyclamen (1960)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Gary Grant retweeted
Dounreay had a near Chernobyl style runaway reaction in 1968 and dumped the evidence, (most of the core bar the melted rods which could not be removed and are still there for you to see), down a low level waste shaft in the cliff. Despite dropping a tonne of boronated glass on top of it, it went critical in 1978, ejecting its contents as far as the foreshore and destroying the rock structure such that the sea bed and foreshore are now so contaminated that they cannot be remediated. I know because I made the documentary - though the runaway criticality that caused the shaft explosion was not included because that evidence only came to light later on. Never a full public inquiry nor lessons taken and learned. But let’s not get hung up on ‘outdated policies’ eh?
We must not forget that Dounreay helped keep the lights on in the glens.
We have the site, the skills and the community to host a small modular reactor. The Scottish Government must move beyond outdated policies and unlock Highland energy opportunities.
johnogroat-journal.co.uk/new…


















































