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John Manners

@jmaus.bsky.social
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The International Congress of Plant Pathology is coming to the Gold Coast, Australia in a couple of years time 🧪 #plantscience #plantimmunity www.icpp2028.org
icpp2028.org
ICPP 2028
ICPP 2028 - 13th International Congress of Plant Pathology from 19-25 August at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Queensland Australia
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
In my experience there is a perhaps justifiable fear in Ag biotech companies of the rapid evolutionary potential of microbial pathogens to overcome GM disease resistance. These traits need a big upfront investment and need to have some durability to be commercially viable.
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Fungi now recognised in Australia as the 3rd living kingdom alongside flora and fauna. Permitting potential conservation legislation. Everyone is wondering why this has it taken so long and where does it leave the Oomycetes? 🧪🌱🪴 #plantscience #plantimmunity #fungi www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
abc.net.au
Fungi fans celebrate its recognition as nature's third living kingdom
The Australian Labor Party's national platform now explicitly recognises fungi alongside flora and fauna.
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
A sad day, hearing that Sam Neil has died. A terrific actor and winemaker, and genuine nice guy. RIP Sam
A photo of Sam Neil, a great film actor from New Zealand A bottle of 2 Paddocks Pinot Noir wine - from Sam Neils’s winery
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
A mind-bending application of AI and AI agents to develop and interrogate plant development and response networks by accessing all historical literature on plant gene functions. A staggering AI tour de force from the UQ node of @coeplantsuccess.bsky.social 🧪 #plantscience sciety.org/articles/act...
sciety.org
FLASH-P: Turning decades of biology into accurate causal networks with AI agents
Mechanistic networks that encode causal regulatory logic can predict the effects of genetic and environmental perturbations but constructing them is a bottleneck in systems biology because the relevan...
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Beethoven deservedly grabs first and second spot on the ABC’s top 100 ‘greatest of all time’classical music competition. #music #classical #beethoven
Top five pieces in ABC classical music competition. Beethoven’s 9th symphony wins, his Emporer piano concerto second, Holst The Planets third, Vaughan Williams Lark Ascdnding fourth and Handel Messiah fifth
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Do you love classical music? This weekend is when Australia’s ABC reveals what we have voted as the 100 Greatest of All Time pieces of classical, screen & indigenous music. Make sure you connect with 1-50 on Sunday for a musical treat #music #classical #soundtrack www.abc.net.au/listen/class...
abc.net.au
1 to 100 - ABC Classic 100: Greatest Of All Time - ABC Classic
What's the greatest piece of classical music of all time? Cast your vote to have your say, and then find out as ABC Classic count down the Classic 100 on June 6 and 7, 2026
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
British Blues nostalgia - Mick Taylor lights up 'Walking on Sunset' at John Mayall's 70th Birthday party ~ 20 years ago #music #bluessky #bluesmusic www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...
google.com
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers , Mick Taylor - Walking On Sunset
Other videos of this concert in my playlist - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Friends, 70th Birthday Concert 2003
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
👏https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DFKKTdJcln4Y&ved=2ahUKEwibioyx8MGUAxVp1jQHHaJ7PB4Q3aoNegQIZRAK&usg=AOvVaw2Lm9ih3btl6jOT8gWUX1zs
google.com
Strawbs - The Hangman (GasTank Ep 4) | Rick Wakeman
SUBSCRIBE: https://rick-wakeman.lnk.to/subscribe WATCH GasTank Ep 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM-imbOdzIE BUY: https://www.rickwakemansmusicemporium.com/ GasTank was an English television show that aired between 1982–1983 on Channel 4. Hosted by Rick Wakeman and Tony Ashton the show featured a mix of interviews with 1970s musicians and impromptu performances where the guest artist would join Rick and Tony with their house band in playing re-arranged versions of their classic songs, or entirely new pieces created for the show. EPISODE 4: Tony Ashton Steve Harley, Rick Wakeman And His Band - Mr Soft Interview: Steve Harley Tony Ashton, Rick Wakeman And His Band - It's Weird... Strawbs, Rick Wakeman And His Band - The Hangman Interview: Strawbs Rick Wakeman - Elgin Mansions Tony Ashton, Rick Wakeman And His Band - Jam & The Blues John Entwistle, Rick Wakeman And His Band - Twist & Shout Interview: John Entwistle John Entwistle, Steve Harley, Rick Wakeman And His Band - Go America FOLLOW RICK: Website: http://www.rwcc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RickWakemanMusic Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrumpyOldRick Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rickwakemanmusic/
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success @coeplantsuccess.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Registrations close on Friday 22 May! Don't miss your opportunity to build your capacity in applied #AI for #Agriculture at this free event: bit.ly/AI_WS
bit.ly
Winter School in AI and Predictive Agriculture - Plant Success
The Winter School in AI and Predictive Agriculture is a free event to share the collective learnings of experts from The University of Queensland in the use of AI and predictive analytics in Agricultu...
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
#bluesmusic #bluessky
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
If, like me, you lived through the British Blues movement of the late 1960s & early 70s you might know the Keef Hartley Band. One of their best pieces, particularly live, was Born to Die - here is an elusive link to the track #blues youtu.be/Vi2Kt0mbcIY
youtu.be
Keef Hartley Band - Born To Die
YouTube video by HugeTimeLoss
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Roger is smart and kind man and a scientist with great integrity. He should be listened to, not silenced.
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Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 09/05/2026
David Pocock applauds $387.4m in extra funding for CSIRO after tens of thousands sign petition
theguardian.com
David Pocock applauds $387.4m in extra funding for CSIRO after tens of thousands sign petition
Analysis commissioned by independent senator found national science agency’s funding is at its lowest since 1978 The Albanese government will boost funding to CSIRO by $387.4 million in a bid to meet the long-term costs of the national science agency. It follows months of advocacy by scientists and staff after hundreds of job cuts and cost-cutting measures. Continue reading...
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Silk exchange, holy grail, and Cathedral
Twisted design on columns with a gothic ceiling and moorish influenced portals at the Valencia silk exchange The ‘holy grail’ on display in a gold display above a chapel alter in Valencia Cathedral A close-up of the ‘holy grail’- (downloaded photo) from Valencia tourism site Photo of Cathedral showing towers and treed square
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Valencia top three highlights. Stunning light show on the ‘Sistine Chapel’-like ceiling of St Nicholas church, East/West fusion renaissance architecture at the Silk Exchange, the ‘holy grail’ on display in the Cathedral #spain #valencia
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
I just saw an interview with a Palantir leader saying that AI will be completely safe because they are using AI to develop foolproof systems to detect AI- generated outputs (eg images) that we encounter when we using AI. What could possibly go wrong? I guess I will just have ask AI for an answer?
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
The history, community and beauty of Cadiz is stunning and well worth preserving - while still welcoming visitors
A coastal vista showing the Cadiz cathedral next to the ocean The historical castle of San Sebastián at the end of a 770 metre causeway An attractive cobbled palm lined street in CadizA Roman mosaic from Cadiz in the Cadiz museum
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Cadiz also host many large cruise ships - I just counted four here. Although these don’t ruin residential neighbourhoods and bring business revenue & employment their size and sheer number is reaching a tipping point of capacity for such a small intimate city
Two cruise ships berthed in Cadiz port
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Cadiz is a beautiful place, one of Europe’s oldest cities. Its old town, port, historical atmosphere & hospitality, together with great beaches attracts many many tourists. Cadiz is now at the epicentre of resistance to short term rentals eg AirBnB etc squeezing community & culture #cadiz thread -
A cartoon showing an old Spanish couple with suitcases leaving an apartment as young tourists in shorts and T shirts arriveA poster in Spanish protesting real estate speculation fueled by tourismA banner across a street saying in Spanish ‘no surrender from our neighbourhood’A banner across a street saying that clean and pure neighbourhoods are vibrant neighbourhoods
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
If you live in Australia you can access the hybrids between finger limes and mandarins developed by CSIRO - Australian red centre lime or blood lime and the sunrise lime #plantscience 🧪 link - www.csiro.au/en/research/...
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Harvest time for finger limes at our place. These Australian native citrus fruits have small caviar and pearl-like inclusions that explode in the mouth for a lime taste burst. More common in Australia nowadays and loved by chefs for a visual and sensory sensation. Great with avocado! #plantscience 🧪
Cut avocado with red finger limes sprinkled on top to provide a colour contrast and limey taste Finger limes in a bowl with one cut in half exposing the citrus segments and caviar-like appearance of the fruit inclusions Finger limes on a bush just before harvest
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
A quick one day stop over in London on my way to Spain. What to do? The Ramses II exhibition at Battersea Powerhouse Station & the enormous, amazing irreverent show Banksy Limitless at South Kensington combined unusually well to re-experience my estranged & loved birthplace #banksy #art #archeology
Gold bust from the exhibition of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II 
Very large stone head and torso sculpture from the Ramses II collectionIconic Banksy street art of a protestor dramatically in the process of throwing a bunch of flowers rather than an explosive The wonderful street artist Banksy’s version of Monet’s famous Giverny painting with discarded shopping trolleys and street markets in the lotus garden
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British Society of Plant Pathology @bspp.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Are you an early-career plant pathologist? Early Careers Plant Pathology (ECPP2026) is the conference for you. A full day of talks, posters and networking, just for students and early career researchers. 8 September 2026, John Innes Conference Centre, Norwich. Register now: tinyurl.com/EPCC2026
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Prof Ros Gleadow FAA 💙💚 @rgleadow.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
A collapse of the AMOC = an existential crisis #ClimateCrisis www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
A catastrophic climate event is upon us. Here is why you’ve heard so little about it | George Monbiot
Scientists say a crucial Atlantic system is set to collapse. But the billionaire death cult that steers humanity’s destiny just doesn’t do existential crises, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Overview of GM crops in Australia over the past 30 years www.csiro.au/-/media/Scie... #plantscience 🧪
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
In 2019 we planted Australian native Davidson’s Plums (Davidsonia pruriens); a bushfood called Ooray in First Nations language. They are a large (~20M) tree with ecotypes adapted to NNSW & N Queensland rainforests. The first we planted now has its first beautiful but very tart fruit #plantscience 🧪
Dark bluey black plum like fruit forming in the tree canopyHarvested fruit in a bowl Cut fruit showing the bright crimson flesh inside
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Change ❤️ m.youtube.com/watch?v=bukX...
m.youtube.com
Tracy Chapman - Change (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Tracy Chapman
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Thanks for the update Nick. I am out of the fungal science game these days but like to watch from the grandstands 🙏
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
If you are in Sydney don’t miss the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Australian Maritime Museum. Amazing images that elicit awe, wonder, despair and hope for the two thirds of the planet that is the ocean. Here are a few I liked…. 🧪
Free diver with sperm whalesSurfing at Brontë Beach in SydneyA Komodo dragon cooling off in the shallows A whale eyeing off a photographer
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
At the University of Canterbury in Christchurch there used to be a Department of Old Botany- presumably providing a home for die hard taxonomists that forego all new technologies. Now this building is a hotel and part of an Arts centre …..
Door sign ‘Old Botany’ on entrance to an old Uni building in Christchurch
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
This person thinks they really are fake
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide, trimethylamine and isovaleric acid
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Smellanie - Adelaide Botanic Garden’s favourite corpse flower now in full bloom reeking of cheese, roadkill and more. #plantscience 🧪 www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
abc.net.au
'Dead rat': Foul-smelling flower in full bloom in Adelaide
Cheese, fermented cabbage, roadkill – these are how some people have described the smell emitting from a corpse flower that has finally bloomed at the Adelaide Botanic Garden.
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success @coeplantsuccess.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
The Genotype × Environment × Management (GxExM) Symposium will bring together leading minds to explore GxExM interactions and their role in advancing crop improvement strategies 🧪🌾 ➡️Submit your EOI by 30 January: bit.ly/GEM-IV
bit.ly
Genotype by Environment by Management (GxExM) Symposium IV - Plant Success
Event information The ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success is coordinating the next Genotype by Environment by Management (GxExM) symposium in November 2026 in Brisbane, Queensland. The symposiu...
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Its corpse flower season in Australia’s botanical gardens. This year starting with a quartet in Cairns #plantscience 🧪 www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
abc.net.au
Four stinky corpse flowers to bloom in a week at Queensland botanic gardens
Renowned for their size and stench, blooming corpse flowers are a rare occurrence. But to have four flowering in a week is "something of a record".
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
#plantscience
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
Sugarcane has the most complex genome of all crops. New genomics paper reveals origins including mysterious unknown ancestors. ‘The genomic footprints of wild Saccharum species trace domestication, diversification, and modern breeding of sugarcane’ Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... #plantscience 🧪
cell.com
The genomic footprints of wild Saccharum species trace domestication, diversification, and modern breeding of sugarcane
Genomic analyses of 390 accessions reveal the domestication history of highly polyploid sugarcane and the wild contributors to its diversification and to modern cultivars.
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Impressive, my last paper was 2018 🤷🏼‍♀️
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Thank you very much. Jim was Chief of the CSIRO Division of Plant Industry he retired in 2003. I was honoured to take up this role myself in 2013 - we then stepped up & created CSIRO Agriculture and Food based on the same principles as Jim’s institute. I am now retired but still supporting others.
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Sadly I heard today that Jim Peacock has died. Jim was the foremost pioneer of plant molecular biology in Australia & globally. He was both my mentor and friend and will be sorely missed by many #plantscience 🧪 www.science.org.au/news-and-eve...
science.org.au
Academy farewells champion of Australian science
Dr Jim Peacock AC, former Academy President, made outstanding contributions to Australian science. The Australian Academy of Science is saddened to learn of the passing of its former President and
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
This was my favourite from last year’s competition plus the winner, the pictures were exhibited at the Sydney Maritime Museum
A white ferret climbing between two rockA baby primate sleeping in its mothers arms - winner of 2024 competition
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
The average farm size in Australia is ~3000 hectares compared to 14 hectares in the EU. Contrasting extensive and intensive agricultural systems
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Prof Ros Gleadow FAA 💙💚 @rgleadow.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
www.theguardian.com/news/2025/se... It IS alarming - but not surprising. I was talking about this in the early 1990s and told I was exaggerating - still, if we can even save 0.5degC it’s worth it
theguardian.com
Australia’s horrifying climate future in four charts – and how we can avoid the worst
Maps released by the Australian Climate Service show just how bad things will get for heatwaves, drought and coastal flooding
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Cirque du Soleil’s stunning Corteo production currently touring Australia - check it out and wonder at what an amazing spectacle trusting teams of acrobats can create #acrobats #circus #gymnastics
Female acrobat steps down and is caught one handed by her male partnerThe Italian clown character Corteo balances on top of a 6 metre freestanding ladder and is about to be collected by an angel swooping down from the black skyTwo teams of acrobats high up on ropes throw and catch each other A large cast of characters brightly dressed in diverse costumes mingle on each side of the stage as acrobats catapult each other up in the centre
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Sad news. Plant science has lost a global champion with the passing of Steve Long. His recent work on engineering enhanced photosynthesis portends future breakthroughs in crop yield and food security. Here is a tribute from the Uni Essex where started 🧪 #plantscience www.essex.ac.uk/blog/staff/p...
essex.ac.uk
Tribute to Professor Steve Long | Blog | University of Essex
Professor Steve Long was a visionary scientist. His research helped shape our understanding of fundamental plant biology and the long-term impacts of climate change on plant productivity, with wide-ra...
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Some useful suggestions here for how best communicate and hold a conversation about the importance of science with diverse audiences 🧪 #plantscience #climate particle.scitech.org.au/people/scien...
particle.scitech.org.au
Science communication is a conversation, not a script | Particle
How science is told matters as much as what it says.
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Get some botany into your vaccine via a soap-bark tree based adjuvant #plantscience 🧪 🌿 observer.co.uk/news/science...
observer.co.uk
Botanists unlock the Chilean medical marvel that Charles ...
Vaccine properties of the soapbark tree to be cultivated in days rather than years by new process
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Museum of Science @museumofscience.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Are we blind to the life that keeps our world alive? 🌿🌱🧪 Plant blindness is shaping how we see (or don’t see) the natural world.
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John Manners @jmaus.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Let science set you free 🧪 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...
abc.net.au
Kathleen Folbigg on her wrongful conviction and how the truth — and science — freed her
After being exonerated for the deaths of her four infant children, Kathleen Folbigg is adjusting to life after 20 years wrongfully imprisoned — thanks to the enduring support of her lifelong friend an...
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