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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Happy #InternationalRaccoonAppreciationDay to all who celebrate (that would be us now too😊)

MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Wow, October really crept up on us. But that means it's time for a new Reading Room display @thembauk.bsky.social This month we're celebrating our spectacular (and occasionally tentacular) chums - the #cephalopods #octopus #squid #cuttlefish 🐙🦑

A photograph of three bookshelves lined with books, covers facing out, all about cephalopods

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University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today is World Heart Day, which raises awareness of the risks of cardiovascular disease. This heart-shaped box is from our archives and once belonged to the poet Jack Clemo. It contains two conkers that inspired one of his poems. 📷 EUL MS 68/PERS/11/1 #WorldHeartDay #Archives #LiteraryArchives

Opened heart-shaped box. Inside the box are two conkers and some folded pieces of paper.

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A copy is also available in the library. For information on our collection, and how to access it head to www.nmbl.org

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Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution @whoi.edu · 24/09/2026

Celebrating oceanographer Marie Tharp’s induction into the 2026 Women's Hall of Fame! 🥳🎉 Born in 1920, at a time when there were few options for women in science, Tharp revolutionized our understanding of the ocean floor. Learn more about this year’s inductees: go.whoi.edu/womens-hall-of-fame

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Look at that face! And, look at this face ⬇️ 📖 BL.65/D 'The Natural History of British Fishes' by E.Donovan, 1808. Volume 4, plate 86

a colour illustration of a tompot blenny. The fish's head is facing to the right and had the characteristic tufts on top. It is a mottled red and brown on top, with a paler belly

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

We've just received three fantastic new books into the library, covering a range of subjects. You can find details of these and the rest of the print collection at www.nmbl.org

a photograph of three books, leaning against cushions on an armchair. The books are titled: teaching and mentoring writers in science; the dark frontier - unlocking the secrets of the deep sea and the last book is titled the visual elements

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

We haven't disappeared, we promise 😊 We've been busy with ongoing projects and this week we have the pleasure of providing tours to students from the University of Liverpool during their fieldwork week. The "potentially poisonous" books have been a hit (these aren't those, sorry!)

A row of books on a shelf in the foreground, with filled bookshelves in the background.

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Artist David Cotterrell talks about intertidal, a new public artwork that has transformed four ageing Ford Fiestas into tidal instruments. 🐟👔 Fishy Business Ep. 8! #FishyBusiness

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

If you're in #Plymouth this weekend and interested in rare books, make sure to visit @theppl.bsky.social

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Some #MondayMotivation We'd love to hear about yours 😊

A picture with two pie charts. the top has a list of things nobody will remember, which are: your salaray, how 'busy' you were, how may hours you worked and how many Gucci bags you owned. The bottom list says people will remember: how much you love books, the number of books in your collection, if you had any cool book facts and how you also have a really cool archive

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Stromness Museum @stromnessmuseum.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Here are pressed seaweed specimens (collected 1839-1962) of seaweed found on/near #shooglyholm Stromness mooring this year, artist Jenny Pope's project in oisf.org. They inc. Mermaid's Tresses🧜‍♀️and Sea Lettuce 🥬 📷 via our Natural History Digitisation Project. Read about this at: shorturl.at/CCP7o

Specimen, seaweed - Chorda filum 'Mermaids Tresses'
Other name(s):
Chorda filum (Linnaeus) Stackhouse

Specimen, seaweed - Plocamium coccineum
Other name(s):
Plocamium cartilagineum (Linnaeus) P.S.Dixon

Specimen, seaweed - Ulva lactuca 'Sea Lettuce'
Other name(s):
Ulva lactuca Linnaeus

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

👏 the fabulous MarLIN team. Working from the equally fabulous Library @thembauk.bsky.social 😉

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

We're a day late having just discovered it was #IguanaDay yesterday. Thanks to @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social for keeping us informed and for sharing this lovely woodcut illustration 😊

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

We've just found out about #SciArtSeptember and today's prompt is: Fawn We've taken the literal route and found this lovely illustration of Roe deer from - 📖Millais, J.G. 1906. The Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 3

A colour illustration of an adult roe deer and two fawns

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

And so, the annual 'you'll grow into it' season begins...

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

We have a small sample of maerl in our Herbarium collection @thembauk.bsky.social. Collected in 1955 in Sweden, the specimens have lost some of their vibrancy. A handwritten note on the box says 'first Swedish find of this species' 📷R.60A

Photograph of a closed brown box on the left, with a handwritten label that reads Phymatolithon calcareum date 9. 7. 1955 and location Sweden. The image on the right is the open box with a collecton of pale pink and white coral-like specimens of maerl

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Imagine our #EYASurprise when planning for what we thought would be Dr Marie Lebour's 150th birthday celebrations this year. Her obituary states she was born 1876, but our archives reveal we've got to wait another year for the big event. Make sure to put a reminder in your calendar

Typed thank you letter, signed my Marie Lebour and dated 21st August 1957. The letter thanks the recipient for the gifts and messages received.

Typed letter from F.S. Russell and dated 25th February 1957. The contents of the letter inform the recipient that Dr Marie Lebour will be 80 years of age on 20th August 1957 and is asking for contributions of up to one guinea and a copy of their signature.

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

🌾 Species Spotlight: Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) It's no wonder this stunning camouflage expert is tied to the theme of the July issue of The Marine Biologist! #SpeciesSpotlight #MarineLife #WeedySeadragon #TheMarineBiologist

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The Plymouth Proprietary Library @theppl.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The film 'The Odyssey' has received critical acclaim recently, and the PPL currently has a display of related books for members to browse and borrow.

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University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

This colourful map by Rutger Hermannides shows a bird's eye view of Exeter and dates back to 1661. Can you identify any landmarks that still exist today? 👀 📷 Townsend Maps T14f #MapMonday #MondayMaps #Maps #MappingOurExeter #Exeter

Colour image of a mid seventeenth century map of Exeter. This bird’s-eye view from the southwest shows Exeter surrounded by a city wall with gates. Exeter is dominated by the cathedral of St Peter. At the top left is Rougemont Castle. Surrounding the city are hills, fields and the river Exe.

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We've recently added 'Nudibranchs of Britain, Ireland and Northwest Europe' by Bernard Picton and Christine Morrow to the collection. Included is an entry on B. anadoni and its range distribution 📖BL.48/P

Cover of the book Nudibranchs of Britain, Ireland and Northwest Europe. There is a photograph of a seaslug with a white body and light red/brown cerata (finger-like projections) on it's dorsal side.

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Today is #WorldElephantDay so, of course, we've found a photograph of the Southern Elephant Seal, Mirounga leonina. This image taken, we believe, by Edward A. Wilson during his time in the Antarctic 📷U.M.30 linked to the Elsie Sexton archive collection Shout-out to all the actual 🐘 out there too!

black and white photograph of an elephant seal, emerging from the sea onto a beach, with its mouth wide open

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We've just received a copy of Underwater Lives by Clare Brant and we can't wait to dive in 🌊 If you're interested in reading about human relationships with the marine world you can find this copy on the new arrivals shelf in the Reading Room @thembauk.bsky.social 📖B.65/B

Cover a book titled Underwater Lives. Humans, species, ocean. Author Clare Brant. The cover image is of a scuba diver swimming near a manta ray. underneath the cover there is 'new to the NMBL'

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

The CPR Survey has tracked recurrent Alexandrium blooms in the Bering Sea. Warming Pacific Arctic waters are driving harmful algal blooms, posing a risk of toxin transfer from marine life to humans. 🦀🚨 www.mba.ac.uk/warming-seas-fuel-spr…

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

It's #BooksLoversDay! We're big fans of books, but it would probably be a bit embarrassing if we weren't. We'd love to hear about your favourite book(s) 📚

collage of photographs - a library reading room with book shelves and seating, a display of marine biology books and an open book, with a text banner in front that says we heart symbol books

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

It's #InternationalCatDay so of course we've put our spin on it and our fabulous library volunteer Liv has taken a dive into the collection to found some purrrfect books 📖 BL.65/A: Catfishes, Volume 1, by Arratia, G et al, 2003 📖 BL.65/A: Catfishes, Volume 2, by Arratia, G et al, 2003

Two hardcover books titled 'Catfishes' (Volume 1 and Volume 2) on a shelf. Underneath, the text reads dive into the world of catfish

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Did someone say it's take an octopus to work day? AK Wildlife Cruises Falmouth photos show illustrate the extent of the octopus surge is in the southwest - and Risso's dolphins are cashing in. Report your sightings on iNaturalist - 🌊 uk.inaturalist.org #SpeciesSpotlight

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Marine Protected Areas Day was at the weekend - Professor Callum Roberts is a world authority on marine protected areas (MPAs). In this podcast, we talk about marine protected areas both in national waters and the high seas. open.spotify.com/episode/2gr2... #MarineProtectedAreasDay

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

It's still #NationalMarineWeek but we're in a new month so we have a new display in the Reading Room @thembauk.bsky.social. These titles are all about UK marine species and habitats 🦀🐚🦭

A photograph of three shelves of books on a white bookshelf. There is a poster in the middle of the display that says the reading room display for August is national marine week 25th July to 9th August , oyster day 5th August

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Marine scientists warn that continued warming of UK waters is likely to cause major changes to plankton, the tiny drifting plants and animals that form the foundation of marine food webs and feed the fish that end up on our plates. www.mba.ac.uk/uk-seas-face... #MarineBiology

mba.ac.uk

UK seas face major food chain disruption as plankton shift, scientists predict | Marine Biological Association

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Now that you've asked we’ve matched a Shark to your vibe 🦈 Swipe to meet them 👉 then tell us which Shark matches your energy below 👇 #MarineBiology #SharkEnergy

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

We've just found out it's #InternationalTigerDay, but we couldn't find an illustration of a tiger shark in our rare books collection for our series on 'marine biologying' celebration days We need to dive deeper for next year 🐅🦈

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

We've found this vibrant illustration from E. Donovan's 'The Natural History of British Fishes' 1808. As Scombus thynnus 📖BL.65/D #NationalMarineWeek #IncredibleJourneys

A hand coloured illustration of an Atlantic tuna. The top of the body is a bright royal blue and the lower half of the body is coloured to appear as if silver metallic.

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

It's #NationalMarineWeek. With an extensive print collection, Archive, Object Collection and Herbarium we have lots of fantastic material to share with you. You can also follow @thembauk.bsky.social to see the latest research taking place here in #Plymouth

A montage of images showing pressed seaweed, an open book with a picture of a hermit crab, hand drawn illustrations of fish and sea anemones. The text in the middle says national marine week

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

You can find out more about the visit at www.mba.ac.uk/women-in-oce...

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Today is #WorldWhaleAndDolphinDay 🐳 We have a number of books in our collection about these marvellous marine mammals and you can find a selection of them currently on display in our Reading Room @thembauk.bsky.social You can search our collection at www.nmbl.org

White shelves displaying books about whales, dolphins and porpoises with illustrated marine-themed covers

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

#OTD in 1872 Edward Adrian Wilson was born. A doctor, naturalist and artist, Wilson was on board the Discovery as part of the First National Antarctic Expedition 1901-04. We have an original watercolour (date unknown) of Hut Point, McMurdo Sound in our archive @thembauk.bsky.social 📸 PWS1

Snowy coastal watercolor: low dark hill at left, yellow pitched-roof hut on right, pale blue sky. Handwritten title bottom left says Hut Point Macmurdo Sound

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University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

The feeling when you enter the air-conditioned Reading Room and finally feel cool again! This illustration of a sea monster can be found in our sixteenth-century atlas of the counties of England and Wales by Christopher Saxton. 📷 Rare books B 1590/SAX/XX

Sixteenth-century illustration of a green sea monster with orange fins and a long green tail with an orange tip. It appears to have a look of relief on its face!

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

You can find the library copy in the Reading Room 📖

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MBA Library @nmbluk.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Copies will be available to read in the library soon too! For more information on our collections and how to access them head to www.mba.ac.uk/our-faciliti...

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

🌊🌡️Did you know that during El Niño events, marine heatwaves can intensify across the globe? Dr. Katie Smith breaks down how rising ocean temperatures put existing marine ecosystems under extreme pressure. What questions do you have about marine heatwaves? Let us know in the comments! 👇

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University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

This year's Digital Humanties interns have helped to make our Special Collections much more accessible - a big thank you! 🙏

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The Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Dive into a world of discovery 🐟🦈🐙🐋🪸🪼 the next issue of the Marine Biologist Magazine is coming soon... Become an MBA Member today to get The Marine Biologist, plus access to back issues and exclusive member-only content. → www.mba.ac.uk/join-us

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