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Dr Ry Holland

@rythemicroguy.bsky.social
582 followers 504 following 56 posts

Microbial Ecologist 🦠 Research Fellow | Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future | Greening Lab | Monash University Curious about the extremes of life 🏔️❄🌋🌊🏜️ they/them 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ linktr.ee/sophie.i.holland

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Reposted by Dr Ry Holland
Dr. Jey McCreight 🏳️‍⚧️🧬 @jeymccreight.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
You may have noticed I disappeared from social media after my launch of @beyondxandy.bsky.social I was violently attacked by a transphobe who recognized me and have been in the hospital and resting If you'd like to help me with my medical bills, please consider donating here: gofund.me/9328f91f2
gofund.me
Donate to Help trans activist Jey McCreight recover from hate crime, organized by Jey McCreight
I am a transgender activist and science communicator who was v… Jey McCreight needs your support for Help trans activist Jey McCreight recover from hate crime
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I've been awarded an ECR Career Development Award from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute - thanks team! I'll use this funding to attend the Australian Antarctic Research Conference in Hobart this August & present our latest results about Antarctica's amazing microbes 🥳🦠 ⛰️ 🇦🇶
A photograph of a framed A4 award for the BDI ECR Career Development Award
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Ever wondered how microbes can survive the extreme conditions of the Antarctic desert? Find out the answer at my public @pintofscienceau.bsky.social talk on 20 May. Come along to the Munich Brauhaus event if you're in Naarm Melbourne 🦠🏔️ pintofscience.com.au/event/scales...
pintofscience.com.au
Scales, Seals, and Survival
Life on Earth thrives in astonishingly different ways — from the largest animals ever to roam the oceans to microbes surviving on little more than air. Joi…
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Tune in to 6PR Perth at ~3:20 pm (AEDT) today to hear me share our latest findings about Antarctic microbes that live on air. You know I love spreading the good word about Antarctica and the amazing microbes we find down there! Listen online here: www.6pr.com.au/listen-live/ @arcsaef.bsky.social
A photograph of Ry standing on Canada Glacier in Antarctica, in a traditional explorer pose holding an ice axe.
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Reposted by Dr Ry Holland
Noah Fierer @noahfierer.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Looking for a tool to estimate abundances of aerobes versus anaerobes directly from metagenomes? Here you go: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
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Dr Krystal Randall @tinyclimates.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Check out my new article in The Conversation about some of our research on #Antarctic #moss 🌿 #Antarctica #AntarcticMoss #Research @uowenvirofutures.bsky.social @arcsaef.bsky.social
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bioRxiv Microbiology @biorxiv-microbiol.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Soil trace gas oxidizers divergently respond to short- and long-term warming www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/202…
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
I've made an Insta account for Antarctic adventures and sci comm - come say hiiiiiiii if that's your thing! www.instagram.com/ry.themicrog...
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Jonathan Cook @jonathan-cook.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Study in the Lancet journal finds that Israel's starvation campaign in Gaza has left 55,000 children under the age of five acutely malnourished, risking long-term health damage. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
thelancet.com
Assessment of malnutrition in preschool-aged children by mid-upper arm circumference in the Gaza Strip (January, 2024–August, 2025): a longitudinal, cross-sectional, surveillance study
After nearly 2 years of war and severe restrictions in humanitarian aid, tens of thousands of preschool-aged children in the Gaza Strip are suffering from preventable acute malnutrition and facing an ...
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ARC Tracker @arc-tracker.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Today's the last day to complete this short survey for the ARC about the use of AI in grant assessment. Survey link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/X7PY5GL
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Very grateful to have received a small grant from the Antarctic Science Foundation to support exploration of new techniques for my research with @arcsaef.bsky.social. I purchased vital equipment to help us extract RNA from low biomass Antarctic soils - fingers crossed for some cool metaT data!
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James Bradley @drbradbrad.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
📢 PLEASE RT! ❄️ M2 Masters Internship: Metagenomic analysis of microbial cold adaptation in the cryosphere 🧬 Compile & curate ice nucleation & cold-adaptation protein database 🖥️ Build HMM profiles 🦠 Analyze existing metagenomic data using HMMs ☀️ Marseille, France Apply by 15 Oct
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Laura Meredith @laurameredith.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Microbial traits for volatile production and consumption are diverse and consequential. Here's why they are ripe for interpretation through a trait-based lens... Led by UA PhD students Ledford and Geffre @parkergeffre.bsky.social in collab w/ LBNL team @elbrodie.bsky.social Marschmann Karaoz
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Australian Museum Eureka Prizes @eurekaprizes.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
🏆 Octopus and Ice Sheet Team @marine-omics.bsky.social is awarded the Aspire Scholarship Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research. Learn more: youtu.be/8H3bCE6wfjM #EurekaPrizes @janstrugnell.bsky.social @lausally.bsky.social @nick-golledge.bsky.social
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Having to spend some time writing grants while on annual leave has been counterbalanced by getting two 🥳successful🥳 grant emails this week. I'm excited for the new avenues in Antarctic research that are opening up for our team 🏔️🌱
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Yasin El Abiead @yelabiead.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Interested in a co-authorship? We’re building a tool for repository-scale untargeted #metabolomics and #exposomics of #environmental data. To make it the best it can be, we’re looking for people willing to share high-resolution LC-MS/MS (DDA) data from #water, #soil, #sediment, and related samples.
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Pam McElwee @pammcelwee.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Comment out now in Nature Reviews Biodiversity where we argue that blocking renewable energy, esp wind and solar, for biodi reasons is unnecessary - we can manage any tradeoffs. And unchecked climate change is far, far worse! Don't let biodi become political football www.nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com
The trade-offs between needed renewable energy transitions and biodiversity can be overcome - Nature Reviews Biodiversity
The expansion of renewable energy is urgently needed to reduce carbon emissions, but it can entail some trade-offs with biodiversity. Here, we argue that synergistic implementation strategies are poss...
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
How can we assess whether microbial degradation of plastic pollution has occurred? Our new systematic review, led by Jennifer Scott, assesses a multitude of methods & makes recommendations to improve study design @heriotwattuni.bsky.social authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0048-9697(25)01917-5
A figure from the review paper listing methods for assessing plastic biodegradation. They are grouped into three clusters: physical changes, chemical changes, and products produced/consumed.
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
Hi all, it's time for a reintroduction! 👋 I'm changing my name to Ry. Delightfully, this also allows me to work with the fun new bluesky handle of Ry the Micro Guy @rythemicroguy.bsky.social. Have a lovely Sunday 🏳️‍⚧️
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
"Australia should urgently adopt an ambitious, strategically prioritised and explicit Antarctic and Southern Ocean research agenda supported by a consolidated whole-of-government commitment." ✅ ✅ ✅ 💯
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Nick Golledge @nick-golledge.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Abstract deadline for Climate and Cryosphere 2026, in Wellington NZ, now extended till August 31st. Spread the word... clic2026.com #climate #academicsky #nz
clic2026.com
Home - CliC OSC 2026
About the conference REgister now Abstract Guidelines Registration is open! Register here and use the buttons below to access travel resources. FLIGHT DISCOUNTS ACCOMMODATION TRAVEL INFORMATION Second...
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
This design came to me and I've been convinced me to make it real. So I'm now taking MAKE ANTARCTICA GAY AGAIN cap orders 😂 Open to those in Naarm Melbourne and anyone willing to pay postage + ~$30 for the hat. ❄️✨🌈
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Ben J Woodcroft @benjwoodcroft.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Out in @natbiotech.nature.com: Metagenome taxonomy profilers usually ignore unknown species. SingleM is an accurate profiler which doesn't, even detecting phyla with no MAGs. Profiles of 700,000 metagenomes at sandpiper.qut.edu.au. A 🧵
Logo for the Sandpiper website
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Canadian Journal of Microbiology @canjmicrobio.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
What does innovation in microbiology teaching look like? We invite papers on pedagogy, tech, curriculum, and student engagement in microbiology education. More information ▶️ buff.ly/OMVT8xk #SciComm #MicrobiologyEducation #AcademicSky #SciComm 🧪 #AcWri #PHDSky #ScholComms #OpenScience #SciPol
Close-up of pink agar plate with bacterial colonies, promoting a call for papers on microbiology education perspectives.
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PNAS Nexus @pnasnexus.org · 10/07/2025
A new study shows these extremes trigger cascading effects—from ocean warming to habitat loss for top predators. The findings underscore the urgent need for sustained long-term monitoring. In New Scientist: www.newscientist.com/article/2486... In PNAS Nexus: academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Scenic view of icebergs drifting in water, framed by towering mountains, showcasing Antarctica's summer landscape.
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
We teamed up with One Planet & @monashuniversity.bsky.social to set up a Polar Camp at the Family Fiesta this week! If you're in Naarm with kids aged 3-12, come have a chat about Antarctica ❄️, search for bugs 🪲, learn how we do science in the field 🧑‍🔬. Details below. @arcsaef.bsky.social
Creativity experts Laura and Mon dressed in polar explorer gear in front of three yellow tents. Scientists Madi and Bec in front of a table with microscopes, snowshoes and crampons.
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Izzy Jayasinghe @ijayas.bsky.social · 05/04/2024
A study on what many of us already know: over 75% of internal service work in academia is done by women. The bit that gets me:”The male associate professors in particular made it clear that they actively engaged in evasiveness and did not want to participate if it was not positive for their careers”
kifinfo.no
Women end up doing the academic housework
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Chris Greening @greening.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Our new consensus statement on reducing and reporting contamination in microbiome studies is the cover image of this month's Nature Microbiology: www.nature.com/articles/s41... In the cover photo, you can see our postdoc Sophie Holland in fully PPE sampling the atmosphere of terrestrial Antarctica.
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abacbs.bsky.social @abacbs.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Finally joined Bluesky! Follow along to stay connected with ABACBS. Keep an eye out in the coming days, we’ll be releasing more details for 2025 conference, including opening abstract submissions and announcing invited speakers! www.abacbs.org/abacbs2025
abacbs.org
ABACBS 2025 Conference
Adelaide, South Australia. Nov. 24-
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Guess who's the coverboi for @natmicrobiol.nature.com this month? 💁 A huge shout-out to Dr Rachael Lappan for entrusting me to carry out the sampling for this incredibly cool atmosphere microbiome project on her behalf, & to Braydon Moloney for capturing this moment in Antarctica last summer. [1/2]
A screenshot of the Nature Microbiology website showing the journal cover - me in a cleansuit, gloves, and dark snow goggles attaching a filter to an air sampling unit. Text reads: Guidelines for low-biomass microbiomes. Pictured here, Sophie Holland attaches a filter to an air sampler to study the atmospheric microbiome of Somoveken Glacier in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. The pristine environment and incredibly low atmospheric biomass require multiple precautions to avoid sample contamination, including wearing full personal protective equipment over warm weather gear. In this issue, Fierer, Greening and colleagues working on host-associated and environmental microbiomes present guidelines and best practices for studying low-biomass microbiomes in a Consensus Statement.
See Fierer et al.
Image: Braydon Moloney. Cover design: Laoise Mac Gabhann"
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
I just got sent a package of letters from the students at Deepdene Primary School, thanking Dr Gaofeng Ni and I for our presentations on microbes, science and Antarctica. I won't share any for privacy reasons but OH MY HEART kids really are the best 🥹🥹🥹 and such thoughtful questions!
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Robert Rohde @rarohde.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
The proposed NOAA budget for 2026 contains the literal line: Total, Climate Research: $0 www.commerce.gov/sites/defaul...
Excerpt from the proposed 2026 NOAA Budget, showing the total funding for climate research reduced from $220 million per year to $0.
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
The low signal-to-noise ratio of low biomass environments necessitates extra caution when sampling & analysing microbiome data 🦠🧬 We outline best practices & minimum reporting standards 📝 rdcu.be/er3Io @arcsaef.bsky.social @noahfierer.bsky.social @greening.bsky.social @monashuniversity.bsky.social
rdcu.be
Guidelines for preventing and reporting contamination in low-biomass microbiome studies
Nature Microbiology - In this Consensus Statement, the authors outline strategies for processing, analysing and interpreting low-biomass microbiome samples, and provide recommendations to minimize...
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Come jump in the sea with me this Saturday, Melbournians! It'll be fun, I promise!
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
@monashuniversity.bsky.social asked me to comment on the viral drinking glacier water trend 🏔️💧 Tl;dr While we get all our drinking water by melting snow when we're in Antarctica, I wouldn't recommend going there just for that! www.instagram.com/reel/DK_askm... @arcsaef.bsky.social
instagram.com
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
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Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 26/05/2025
Warming of +1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels is too high for the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and even the current climate forcing of +1.2 °C is likely to lead to several meters of sea-level rise, according to a study in Communications Earth & Environment. 🧪
go.nature.com
Warming of +1.5 °C is too high for polar ice sheets - Communications Earth & Environment
Warming of +1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels is too high for the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and even the current climate forcing of +1.2 °C is likely to lead to several meters of sea-level rise, meaning that only a return to +1 °C or lower will avoid extensive loss and damage to coastal populations, according to a synthesis of recent evidence.
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Matt King @deformedearth.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
Climate research folks, do consider the Climate and Cryosphere Open Science Conference in Wellington, New Zealand, 9-12 Feb 2026. Southern Summer talking about climate and ice. Abstract submission closes on 31 July 2025. With a bonus @scar-antarctic.bsky.social INSTANT meeting alongside it.
Logo of the Climate and Cryosphere Open Science Conference, with location and dates
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
It's Trans Day of Visibility. Unfortunately for many trans people in the world right now, visibility means violence. I am grateful that it's relatively safe for me to be trans, to yell loudly for our rights, and to use my position to try and make polar science a safer place for all. #TDOV 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵
Sophie stands on a barren ridge in Antarctica, holding a trans flag. A glacier and snow-covered mountains lie in the background.
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
I had a great time talking to Year 3-6 students at Deepdene Primary School this morning. I told them about microbes and what it's like to go on an expedition to Antarctica. They had SO many good questions, it blew me away 🥹 I love getting people excited about science 🧑‍🔬🥰
A photo of Sophie behind a podium, in front of a projector screen with their title slide "My life as a scientist".
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
This graphic 🤩
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Cameron Thrash @jcamthrash.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Hydrogenase-driven ATP synthesis from air www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #jcampubs
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APECS Oceania @apecsoceania.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Our final question for the week: What do you think is lacking in ECR support for Antarctic science in AU/NZ? Let us know below or via DM. Your input will be taken to the Polar Early Career World Summit #PECWS this weekend, and be considered in planning for the 5th International Polar Year #IPY5.
A photo of a chonky seal lying on the ice, in front of a snow-covered mountain with clear blue skies overhead. Text at the top reads: "What is lacking in ECR support for Antarctic science in AU/NZ?"
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Matthew Holden 🏳️‍🌈 @matthholden.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Job alert: 3 Aotearoa New Zealand Postdoctoral fellowships in complex systems www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/2025/03/07/p...
tepunahamatatini.ac.nz
Postdoctoral fellowships in complex systems
We're looking for three postdoctoral fellows to join our newly created Modelling for Impact Hub.
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James Bradley @drbradbrad.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
‼️ 3-year positions in Marseille for US-based researchers ☀️🌊🔬🇫🇷 🎓 >2 years post-PhD 🇺🇸 >2 years in USA Apply with plans for research project, lab & collaborations. I'm very happy to discuss project proposal, host lab & collaboration opportunities. Applications OPEN NOW! www.univ-amu.fr/en/public/ac...
univ-amu.fr
Safe Place For Science: Aix Marseille University ready to welcome American scientists | Aix Marseille Université
In a context where some scientists in the United States may feel threatened or hindered in their research, our university is announcing the launch of the Safe Place For Science program, dedicated to w...
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ISME - International Society for Microbial Ecology @isme-microbes.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
There are two weeks left for students and postdocs to send in their application to receive support for a visit to a host institution outside of their country of study. Submit by 31 March 2025! 🔗https://isme-microbes.org/isme-scholar-mobility-fund-call-for-applications/ #MicrobialEcology #microbes
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David Cooper @hdavidcooper.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
A reminder that IPBES is seeking experts for the 2nd global assessment on biodiversity. This will be a hugely important report for the future of biodiversity. Experts are needed, especially, interdisciplinary experts and those from the Global South.
ipbes.net
Application as an expert for the second global assessment | IPBES secretariat
Application is open!
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William Colgan @glacierbytes.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
The Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise is out! Herculean effort bringing together >200 estimates of glacier loss outside the ice sheets. Bottom line is 273 gigatonnes per year of ice loss since the year 2000! 😲 Open-access article: doi.org/10.1038/s415... 🥼❄️ @natureportfolio.nature.com
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Australian Antarctic Program Partnership @antarctic.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
🌊 Flowing clockwise around #Antarctica, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current on the planet. It’s five times stronger than the Gulf Stream and more than 100 times stronger than the Amazon River. What if it slows down? theconversation.com/melting-anta...
theconversation.com
Melting Antarctic ice will slow the world’s strongest ocean current – and the global consequences are profound
Part of the system that pumps water, heat and nutrients around the globe is at risk. Climate change could slow the Antarctic Circumpolar Current down 20% by 2050.
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Dr Ry Holland @rythemicroguy.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Apply for a PhD in Antarctic microbial ecology 🦠🇦🇶❄️ with me, @greening.bsky.social and @arcsaef.bsky.social. We're interested in multi-kingdom interactions in terrestrial Antarctica, including mosses 🌱 with @antarcticmoss.bsky.social. Details www.findaphd.com/phds/project.... Please share widely!
findaphd.com
PhD in Antarctic microbial ecology at Monash University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - PhD in Antarctic microbial ecology at Monash University, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Hiro Imachi @hiro-imachi.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Isolated in just 3 years! (previously, 12 years). We obtained two strains from 'Hodarchaeales', proposed to be closest to our archaeal ancestor. Our analysis suggests the ancestor was an anaerobic, syntrophic, peptidotrophic, archaeon with a simple intracellular structure and possible aerotolerance.
biorxiv.org
Eukaryotes' closest relatives are internally simple syntrophic archaea
Eukaryotes are theorized to have originated from an archaeal phylum Promethearchaeota (formerly 'Asgard' archaea)1,2. The first cultured representatives revealed valuable insight3,4 but are distantly ...
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