Category Archives: Uncategorized

  Deep Seq II: Cast – Dr Sara Rassner, Dr Andy Mitchell, PhD student André Soares. Many thanks to our miner minders Paul & Byron. As mentioned in Science, we had a go at sequencing metagenomes in the subsurface last … Continue reading →

We’ve sat on this one for a while as we thought we could do better next time round. Back in December 2016 we decided to trial our tools and protocols for nanopore sequencing without mains electricity or access to the … Continue reading →

Reflections on #nanoporeconf Another departure lounge, another blog. It has been a fun but also draining couple of weeks, skipping between the EU ITN MicroArctic kick off meeting plus some polar night fieldwork and duty as an (un)hired gunman for … Continue reading →

It’s been a really long time since I wrote anything here. Interesting mix of good and bad stuff in the meantime. Anyway… We recently uploaded a bioRxiv preprint based on a small project of ours: Extreme metagenomics using nanopore DNA … Continue reading →

Following on from my earlier post, here are the remaining bits of questionable advice I can offer those considering a career in the cold. These are a little more introspective and a bit harder to get “right” than a first … Continue reading →

  “Ablutions were outstanding. I cannot think of a finer indicator of esteem in our field than being able to note you’ve brushed your teeth in a cryoconite hole.” Author’s email to collaborator describing life in a field camp, August … Continue reading →

We’re still processing thousands of samples and recovering from our “cryo monster tour” or “fieldwork marathon” as others have described our summer’s projects across the Arctic and Alps. It’s won awards and for once, not just for most airline coffee consumed, … Continue reading →

Our blog has been dormant for the best part of six months. That’s not because we haven’t been up to much though. In fact it’s been a very busy spell at Cryoconite Towers. We have been quietly working on samples … Continue reading →

Well, on Monday night I had great fun sharing my dirty secrets about microbes and glaciers with a lovely crew of people who turned up to the Aberystwyth Science Café. Rather than rehash what I said, I thought it might … Continue reading →

I’ll be spilling the beans about cryoconite and how the life of glaciers is surprisingly linked to microbial shenanigans at the Aberystwyth Science Café at 1930h on Monday the 11th of November at Aber Arts Centre. Plus there may be a guest appearance … Continue reading →