Laura Hug
@lhug.bsky.social
Environmental microbiologist and CRC at UWaterloo. Tangent-prone story teller and compulsive frisbee chaser. Views are my own.
“Clearly Carney recognises that an unbound Trump, surrounded by sycophants in his administration, is simply too capricious to engage with through the norms of rational diplomacy.”
This has impressed me from the start. Carney has never tried to enjoin Trump, he has deftly sidestepped the circus.
This has impressed me from the start. Carney has never tried to enjoin Trump, he has deftly sidestepped the circus.
Once again the quiet Canadian has staked out an ethical high ground above his noisy southern neighbour.
Mark Carney: a master of statecraft in an era short of great orators
Once again the quiet Canadian has staked out an ethical high ground above his noisy southern neighbour.
theconversation.com
September 18, 2026 at 7:03 PM
“Clearly Carney recognises that an unbound Trump, surrounded by sycophants in his administration, is simply too capricious to engage with through the norms of rational diplomacy.”
This has impressed me from the start. Carney has never tried to enjoin Trump, he has deftly sidestepped the circus.
This has impressed me from the start. Carney has never tried to enjoin Trump, he has deftly sidestepped the circus.
Reposted by Laura Hug
Join us at the "2027 Applied and Environmental GRC: Mechanistic Microbiology for a Complex World" July 18-23, 2027 and GRS "Mechanistic Microbiology Beyond the Model Organism" July 17-18. Applications are open! @thuls.bsky.social and I put together an awesome schedule! www.grc.org/applied-and-...
2027 Applied and Environmental Microbiology Conference GRC
The 2027 Gordon Research Conference on Applied and Environmental Microbiology will be held in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Apply today to reserve your spot.
www.grc.org
September 16, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Join us at the "2027 Applied and Environmental GRC: Mechanistic Microbiology for a Complex World" July 18-23, 2027 and GRS "Mechanistic Microbiology Beyond the Model Organism" July 17-18. Applications are open! @thuls.bsky.social and I put together an awesome schedule! www.grc.org/applied-and-...
I will always host play dates because having n=3-11 kids in my house is always easier than having the baseline n=2. YMMV, my n=2 are oil and water with each other.
September 7, 2026 at 8:18 PM
I will always host play dates because having n=3-11 kids in my house is always easier than having the baseline n=2. YMMV, my n=2 are oil and water with each other.
Reposted by Laura Hug
Lovely review of my book 'The Tree of Life'. Thanks @lhug.bsky.social!
August 17, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Lovely review of my book 'The Tree of Life'. Thanks @lhug.bsky.social!
HugLab (and adopted @nagissa.bsky.social lab) on a boat! Watching the Auckland skyline before #ISME20 kicks off!
August 16, 2026 at 9:16 PM
HugLab (and adopted @nagissa.bsky.social lab) on a boat! Watching the Auckland skyline before #ISME20 kicks off!
My review of @maxjtelford.bsky.social's "The Tree of Life: Solving Science’s Greatest Puzzle" is out today in The Quarterly Review of Biology. www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
In brief, it's great, you should read it. Especially if you like worms.
In brief, it's great, you should read it. Especially if you like worms.
www.journals.uchicago.edu
August 14, 2026 at 9:29 PM
My review of @maxjtelford.bsky.social's "The Tree of Life: Solving Science’s Greatest Puzzle" is out today in The Quarterly Review of Biology. www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
In brief, it's great, you should read it. Especially if you like worms.
In brief, it's great, you should read it. Especially if you like worms.
A Canadian grocery chain has themed-by-country food suggestions for the World Cup.
🇨🇦: a lot of maple. Maple marshmallows even (why)
🇫🇷: Dijon mustard and pain au chocolat
🇲🇽: lime crema, tortillas
🇺🇸: a cheesecake and three varieties of mayonnaise 😂
🇨🇦: a lot of maple. Maple marshmallows even (why)
🇫🇷: Dijon mustard and pain au chocolat
🇲🇽: lime crema, tortillas
🇺🇸: a cheesecake and three varieties of mayonnaise 😂
June 13, 2026 at 2:11 AM
A Canadian grocery chain has themed-by-country food suggestions for the World Cup.
🇨🇦: a lot of maple. Maple marshmallows even (why)
🇫🇷: Dijon mustard and pain au chocolat
🇲🇽: lime crema, tortillas
🇺🇸: a cheesecake and three varieties of mayonnaise 😂
🇨🇦: a lot of maple. Maple marshmallows even (why)
🇫🇷: Dijon mustard and pain au chocolat
🇲🇽: lime crema, tortillas
🇺🇸: a cheesecake and three varieties of mayonnaise 😂
Kid1, (laying out a yoga mat, the uno deck, and the set deck) Mama want to play no rules Uno?
Me: what in the CalvinBall is this?
Kid1: (brandishing two handwritten pages) here are the rules
Me: for no rules UNO?!
It involved burpees and I lost…
Me: what in the CalvinBall is this?
Kid1: (brandishing two handwritten pages) here are the rules
Me: for no rules UNO?!
It involved burpees and I lost…
June 1, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Kid1, (laying out a yoga mat, the uno deck, and the set deck) Mama want to play no rules Uno?
Me: what in the CalvinBall is this?
Kid1: (brandishing two handwritten pages) here are the rules
Me: for no rules UNO?!
It involved burpees and I lost…
Me: what in the CalvinBall is this?
Kid1: (brandishing two handwritten pages) here are the rules
Me: for no rules UNO?!
It involved burpees and I lost…
Reposted by Laura Hug
When someone says „Scientists do not want you to know“ you can dismiss everything from there on. Scientists want you to know. They are desperate that you know. They can’t shut up about what they found out and want you to know.
March 3, 2026 at 12:10 PM
When someone says „Scientists do not want you to know“ you can dismiss everything from there on. Scientists want you to know. They are desperate that you know. They can’t shut up about what they found out and want you to know.
Never noticed before that the enchantress eternally cursed an entire castle of people because a 14 year old boy was rude to her. #BeautyAndTheBeast #WhatWasSheExpecting
February 16, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Never noticed before that the enchantress eternally cursed an entire castle of people because a 14 year old boy was rude to her. #BeautyAndTheBeast #WhatWasSheExpecting
Reposted by Laura Hug
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
February 10, 2026 at 6:10 AM
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
Reposted by Laura Hug
Hey guess what - I wrote a book, and it's coming out soon!
The Dark Frontier is about the wonders of the deep sea...and the threats they face. Check it out, and if you're so moved, you can preorder from your favorite purveyor of fine literature 📚❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652987...
The Dark Frontier is about the wonders of the deep sea...and the threats they face. Check it out, and if you're so moved, you can preorder from your favorite purveyor of fine literature 📚❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652987...
The Dark Frontier by Jeffrey Marlow: 9780593230183 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An awe-inspiring investigation into the hidden world of the deep sea—the most mysterious, unforgiving environment on Earth—whose secrets can radically revise our understanding of life itself...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Hey guess what - I wrote a book, and it's coming out soon!
The Dark Frontier is about the wonders of the deep sea...and the threats they face. Check it out, and if you're so moved, you can preorder from your favorite purveyor of fine literature 📚❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652987...
The Dark Frontier is about the wonders of the deep sea...and the threats they face. Check it out, and if you're so moved, you can preorder from your favorite purveyor of fine literature 📚❤️
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652987...
Reposted by Laura Hug
Covers of the 2 leading science journals this week
@science.org and @nature.com
www.science.org/content/arti... www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
@science.org and @nature.com
www.science.org/content/arti... www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 22, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Covers of the 2 leading science journals this week
@science.org and @nature.com
www.science.org/content/arti... www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
@science.org and @nature.com
www.science.org/content/arti... www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
If you manage people, and you don't read @rawsignal.ca's newsletter... well, that's probably fine but you definitely should start.
On managing teams when you don't have the relevant expertise: "The tools are getting faster but the core issue was never that you were bullshitting slowly."
On managing teams when you don't have the relevant expertise: "The tools are getting faster but the core issue was never that you were bullshitting slowly."
January 21, 2026 at 2:41 PM
If you manage people, and you don't read @rawsignal.ca's newsletter... well, that's probably fine but you definitely should start.
On managing teams when you don't have the relevant expertise: "The tools are getting faster but the core issue was never that you were bullshitting slowly."
On managing teams when you don't have the relevant expertise: "The tools are getting faster but the core issue was never that you were bullshitting slowly."
Reposted by Laura Hug
This is exactly my first thought when is comes to literally *anything* about Greenland. The native Inuit who were colonized by Europe, and who have fought long and hard to regain some level of home rule, deserve better than to have their homeland considered "for sale" by this bullshitter president.
January 19, 2026 at 4:29 AM
This is exactly my first thought when is comes to literally *anything* about Greenland. The native Inuit who were colonized by Europe, and who have fought long and hard to regain some level of home rule, deserve better than to have their homeland considered "for sale" by this bullshitter president.
Reposted by Laura Hug
I've played enough Risk to know that if the US takes Greenland, they're going to want Canada and Mexico next to get the completed continent bonus.
January 19, 2026 at 2:13 PM
I've played enough Risk to know that if the US takes Greenland, they're going to want Canada and Mexico next to get the completed continent bonus.
The classic academic urge to write a book… #IDontHaveTimeForThis
December 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The classic academic urge to write a book… #IDontHaveTimeForThis
I’m running a social experiment on my family. This fall, I’ve taken up a new hobby. I’ve mentioned it to everyone at least twice, with appropriately nerdy enthusiasm. Will holiday gifts be overwhelmingly this-hobby-related, or has it not percolated into their view of me yet?
December 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I’m running a social experiment on my family. This fall, I’ve taken up a new hobby. I’ve mentioned it to everyone at least twice, with appropriately nerdy enthusiasm. Will holiday gifts be overwhelmingly this-hobby-related, or has it not percolated into their view of me yet?
Reposted by Laura Hug
With current pledges, the world's on track for 2.6°C of warming in 2100 compared to preindustrial levels.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
With current pledges, the world's on track for 2.6°C of warming in 2100 compared to preindustrial levels.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
10 years ago, before the Paris agreement, it was 3.6°C
20+ years ago, we thought it would be 4-5°C
So 2.6°C is better, but the problem is that climate impacts are way worse than we predicted.
Not *quite* the attitude I’m looking for..
November 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Not *quite* the attitude I’m looking for..
New paper from our group - megaphages, compact CRISPR-Cas effectors, and more from landfill phage, led by the talented Dr. Nikhil George (not on bsky). rdcu.be/ePo8o
Discarded diversity: novel megaphages, auxiliary metabolic genes, and virally encoded CRISPR-Cas systems in landfills
link.springer.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:38 PM
New paper from our group - megaphages, compact CRISPR-Cas effectors, and more from landfill phage, led by the talented Dr. Nikhil George (not on bsky). rdcu.be/ePo8o
Reposted by Laura Hug
I love kids. I have two of them. They’re amazing. However, kids are the absolute least self aware, clumsiest little puffins on the planet.
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
October 31, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I love kids. I have two of them. They’re amazing. However, kids are the absolute least self aware, clumsiest little puffins on the planet.
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
Please don’t drive tonight unless you have to, and if you do drive, drive super slow and pay 100% attention at all times.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 💀
#PublicHealth
Reposted by Laura Hug
not to brag but i can generate slop with natural intelligence
October 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
not to brag but i can generate slop with natural intelligence
@planetmoney.bsky.social AI hosts in the Trojan Horse episode? Or sound mixing gone overboard?
Really hard to listen to Kenny when interspersed with the interviews, then back to “human” for the wrappers, just obviously robotic in some way
Really hard to listen to Kenny when interspersed with the interviews, then back to “human” for the wrappers, just obviously robotic in some way
October 28, 2025 at 1:30 PM
@planetmoney.bsky.social AI hosts in the Trojan Horse episode? Or sound mixing gone overboard?
Really hard to listen to Kenny when interspersed with the interviews, then back to “human” for the wrappers, just obviously robotic in some way
Really hard to listen to Kenny when interspersed with the interviews, then back to “human” for the wrappers, just obviously robotic in some way
First two (of five) carved. Now to see if the squirrels eat them before Friday…
October 27, 2025 at 1:17 AM
First two (of five) carved. Now to see if the squirrels eat them before Friday…