<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></title><description><![CDATA[RSS Feed]]></description><link>https://ecency.com</link><image><url>https://ecency.com/logo512.png</url><title>RSS Feed</title><link>https://ecency.com</link></image><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:05:39 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[An Hour-Plus on a Flat Tyre]]></title><description><![CDATA[A few days ago, I drove for over an hour with a punctured tyre. It was my first time. Looking at the shredded rubber afterwards, I hope it will also be my last. Why did I keep driving? It was late, dark]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/an-hour-plus-on-a-flat-tyre</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/an-hour-plus-on-a-flat-tyre</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-102066]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:19:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/4HFqJv9qRjVecs4xkhd5EvhidWEEBnn9tCVDBkBhQpUFvab78MhbU1Vt8CUNAmrBR1LdGmiwuTncC9ha5LU2tc9DqRvf4iBwDXQBsnPMCPykEiTWwbszor7yigndQerTD1CH9uUkBdrR78S5zw1H2buvAW61WgUsh3t?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[From my PhD desk: The Forest Beneath My Feet]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is a cross post of @gentleshaid/from-my-phd-desk-the-forest-beneath-my-feet by @gentleshaid.Forgot to post directly to the community]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/from-my-phd-desk-the-forest-beneath-my-feet-hive-196387</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/from-my-phd-desk-the-forest-beneath-my-feet-hive-196387</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:25:09 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[From my PhD desk: The Forest Beneath My Feet]]></title><description><![CDATA[A forest has a way of directing your attention upwards. The tall trees take charge of the view. Their crowns catch the light, birds announce themselves from somewhere overhead, and you find yourself trying]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/from-my-phd-desk-the-forest-beneath-my-feet</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/from-my-phd-desk-the-forest-beneath-my-feet</guid><category><![CDATA[writing]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:18:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/NTy4GV6ooFRmaCXZ8UYgPhoud1kjiNX8QokLEZtbBKLuLWQ9yt7K3o4Heu7j52a7nqQHdjDiU4SbCSdKQKRei8u3ZC47sqjhQdB3L7ASqREwjrvjtfyNuHEnn1yDJqsECy6C2biFbJTxenDWocmxJYnvXpDG1Yc1Zfh4c35G?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Goats Have Discovered the Chickens’ Dinner]]></title><description><![CDATA[I bought two goats to help solve our household food waste problem. We were throwing away too much food, and I thought a male and a female would put suitable leftovers to use. Perhaps they would eventually]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/my-goats-have-discovered-the-chickens-dinner</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/my-goats-have-discovered-the-chickens-dinner</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-114308]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:09:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL81EUJ7yjsvrqgLjeUiiS22a8jWqoSmJJLxyW5YURAVRrvRGdGkBW5GCKFeZ6UX3Prvvy8bv4Cy1pgNpK5MTpWM7poVqP42LjY?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[From the Desk of a Plant Ecologist: The Forest Beyond the Trees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome to From the Desk of a Plant Ecologist, my weekly space for sharing the discoveries, questions, and surprises that make the study of plants so fascinating. My background in plant ecology shapes]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/from-the-desk-of-a-plant-ecologist-the-forest-beyond-the-trees</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/from-the-desk-of-a-plant-ecologist-the-forest-beyond-the-trees</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2026 19:32:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8DykKSdut7k31Kj6K2WJcfr6xDJAUG3219hi65cDJdc3JUGdxzeGEtpPRwLogTBH4LZcZLbVMWxGBuaNPUENqgzv4DekijB4J?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ph.D Desk: What Are We Still Missing About Fire and the Soil Seed Bank?]]></title><description><![CDATA[When we think about fire in a forest, it is easy to imagine heat as the main culprit. But fire leaves behind more than heat. Smoke carries chemical signals, while ash changes the physical and chemical]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/phd-desk-what-are-we-still-missing-about-fire-and-the-soil-seed-bank</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/phd-desk-what-are-we-still-missing-about-fire-and-the-soil-seed-bank</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:04:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8NrZ5ytqJLduYQavYsHZ6bGxHYQkB4dMZT9sta4Rd5Wp7G2wiV4JYZ1ryeUUXzhh9K6J4TEBcQJwijNrmefzitQNGzgGzqFD8?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Chemistry Teacher Was Trying to Tell You Something]]></title><description><![CDATA[I've been teaching Chemistry for more than 5 years now, and it amazes me how people don't see many subjects beyond the classroom and passing exams. Just a couple of days ago, I was teaching a student about]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/your-chemistry-teacher-was-trying-to-tell-you-something</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/your-chemistry-teacher-was-trying-to-tell-you-something</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-11060]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 19:15:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8Rd8r4ZebQTaxneVugT9HqeAcXJJKFwG46fH8EcVa7o9qbv8usKrVMpCY5UYnK3mZ13KJ6mmdkxbmQUjg5m7BdBBzM9Eyj6Lv?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why 'Morning and Night' Isn't Always Good Enough for Your Medication.]]></title><description><![CDATA[For about two years, I worked as a pharmacy technician. Looking back now, there are so many little things we did that I never questioned. One of them was how casually we handled the timing of medications.]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/why-morning-and-night-isnt-always-good-enough-for-your-medication</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/why-morning-and-night-isnt-always-good-enough-for-your-medication</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:51:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8cpWJUikmyp9zt4hxs9j9vaC81E4RD5YErwVs1bcixN7ouVdKhPQqCXYUAMR449KqqeJuKHRAei54oFrMc4PwyKtXURyC81YS?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The smell of death]]></title><description><![CDATA[A few years ago, I stumbled upon one of those stories that makes you pause and say, "Nah... this can't be real." It was about a Scottish woman named Joy Milne. For years, she insisted that her]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/the-smell-of-death</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/the-smell-of-death</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:49:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL7r8SnkJ9ucyXePraKA9csbeTrhGusdmmDB3wnQ8goZAdetPKL5A8KMaLB9qKwzd9eznYCXkogkZer3J66TwQayH6xWDSgE37k?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Mushroom Test: How Our Ancestors Practiced Science Without Knowing It]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the topics I enjoy teaching students the most is the scientific method. There is something deeply satisfying about explaining the process of observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation,]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/the-mushroom-test-how-our-ancestors-practiced-science-without-knowing-it</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/the-mushroom-test-how-our-ancestors-practiced-science-without-knowing-it</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 08:04:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL81ENZ92QSAeCKHvShXh2mZkXJaREJmL4LqdpbzJR4zGmnVJ2sKbmDhsaZV72yGvrz84pcaBuzfpcsHH888GGTWKpcbVLRY8UN?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Elephant in the Room: Alcohol and Its Illusions]]></title><description><![CDATA[I was around 18 years old when I had my first alcoholic drink. It was freshly tapped palm wine. You could drink gallons of it without wanting to stop, at least until the alcohol kicked in and you suddenly]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/the-elephant-in-the-room-alcohol-and-its-illusions</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/the-elephant-in-the-room-alcohol-and-its-illusions</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 20:37:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8DyVHW7fg6EyiNATZNWzuvgQBNYcxSunEaufLDPL52ERMaAqjdAtksiwLmR7396FYLXjrULQwrsDCViYDWSUqXV7NaoqZ6ESa?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Good Health? Eating less may be what you need]]></title><description><![CDATA[Food is life, no doubt about that. Without food, no human being can survive beyond a couple of days, with the highest recorded survival period being around 21 days. As long as an organism is alive, it]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/good-health-eating-less-may-be-what-you-need</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/good-health-eating-less-may-be-what-you-need</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 16:16:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8PbWCCtPZ4qzVY5b1Gm5vE5D1broHXY1P6ChbvuTjFJoXws9kJuToFA5ZaERvKpnxZKfFUyM9pB7AqX1iUavRFmkcxvdekh3C?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lamarckism and the Human Brain]]></title><description><![CDATA[I love telling a particular joke to my students whenever I'm advising them to study adequately. The joke revolves around the law of use and disuse of organs according to Jean Lamarck. Some like to call]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/lamarckism-and-the-human-brain</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/lamarckism-and-the-human-brain</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 17:16:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8nrDXCaUxNwrkye8x814iaQRQeny2decaRY91iYbA4Gi9TTb9JB18fMdr1FhdjBTyEyjy4icLZwwB8xvFdDSKqBtdA5qohfwt?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Global Warming and the Politics of Convenience]]></title><description><![CDATA[Global warming is not entirely a bad thing. In fact, without it, the Earth might have remained locked in an ice age, making much of today’s civilization impossible. The warming effect caused by greenhouse]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/global-warming-and-the-politics-of-convenience</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/global-warming-and-the-politics-of-convenience</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:48:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8Q3JJYbAk3eo99YkGUBZKbPfkeY7ppjndzHCmmT8YhUdKqy63L31PB2XKZCRLQa66fgDFrTZZhnvvJiiwvGGxJSfBmjeaV6ox?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Vaccines Don’t Seem to Work: My Measles Experience]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have listened to and read about several arguments against vaccines. Initially, I thought many of these arguments were simply dumb and reeked of a lack of education. With time, however, I started seeing]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/when-vaccines-dont-seem-to-work-my-measles-experience</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/when-vaccines-dont-seem-to-work-my-measles-experience</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-165757]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:11:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZLkWBaGqiwu2bx4UFYE4J1U1e4uB4eyzQqnyokCE9u3oZAQTJ8NWeVvVfuVb91t7hgQxqEbVHRLRLryPVpX9SThp7u73nVaYjDY?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Meet Jane and Johanna]]></title><description><![CDATA[It is one thing to have a natural penchant for something, and another to be doing something for economic gain. It is, however, possible for one's passion to be economically beneficial. Such is my case]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/meet-jane-and-johanna</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/meet-jane-and-johanna</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-114308]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 19:55:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8NrdhpDLwtBKzocW7jwwuemEM7jMmEWaFVv35P2k2ooicJMNbbZW2dKFGDX7sTEjT6RyF9VfHarfRZNP16iKcRtiQrrWDW7Zg?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Young Blood, Old Questions: What the Science Really Says About Ageing]]></title><description><![CDATA[I first saw the headline on Sky News: Drinking young blood could prevent age-related diseases, study reveals. Even though the article date 2018, it hit me like a fresh one out of the laboratory. On a normal]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/young-blood-old-questions-what-the-science-really-says-about-ageing</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/young-blood-old-questions-what-the-science-really-says-about-ageing</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:49:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8Rd76xT58SVyfZBWBMspwXmckQQzqU9PHomCVRt6RweEiLrA1U122Yc3GHPv1cLRJ6iupWMN5zPGgqeCHAY4hdq4aSjNoG4H4?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Something Must Kill a Man]]></title><description><![CDATA[Something must kill a man. The above phrase is a popular joke in Nigerian societies, and perhaps beyond. It is usually pronounced out of frustration against several lifestyle restrictions recommended for]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/something-must-kill-a-man</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/something-must-kill-a-man</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:55:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL81ij7i8k8MBsKyFyvZJh57L1JudRwcaBuZho6xzLho9DmSwsijSS1XNLQeYsvZSf3jB8hdfnGcgs2rN8T1qKnS2G79n34LHGS?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Writing used to be so cool]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reflecting on How Writing Has Changed Writing used to be so much fun back in 2017, when I first joined this community. In those days, I practically ate and breathed this space. I can vividly remember the]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/writing-used-to-be-so-cool</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/writing-used-to-be-so-cool</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 17:24:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/8DAuGnTQCLptZgjHUrRAJGcW4y1D4A5QVJJ7zjzqqKdfVHSS6NapSCC7sEDkSAZL71WqMTQzZL8E1iioNN6TJWBmDxNP9J4EUs3DSyB6yCyQYLyNnhQq2hVMa2b3EfCMZshjJcQ3L4VYjXqob5wHczmhG3SAAnhpYXgAoFhCV3C?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item><item><title><![CDATA[Much Ado about the Male Birth Control Pill]]></title><description><![CDATA[So you’re telling me that a male birth control pill was created but canceled due to side effects… The same ones women deal with??????? It was this short, sharp, and soaked-in-frustration x post that pushed]]></description><link>https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/much-ado-about-the-male-birth-control-pill</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://ecency.com/@gentleshaid/much-ado-about-the-male-birth-control-pill</guid><category><![CDATA[hive-196387]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[gentleshaid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:13:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://i.ecency.com/p/3RTd4iuWD6NV7fkvydeHM1EGbojTB9EtH3wzsCU1qCVwYMiyyasrUWgdVoUDLWyzXCC82yGjPC3CyWGszbBi3p1wbQPKPPAZarFjRbp7dqwKrWZFVu92Ex5AWDWGVs7SR1o6Avcjujwc4HnzLgRZUB9k9VUeNSKJV3P6mQtVdaEBpK?format=match&amp;mode=fit" length="0" type="false"/></item></channel></rss>