c0nc0rdance
Molecular biologist from Texas, here to share my meanderings on nature, science, history, politics, and zombies. Long threads a specialty.
- This is the Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris), and it's just straight up a dinosaur. Like, I know *all* birds are technically avian dinosaurs, but my first thought looking at this guy is: dinosaur. (📷: Suzie McCann, eBird)
- I've been reading about the Brothers Grimm & realizing I had some really wrong conceptions of them. I thought they were story-tellers or children's book publishers with a slightly morbid/dark take on life. I never expected to find that they were political radicals & serious academics.
- A zinnia flower grown in the Veggie facility on the ISS in 2015. Bagged "pillows" of dirt are pre-seeded, activated in a special chamber with grow lights. I like to think this one is looking out the window and thinking: "Oh no, not again!" (📷: NASA JSC, Flickr)
- Old MacDonald had a farm... on the MOON! 🧑🌾🌕 Let's talk about the brief period of LUNAR agriculture & animal husbandry that happened in 2019. The Chinese Chang'e-4 lander touched down on the far side of the Moon on January 3rd, 2019.
- I recently posted about RNA INTERFERENCE & I want to link that topic to the world's WEIRDEST OCTOPUS via a WEIRD PLANT. The argonaut is the only *pelagic* octopus, floating in open waters rather than in rocky dens on the bottom. The females form little calcite shells, filled with air.
- A pea-sized #Argonaut #octopus hitches a ride on a chain of cloned #salps, as they drift through the open #ocean together. . #papernautilus #nautilus #cephalopod #blackwater #blackwaterdiving #blackwaterphotography #gug #chrisgug #gugunderwater #comensalism #symbiosis
- Animal species infected with H5N1, from Krammer et al. (2025) Who's ready for the sequel to Cocaine Bear: "Influenza Bear"?
- Reposted by c0nc0rdanceTrump to Carney: "You see the new and improved Oval Office. As it becomes more and more beautiful with love and 24 karat gold. That always helps too."
- Willow ptarmigans (Lagopus lagopus) are the state bird of Alaska & their call sounds like someone tap-dancing on a row of rubber chickens. Utterly ridiculous bird call for a very dignified-looking bird.
- What a lovely orchid. 💮 Wait: Look AGAIN. Hymenopus coronatus, the 'orchid-blossom mantis' has such clever camouflage that, even when you KNOW it's a bug, it can take a minute to parse out. They climb up to flowers, hang about bobbing as though blown by wind & wait for butterflies.
- A really simple example of why we need "GOF" research: I worked with a virus of horses. My predecessor modified the virus to infect dog cancer cells grown in culture, so we could grow versions of the virus incapable of sustaining infection (in horses OR dogs). This INCREASED biosecurity.
