Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d

I think porpoises secretly WISH they could penguin

Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 2d

Adelie penguins porpoise because it's efficient and it allows them to breathe while they are hurrying to wherever they are going which in this case was back to the colony at Paulet Island
🧪🌍🦑🦉

Full shot of dozens of Adelie penguins porpoising out of the water with an ice shelf in the distance

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 3d

Cinematographer Sara Matasick and Producer Heather Cruickshank visited us at UC for a screening of National Geographic’s Secrets of the Penguins & a behind-the-scenes tour of the production.

We celebrated Antarctic Season Opening, 25 years of Gateway Antarctica and of course… emperor penguins
🧪🌎🦉🦑

Three woman sit on chairs smiling at the camera in a dark theater

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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue

Kate Laskowski @katelaskowski.bsky.social · 6d

So much this!! Code is so valuable and literally the thing that creates your results. When you include it in your paper it can be such a valuable resource to everyone (plus earn you a couple more citations).

Daniel Bolnick @danielbolnick.bsky.social · 6d

This:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Absolutely yes. And I'm proud that @asn-amnat.bsky.social has led the way on this with requiring code and data editors checking code for about five years now!

Stop treating code like an afterthought: record, share and value it

Scientists, research institutions, funders, libraries and publishers must all improve software practices.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue

UBC Oceans @ubcoceans.bsky.social · 7d

When most of us think of #whales and #dolphins, we imagine elegant blue whales, or striking orcas, but the whale and dolphin family (collectively called #cetaceans) contains over 90 living species; many of them unusual and some stranger than fiction.
www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts...

Spiral tusks, big square heads, strange pink skin: 10 weirdest dolphins and whales on the planet | Discover Wildlife

From unicorn-like narwhals to pink river dolphins and whales with boxy skulls, the ocean is home to some truly bizarre-looking cetaceans.

www.discoverwildlife.com

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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 8d

New orca calf brings hope to endangered J pod near Vancouver Island 🦑🌎🧪

New orca calf brings hope to endangered J pod near Vancouver Island

Researchers are celebrating the birth of a new orca calf in the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population — a rare bright spot for the struggling J pod.

cheknews.ca

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 8d

They are, like, simultaneously clueless and innocent while also being badass and tough. It’s a cool combination of traits.

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 8d

I never said I was good at my job

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 9d

When I was on the ice w Nat Geo, we visited the emperor penguins at Atka Bay which is a colony that hops up onto the ice shelf rather than staying only on sea ice. This means that when chicks fledge they have a high-dive of a jump to reach the water. Which they do. With spectacular inelegance. 🧪🌍🦑🦉

A scientist in a black jacket and brown hat with binoculars in her hands looks into the distance as emperor penguin chicks hang out in the background.

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 10d

Resting Concern Face, 100%

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 10d

Thank you. Larry agrees.

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 10d

… he does. It’s why he doesn’t believe me for a second when I tell him I’m not making things with cheese. He knows.

Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 10d

It’s true!

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 10d

They must.

Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 10d

Sir, I am not getting the cheese out just for you. I’m not making anything with cheese.

Larry: …

Me: *proceeds to get cheese out of the fridge just for him, which he ate proudly and then ran out of the kitchen as though he just got away with a crime*

German Shepherd sitting on the floor in the kitchen looking directly at the camera, adorably asking for some cheese, which I did not start out with but proceeded to obtain from the fridge because how can anyone say no to this face.

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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue

Joseph Rezek @rezekjoe.bsky.social · 11d

Just posting this. Everyone knows why.

Text of the fourth amendment “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 12d

Jem Cresswell’s striking whale images – in pictures www.theguardian.com/environment/... 🦑🌎🧪

Jem Cresswell’s striking whale images – in pictures

The photographer spent five years documenting humpback whales in the waters surrounding the Tonga Trench

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 13d

I think there are few things funnier than watching fat, fluffy, hungry Adelie penguin chicks chasing their parents for food

🧪🌍🦑🦉

Two fluffy, grey Adelie penguin chicks chasing an adult

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Reposted by Dr Michelle LaRue

Science Vs @sciencevs.bsky.social · 14d

This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥

We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪

Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇

open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 14d

Amazing! You probably met my advisor, Don Siniff, then. Wonderful man.

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 14d

Emperor penguins choose to live on sea ice, which is frozen ocean water, instead of being on land. And they’ve done this for millions of years. Incredible birds.
🧪🌎🦑🦉

Photo taken under NZ AMLR permit

Scientist in orange coat stands on ice in front of a small group of emperor penguins

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 14d

You worked with Art Devries?!

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 15d

Weddell seals are the best seals for sure, I’m sorry you’re under contractual obligation to suggest otherwise but they won’t hold it against you

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 15d

Weddell seals notoriously take direction excellently

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Dr Michelle LaRue @drmichellelarue.bsky.social · 15d

Can't wait to get to the ice and see these beauties again... never gets old.

Weddell seals are the southern-most marine mammal in the world and live more than 30 years!
🧪🌍🦑🦉🦊

Antarctic scientist standing on the sea ice behind a Weddell seal who is looking toward the left side of the picture, in epic fashion

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