Aaron Putnam
@aaronputnam.bsky.social
Dad. Husband. Associate Professor of Earth Science at the University of Maine. I am interested in glaciers and climate in the past, present, and future.
Large mountain daisy (Celmisia semicordata, I think) blooming on the south facing slope of a moraine in Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/Southern Alps. I love the tough, silvery leaves of this plant.
January 28, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Large mountain daisy (Celmisia semicordata, I think) blooming on the south facing slope of a moraine in Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/Southern Alps. I love the tough, silvery leaves of this plant.
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
The ocean freighting industry is woke now (the containers spell Renee, for Renee Good).
www.reddit.com/r/Tacoma/com...
www.reddit.com/r/Tacoma/com...
January 27, 2026 at 4:13 AM
The ocean freighting industry is woke now (the containers spell Renee, for Renee Good).
www.reddit.com/r/Tacoma/com...
www.reddit.com/r/Tacoma/com...
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
January 25, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
Hope you all have ways of self care on days like this.
Tedeschi Trucks Band performs "Let's Go Get Stoned" at Gathering of the Vibes Music Festival 2015
YouTube video by Gathering of the Vibes
youtu.be
January 24, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Hope you all have ways of self care on days like this.
First day back in the field in Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/Southern Alps.
Photo: UMaine graduate student Katie Westbrook documenting a boulder that dropped off a glacier as it receded rapidly toward a near-modern position from its Ice Age configuration, we think about 17,800 yrs ago.
Photo: UMaine graduate student Katie Westbrook documenting a boulder that dropped off a glacier as it receded rapidly toward a near-modern position from its Ice Age configuration, we think about 17,800 yrs ago.
January 24, 2026 at 7:12 AM
First day back in the field in Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/Southern Alps.
Photo: UMaine graduate student Katie Westbrook documenting a boulder that dropped off a glacier as it receded rapidly toward a near-modern position from its Ice Age configuration, we think about 17,800 yrs ago.
Photo: UMaine graduate student Katie Westbrook documenting a boulder that dropped off a glacier as it receded rapidly toward a near-modern position from its Ice Age configuration, we think about 17,800 yrs ago.
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
New oldest dated rock art in the world, from Sulawesi (Indonesia).
People have always made art!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09968-y
People have always made art!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09968-y
Rock art from at least 67,800 years ago in Sulawesi - Nature
A hand stencil painted on a cave wall on a small island off the coast of Sulawesi more than 67,800 years ago suggests a very early occupation of Wallacea.
www.nature.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:28 AM
New oldest dated rock art in the world, from Sulawesi (Indonesia).
People have always made art!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09968-y
People have always made art!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09968-y
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
❄️ 💧 New paper out in @igsoc.bsky.social Journal of Glaciology: "Monitoring glacier evolution and assessing glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) susceptibility in the Bolivian Andes"
lnkd.in/e2tWUXeu
#glaciers #climatechange #climate #andes #glofs #Bolivia
(1/2)
lnkd.in/e2tWUXeu
#glaciers #climatechange #climate #andes #glofs #Bolivia
(1/2)
January 22, 2026 at 9:23 AM
❄️ 💧 New paper out in @igsoc.bsky.social Journal of Glaciology: "Monitoring glacier evolution and assessing glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) susceptibility in the Bolivian Andes"
lnkd.in/e2tWUXeu
#glaciers #climatechange #climate #andes #glofs #Bolivia
(1/2)
lnkd.in/e2tWUXeu
#glaciers #climatechange #climate #andes #glofs #Bolivia
(1/2)
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
NEW: I'm releasing tomorrow's show tonight. It's too important. An internal DHS memo instructs ICE to kick your door in without a proper warrant. Please share widely: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsZY...
Beans Talk | Bombshell ICE Whistleblower Report
YouTube video by MSW Media
www.youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:12 AM
NEW: I'm releasing tomorrow's show tonight. It's too important. An internal DHS memo instructs ICE to kick your door in without a proper warrant. Please share widely: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsZY...
I admit that, upon reading ‘The acidic orange sludge…’, I initially thought this was about something (someone) else.
Interesting piece about extracting REEs from polluted streams while simultaneously cleaning the waters.
Interesting piece about extracting REEs from polluted streams while simultaneously cleaning the waters.
The acidic orange sludge that drains out of coal mines pollutes water supplies and wildlife habitats.
But it also contains valuable rare earth elements—raising the possibility of turning polluted streams into a domestic source of rare earths while cleaning the water.
buff.ly/rc1dXrA
#climatesky
But it also contains valuable rare earth elements—raising the possibility of turning polluted streams into a domestic source of rare earths while cleaning the water.
buff.ly/rc1dXrA
#climatesky
America’s next big clean energy resource could come from coal mine pollution – if we can agree on who owns it
Coal mines are notorious sources of acid mine drainage, but the orange sludge that threatens water supplies and wildlife also contains valuable rare earth elements.
buff.ly
January 22, 2026 at 7:35 AM
I admit that, upon reading ‘The acidic orange sludge…’, I initially thought this was about something (someone) else.
Interesting piece about extracting REEs from polluted streams while simultaneously cleaning the waters.
Interesting piece about extracting REEs from polluted streams while simultaneously cleaning the waters.
Thank you @shennabellows.bsky.social!
States taking action against fascism.
More of this, please.
More of this, please.
1/20 Maine will no longer give special license plates to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for undercover operations, with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows saying she needs assurance the plates wouldn't be used for "lawless purposes" in immigration ops #maine #MEpolitics
January 21, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Thank you @shennabellows.bsky.social!
Whoa. Just clicked on ‘Air Force One’ under Discover… 👀
January 21, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Whoa. Just clicked on ‘Air Force One’ under Discover… 👀
The pup was not going to let me pack for fieldwork without a good dose of guilt.
January 18, 2026 at 1:17 PM
The pup was not going to let me pack for fieldwork without a good dose of guilt.
Fractal romanesco broccoli FTW.
What is the best GIF on the internet and why is it the math vegetable
a close up of a green plant with a swirl pattern
Alt: a close up of an infinite Romanesco broccoli plant with a swirl pattern
media.tenor.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Fractal romanesco broccoli FTW.
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
My former M.S. student, Mariah Radue, is featured in this PBS Wyoming Chronicle eposode about the Gros Ventre Slide. I couldn’t be more proud!
For her thesis, Mariah reconstructed the deglaciation of the Potanin Glacier, western Mongolia, from its Ice Age maximum. ⚒️🧪🌊
youtu.be/hzAPKEB0J5U?...
For her thesis, Mariah reconstructed the deglaciation of the Potanin Glacier, western Mongolia, from its Ice Age maximum. ⚒️🧪🌊
youtu.be/hzAPKEB0J5U?...
How a 1925 Landslide Reshaped Wyoming Forever
YouTube video by Wyoming PBS
youtu.be
January 16, 2026 at 3:04 AM
My former M.S. student, Mariah Radue, is featured in this PBS Wyoming Chronicle eposode about the Gros Ventre Slide. I couldn’t be more proud!
For her thesis, Mariah reconstructed the deglaciation of the Potanin Glacier, western Mongolia, from its Ice Age maximum. ⚒️🧪🌊
youtu.be/hzAPKEB0J5U?...
For her thesis, Mariah reconstructed the deglaciation of the Potanin Glacier, western Mongolia, from its Ice Age maximum. ⚒️🧪🌊
youtu.be/hzAPKEB0J5U?...
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
But the best part of this story is that the Danish resistance in WWII took his name, so he really did awaken and save the day.
January 14, 2026 at 11:56 PM
But the best part of this story is that the Danish resistance in WWII took his name, so he really did awaken and save the day.
An important summation of the firehose of news over the last week… It is hard to keep this all on the radar, but it is important that we try.
January 12, 2026 at 11:30 AM
An important summation of the firehose of news over the last week… It is hard to keep this all on the radar, but it is important that we try.
Check out Torben’s flashy new kicks…
January 11, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Check out Torben’s flashy new kicks…
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
It's the Southern Hemisphere's turn to burn in their summer, but climate change is making it worse just like in the Northern Hemisphere. "There's no way to describe what we're living through. Every five minutes a new fire starts. It's hell,""
www.cbs19news.com/argentina-wi...
www.cbs19news.com/argentina-wi...
Argentina wildfire burns over 5,500 hectares: governor
A major forest fire in southern Argentina has burned more than 5,500 hectares, authorities said Saturday, as hundreds of firefighters and volunteers battled to contain the blaze threatening small comm...
www.cbs19news.com
January 11, 2026 at 3:06 PM
It's the Southern Hemisphere's turn to burn in their summer, but climate change is making it worse just like in the Northern Hemisphere. "There's no way to describe what we're living through. Every five minutes a new fire starts. It's hell,""
www.cbs19news.com/argentina-wi...
www.cbs19news.com/argentina-wi...
Bobby Weir with the Wood Brothers and Mikaela Davis on harp. NPR Tiny Desk Concert, early March 2020 (just before the world shut down).
youtu.be/4l_gUwdPrNY
youtu.be/4l_gUwdPrNY
Bob Weir And Wolf Bros: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
YouTube video by NPR Music
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Bobby Weir with the Wood Brothers and Mikaela Davis on harp. NPR Tiny Desk Concert, early March 2020 (just before the world shut down).
youtu.be/4l_gUwdPrNY
youtu.be/4l_gUwdPrNY
Reposted by Aaron Putnam
Common Sense, published 250 years ago today.
January 10, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Common Sense, published 250 years ago today.
“Then God way up in heaven, for whatever it was worth
Thought he'd have a big old party, thought he'd call it Planet Earth
Don't worry about tomorrow, Lord, you'll know it when it comes
When the rock and roll music meets the rising, shining sun.”
RIP Bob Weir
Thought he'd have a big old party, thought he'd call it Planet Earth
Don't worry about tomorrow, Lord, you'll know it when it comes
When the rock and roll music meets the rising, shining sun.”
RIP Bob Weir
January 11, 2026 at 2:16 AM
“Then God way up in heaven, for whatever it was worth
Thought he'd have a big old party, thought he'd call it Planet Earth
Don't worry about tomorrow, Lord, you'll know it when it comes
When the rock and roll music meets the rising, shining sun.”
RIP Bob Weir
Thought he'd have a big old party, thought he'd call it Planet Earth
Don't worry about tomorrow, Lord, you'll know it when it comes
When the rock and roll music meets the rising, shining sun.”
RIP Bob Weir
R.I.P. ❤️
a man playing a guitar and singing into a microphone
ALT: a man playing a guitar and singing into a microphone
media.tenor.com
January 11, 2026 at 12:32 AM
R.I.P. ❤️
Insects on snow…
The warm weather this week brought out the snow fleas (springtails) as well as insects that looked like water bugs (?)… The springtails carpeted the snow surface! 1/3
The warm weather this week brought out the snow fleas (springtails) as well as insects that looked like water bugs (?)… The springtails carpeted the snow surface! 1/3
January 10, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Insects on snow…
The warm weather this week brought out the snow fleas (springtails) as well as insects that looked like water bugs (?)… The springtails carpeted the snow surface! 1/3
The warm weather this week brought out the snow fleas (springtails) as well as insects that looked like water bugs (?)… The springtails carpeted the snow surface! 1/3