@bookswain.bsky.social
Starting over, again. Science, history, books, etc.
I share books and other items I collect, one of my hobbies. I was a Jedi once, like my father before me.
All posts protected by the 1st Amendment.
I share books and other items I collect, one of my hobbies. I was a Jedi once, like my father before me.
All posts protected by the 1st Amendment.
Reposted
I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving today has an enjoyable day with family and friends.
November 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving today has an enjoyable day with family and friends.
The art choice below because people eating dinosaurs is the norm on Thanksgiving 🦕
I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving today has an enjoyable day with family and friends.
November 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The art choice below because people eating dinosaurs is the norm on Thanksgiving 🦕
Reposted
We have the rise of the Ottoman Empire & their vast trading networks to thank for the name of the North American bird we call a turkey.
Why do we call these birds "turkeys"?
Add this to the list of "European explorers are bad at naming things". EVERYTHING new was "turkish" because of rising cultural influence of the Turkish (Ottoman) Empire.
Corn: "Turkish wheat"
Pumpkins: "Turkish cucumbers"
And that's how you get Turkey-cock.
Add this to the list of "European explorers are bad at naming things". EVERYTHING new was "turkish" because of rising cultural influence of the Turkish (Ottoman) Empire.
Corn: "Turkish wheat"
Pumpkins: "Turkish cucumbers"
And that's how you get Turkey-cock.
November 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
We have the rise of the Ottoman Empire & their vast trading networks to thank for the name of the North American bird we call a turkey.
I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving today has an enjoyable day with family and friends.
November 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving today has an enjoyable day with family and friends.
You just died.
The 6th picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
The 6th picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
November 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
You just died.
The 6th picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
The 6th picture in your phone gallery is what killed you.
Reposted
We tracked the motility of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 across temp and found it is active up to 64°C (movie here), with most directed motion from 55-64°C🏃♀️! It seems to use the vermiform state to travel quickly and the amoebiform state to explore space.
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
We tracked the motility of 𝘐. 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 across temp and found it is active up to 64°C (movie here), with most directed motion from 55-64°C🏃♀️! It seems to use the vermiform state to travel quickly and the amoebiform state to explore space.
Reposted
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
Reposted
(2/3) Centromeres – the little points where two arms of a chromosome meet – are one of the fastest-evolving parts of our genome.
Scientists studied centromeres in two fungal groups that diverged over a billion years ago to understand the evolutionary pressures that act on them.
Scientists studied centromeres in two fungal groups that diverged over a billion years ago to understand the evolutionary pressures that act on them.
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
(2/3) Centromeres – the little points where two arms of a chromosome meet – are one of the fastest-evolving parts of our genome.
Scientists studied centromeres in two fungal groups that diverged over a billion years ago to understand the evolutionary pressures that act on them.
Scientists studied centromeres in two fungal groups that diverged over a billion years ago to understand the evolutionary pressures that act on them.
Reposted
(1/3) Imagine reconstructing a history over a billion years in the making.
New research from EMBL and @Stanford shows how centromeres retain their function despite their rapid rate of change, and the evolutionary constraints that govern this process.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New research from EMBL and @Stanford shows how centromeres retain their function despite their rapid rate of change, and the evolutionary constraints that govern this process.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
(1/3) Imagine reconstructing a history over a billion years in the making.
New research from EMBL and @Stanford shows how centromeres retain their function despite their rapid rate of change, and the evolutionary constraints that govern this process.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New research from EMBL and @Stanford shows how centromeres retain their function despite their rapid rate of change, and the evolutionary constraints that govern this process.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
While many, including the president of Brazil, framed this year’s conference as one of action, the talks ended with a watered-down agreement. The final draft doesn’t even include the phrase “fossil fuels.” 👇 🌎
#climatechange
#climatechange
This year’s UN climate talks avoided fossil fuels, again
www.technologyreview.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM
While many, including the president of Brazil, framed this year’s conference as one of action, the talks ended with a watered-down agreement. The final draft doesn’t even include the phrase “fossil fuels.” 👇 🌎
#climatechange
#climatechange
Reposted
This terracotta die comes from the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the first urban centres in human history 🎲⠀
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
This terracotta die comes from the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the first urban centres in human history 🎲⠀
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
Reposted
Frankly My Dear, I Don't Give A Dam
Just realized that the 18th c. French map of America by the Newberry Library Special Collections reading room is REALLY into Beavers! It illustrates nearly fifty of them hard at work... Building skills aside, they were probably featured because of the fur trade.
Just realized that the 18th c. French map of America by the Newberry Library Special Collections reading room is REALLY into Beavers! It illustrates nearly fifty of them hard at work... Building skills aside, they were probably featured because of the fur trade.
November 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Frankly My Dear, I Don't Give A Dam
Just realized that the 18th c. French map of America by the Newberry Library Special Collections reading room is REALLY into Beavers! It illustrates nearly fifty of them hard at work... Building skills aside, they were probably featured because of the fur trade.
Just realized that the 18th c. French map of America by the Newberry Library Special Collections reading room is REALLY into Beavers! It illustrates nearly fifty of them hard at work... Building skills aside, they were probably featured because of the fur trade.
Reposted
Selanik gevreği (biscotti, as known in Turkey) is half-baked, cooling down on the counter. Can't slice it before it's cool and set enough for a second bake. I added lots of orange and mandarin zest, orange blossom water, roasted anise seeds, almonds, and sour cherries.
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Selanik gevreği (biscotti, as known in Turkey) is half-baked, cooling down on the counter. Can't slice it before it's cool and set enough for a second bake. I added lots of orange and mandarin zest, orange blossom water, roasted anise seeds, almonds, and sour cherries.
So for #BookSky, I’m a book collector, which includes this yearbook from 1951 around the same time my father graduated. A dreaded🧵, but I think it’s worth checking it out til the end, especially if you’re into science 🧪 related non-fiction (1/n)
November 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
So for #BookSky, I’m a book collector, which includes this yearbook from 1951 around the same time my father graduated. A dreaded🧵, but I think it’s worth checking it out til the end, especially if you’re into science 🧪 related non-fiction (1/n)
Reposted
This rules
At Miss Universe, a Salmon Costume Steals the Show
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:32 AM
This rules
“The results suggest lichen evolved around 410 million years ago, shortly after the initial spread of vascular plants 420 million years ago and just before the earliest known forests around 390 million years ago.” 👇
This Fossil Is Rewriting the Story of How Plants Spread across the Planet
An enigmatic group of fossil organisms has finally been identified—and is changing the story of how plants took root on land
www.scientificamerican.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
“The results suggest lichen evolved around 410 million years ago, shortly after the initial spread of vascular plants 420 million years ago and just before the earliest known forests around 390 million years ago.” 👇
Reposted
3 different flavours of Polychaeta (bristle worms) in one friendship group! The biggest is from the family Spionidae, the orange one was featured is yesterday’s post, from the family Serpulidae, and the littlest is a mystery to me!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
November 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
3 different flavours of Polychaeta (bristle worms) in one friendship group! The biggest is from the family Spionidae, the orange one was featured is yesterday’s post, from the family Serpulidae, and the littlest is a mystery to me!
#marineplankton 🦑
#marineplankton 🦑
🦑
What's that? You didn't know boxfish made sound? Me neither...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
November 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
🦑
Reposted
What's that? You didn't know boxfish made sound? Me neither...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
What's that? You didn't know boxfish made sound? Me neither...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
It turns out all species (Atlantic & Pacific) do, yet little is known about how this evolved. A novel structure found only in the Atlantic species offered the answer, but it isn't quite what you think...🌍 🧪
doi.org/10.1093/biol...
Reposted
Two miles of ice core on the shelf at our national ice core facility in Lakewood, Colorado. The WAIS Divide core from West Antarctica is a 3400m long (deepest US core, 2nd deepest ice core ever) 68,000 year old record of high resolution climate.
November 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Two miles of ice core on the shelf at our national ice core facility in Lakewood, Colorado. The WAIS Divide core from West Antarctica is a 3400m long (deepest US core, 2nd deepest ice core ever) 68,000 year old record of high resolution climate.
Reposted
Squawroot (Orobanchaceae: Conopholis americana) is widespread but uncommon across eastern North America. It lacks chlorophyll, is parasitic mainly on oaks and beeches, and is only conspicuous when it flowers in April. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, 11 Apr 2016.
November 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Squawroot (Orobanchaceae: Conopholis americana) is widespread but uncommon across eastern North America. It lacks chlorophyll, is parasitic mainly on oaks and beeches, and is only conspicuous when it flowers in April. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, 11 Apr 2016.
Reposted
have you ever been somewhere so dark you could step outside & immediately spot the Milky Way? i traveled to the Upper Peninsula to learn about efforts to balance industrialization & economic growth with the preservation of starry skies:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s...
Fighting for ‘The Right to Night’ Under Starry, Rural Skies
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
have you ever been somewhere so dark you could step outside & immediately spot the Milky Way? i traveled to the Upper Peninsula to learn about efforts to balance industrialization & economic growth with the preservation of starry skies:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s...
Reposted
Japanese Emperor Caterpillar for President!
Go up or down in the thread to see the gorgeous (pseudo)color in the adult.
Go up or down in the thread to see the gorgeous (pseudo)color in the adult.
... you absolutely have to see the caterpillar from which the butterfly emerges.
No wonder they made him emperor of Japan, that's the cutest little guy on the whole island chain.
Hell, I say we make him the President of the USA, too.
No wonder they made him emperor of Japan, that's the cutest little guy on the whole island chain.
Hell, I say we make him the President of the USA, too.
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Japanese Emperor Caterpillar for President!
Go up or down in the thread to see the gorgeous (pseudo)color in the adult.
Go up or down in the thread to see the gorgeous (pseudo)color in the adult.