c0nc0rdance
@c0nc0rdance.bsky.social
Molecular biologist from Texas, here to share my meanderings on nature, science, history, politics, and zombies. Long threads a specialty.
I'm on the Go-Cart.
I'm on the vacuum cleaner.
I'm on the combination Go-Cart and vacuum cleaner.
Why don't they make this in MY size?
I'm on the vacuum cleaner.
I'm on the combination Go-Cart and vacuum cleaner.
Why don't they make this in MY size?
November 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I'm on the Go-Cart.
I'm on the vacuum cleaner.
I'm on the combination Go-Cart and vacuum cleaner.
Why don't they make this in MY size?
I'm on the vacuum cleaner.
I'm on the combination Go-Cart and vacuum cleaner.
Why don't they make this in MY size?
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
To be fair, the citrus ones are also about sex and/or hobbits.
February 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
To be fair, the citrus ones are also about sex and/or hobbits.
Great article.
I was told last year not to mention vaccines, SARS-CoV-2, or masking around the MAGA in-laws.
This year, I'm not sure there are any 'safe topics' in science at all. Everything from science funding, women's health to Tylenol is a political minefield.
I was told last year not to mention vaccines, SARS-CoV-2, or masking around the MAGA in-laws.
This year, I'm not sure there are any 'safe topics' in science at all. Everything from science funding, women's health to Tylenol is a political minefield.
Every year around Thanksgiving, I see tons of grad students post heartbreaking messages on social media about how their loved ones don’t understand or support their decision to study what seems like something pointless or silly.
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Great article.
I was told last year not to mention vaccines, SARS-CoV-2, or masking around the MAGA in-laws.
This year, I'm not sure there are any 'safe topics' in science at all. Everything from science funding, women's health to Tylenol is a political minefield.
I was told last year not to mention vaccines, SARS-CoV-2, or masking around the MAGA in-laws.
This year, I'm not sure there are any 'safe topics' in science at all. Everything from science funding, women's health to Tylenol is a political minefield.
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
The American badger (Taxidea taxus, R) resembles the European badger (Meles meles, L), which is why European colonists gave it that name, but while they're both 'mustelids', they're distantly related, sharing a common ancestor about 15-20 MYA.
May 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The American badger (Taxidea taxus, R) resembles the European badger (Meles meles, L), which is why European colonists gave it that name, but while they're both 'mustelids', they're distantly related, sharing a common ancestor about 15-20 MYA.
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
In 1961, metallurgists at the Naval Ordinance Lab were discussing new alloys to improve missile nose cones that better resisted heat & fatigue.
William J. Buehler passed around 1:1 nickel-titanium wire, folded accordion style. One of them applied heat from a pipe-lighter & it snapped to straight.
William J. Buehler passed around 1:1 nickel-titanium wire, folded accordion style. One of them applied heat from a pipe-lighter & it snapped to straight.
March 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
In 1961, metallurgists at the Naval Ordinance Lab were discussing new alloys to improve missile nose cones that better resisted heat & fatigue.
William J. Buehler passed around 1:1 nickel-titanium wire, folded accordion style. One of them applied heat from a pipe-lighter & it snapped to straight.
William J. Buehler passed around 1:1 nickel-titanium wire, folded accordion style. One of them applied heat from a pipe-lighter & it snapped to straight.
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
"Villain" derives from Medieval Latin 'villanus' which just means, essentially "villager" ("inhabitant of a villa"), but had connotations of unsophistication & poor moral teaching.
Over time, "unrefined" became amplified to "evil & rapacious" as we know it today.
Over time, "unrefined" became amplified to "evil & rapacious" as we know it today.
a cartoon character wearing a red hat and goggles
Alt: Snidely Whiplash, a cartoon character wearing a red hat and goggles, twirls his mustache.
media.tenor.com
February 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
"Villain" derives from Medieval Latin 'villanus' which just means, essentially "villager" ("inhabitant of a villa"), but had connotations of unsophistication & poor moral teaching.
Over time, "unrefined" became amplified to "evil & rapacious" as we know it today.
Over time, "unrefined" became amplified to "evil & rapacious" as we know it today.
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
I bring you huge shrooms, I bring you tiny shrooms.
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
November 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I bring you huge shrooms, I bring you tiny shrooms.
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
Treehoppers are wild! Like someone hit the "random" button on the character creator.
Look at this weird bug, Cladonota apicalis. from Ecuador.
Now imagine a horse shaped like this, or a wolf!
Why do treehoppers have such weird shapes?
It's a mystery! But we have some ideas.
(📷: Philipp Hoenle)
Look at this weird bug, Cladonota apicalis. from Ecuador.
Now imagine a horse shaped like this, or a wolf!
Why do treehoppers have such weird shapes?
It's a mystery! But we have some ideas.
(📷: Philipp Hoenle)
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Treehoppers are wild! Like someone hit the "random" button on the character creator.
Look at this weird bug, Cladonota apicalis. from Ecuador.
Now imagine a horse shaped like this, or a wolf!
Why do treehoppers have such weird shapes?
It's a mystery! But we have some ideas.
(📷: Philipp Hoenle)
Look at this weird bug, Cladonota apicalis. from Ecuador.
Now imagine a horse shaped like this, or a wolf!
Why do treehoppers have such weird shapes?
It's a mystery! But we have some ideas.
(📷: Philipp Hoenle)
Gen X remembers how this played out in the movies, except this time without Matthew Broderick.
November 25, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Gen X remembers how this played out in the movies, except this time without Matthew Broderick.
Share a smile.
Cross-section from Ascaris lumbricoides, the most common parasitic worm in humans.
(🔬: Massimo Brizzi)
Cross-section from Ascaris lumbricoides, the most common parasitic worm in humans.
(🔬: Massimo Brizzi)
November 25, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Share a smile.
Cross-section from Ascaris lumbricoides, the most common parasitic worm in humans.
(🔬: Massimo Brizzi)
Cross-section from Ascaris lumbricoides, the most common parasitic worm in humans.
(🔬: Massimo Brizzi)
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
Birds have arrector and depressor muscles that let them control the angle/pitch of almost all their feathers, which makes it possible for them change shape.
This has specific advantages in flight control, predator defense, and temperature regulation.
The same muscles give you goosebumps.
This has specific advantages in flight control, predator defense, and temperature regulation.
The same muscles give you goosebumps.
a small owl is sitting on top of a striped towel .
Alt: a small owl is sitting on top of a striped towel next to a bathtub with slightly off-colored water. It fluffs itself up, shaking slowly from bottom to top, and then looks to one side.
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Birds have arrector and depressor muscles that let them control the angle/pitch of almost all their feathers, which makes it possible for them change shape.
This has specific advantages in flight control, predator defense, and temperature regulation.
The same muscles give you goosebumps.
This has specific advantages in flight control, predator defense, and temperature regulation.
The same muscles give you goosebumps.
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
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.
"People don't dress up to fly anymore"
I've been reading about air transportation for the Olympic horses, or as one service bills themselves: AIR HORSE ONE.
They use these handy individual stalls that can be loaded on carts and slid into place. Water and hay are provided, and a in-flight groom replaces all food/water every 2 hrs.
They use these handy individual stalls that can be loaded on carts and slid into place. Water and hay are provided, and a in-flight groom replaces all food/water every 2 hrs.
November 24, 2025 at 11:58 PM
"People don't dress up to fly anymore"
My theory for why white Republican Texans are coming up with k-substituted boy names like 'Kooper, Kase, Kolter, Kolson, Kodi'.
They're said the same as their C equivalent (Cooper, Case, Coulter, etc.), but K signals "hardness", because K has no soft voicing equivalent.
They want masculine boys.
They're said the same as their C equivalent (Cooper, Case, Coulter, etc.), but K signals "hardness", because K has no soft voicing equivalent.
They want masculine boys.
Then, I mapped them to see where these names are actually used. Here, you'll note that D names are more common (note the scales of the two maps), but R names show greater geographic spread. inequalitybyinteriordesign.wordpress.com/2025/04/03/p...
November 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
My theory for why white Republican Texans are coming up with k-substituted boy names like 'Kooper, Kase, Kolter, Kolson, Kodi'.
They're said the same as their C equivalent (Cooper, Case, Coulter, etc.), but K signals "hardness", because K has no soft voicing equivalent.
They want masculine boys.
They're said the same as their C equivalent (Cooper, Case, Coulter, etc.), but K signals "hardness", because K has no soft voicing equivalent.
They want masculine boys.
Cocks-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus & R. rupicola) are just ridiculous. Very unserious birbs.
The males are bright red-orange & have these enormous feather crests on their beaks, which they use to attract females through an event that can only be described as...
The males are bright red-orange & have these enormous feather crests on their beaks, which they use to attract females through an event that can only be described as...
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Cocks-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus & R. rupicola) are just ridiculous. Very unserious birbs.
The males are bright red-orange & have these enormous feather crests on their beaks, which they use to attract females through an event that can only be described as...
The males are bright red-orange & have these enormous feather crests on their beaks, which they use to attract females through an event that can only be described as...
Let's talk about Peto's paradox, the multi-hit hypothesis & DNA repair.
Peto's Paradox:
Whales can live to 200 yrs old & they have 1,000 times as many cells as you do, any one of which could be the seed for tumor formation.
So why aren't they getting cancer at 1,000 times the rate of humans? 🐳🧪
Peto's Paradox:
Whales can live to 200 yrs old & they have 1,000 times as many cells as you do, any one of which could be the seed for tumor formation.
So why aren't they getting cancer at 1,000 times the rate of humans? 🐳🧪
November 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Let's talk about Peto's paradox, the multi-hit hypothesis & DNA repair.
Peto's Paradox:
Whales can live to 200 yrs old & they have 1,000 times as many cells as you do, any one of which could be the seed for tumor formation.
So why aren't they getting cancer at 1,000 times the rate of humans? 🐳🧪
Peto's Paradox:
Whales can live to 200 yrs old & they have 1,000 times as many cells as you do, any one of which could be the seed for tumor formation.
So why aren't they getting cancer at 1,000 times the rate of humans? 🐳🧪
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
You were all having a good day and I am here to ruin it:
All of the birds given as gifts in “12 days of Christmas” are edible birds, and I am not sure why so many of you believe they were all intended to be kept as pets for years after receipt.
All of the birds given as gifts in “12 days of Christmas” are edible birds, and I am not sure why so many of you believe they were all intended to be kept as pets for years after receipt.
December 6, 2024 at 1:37 PM
You were all having a good day and I am here to ruin it:
All of the birds given as gifts in “12 days of Christmas” are edible birds, and I am not sure why so many of you believe they were all intended to be kept as pets for years after receipt.
All of the birds given as gifts in “12 days of Christmas” are edible birds, and I am not sure why so many of you believe they were all intended to be kept as pets for years after receipt.
“It is interesting to contemplate a tangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other..."
#OTD in 1859 'On the Origin of Species' was published. We have a few different editions in the library @thembauk.bsky.social but we are privileged to be custodians of an early edition gifted to (a mystery) someone by Charles #Darwin himself
📖BS.15/D
📖BS.15/D
November 24, 2025 at 12:58 PM
“It is interesting to contemplate a tangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other..."
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
There's only one parasite technically called "brainworm", the nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis.
It infects cervids like white tail deer and moose, although spread to domesticated livestock like llamas, cows and horses is documented.
It's acquired when animals contact/eat infected snails.
It infects cervids like white tail deer and moose, although spread to domesticated livestock like llamas, cows and horses is documented.
It's acquired when animals contact/eat infected snails.
May 8, 2024 at 12:22 PM
There's only one parasite technically called "brainworm", the nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis.
It infects cervids like white tail deer and moose, although spread to domesticated livestock like llamas, cows and horses is documented.
It's acquired when animals contact/eat infected snails.
It infects cervids like white tail deer and moose, although spread to domesticated livestock like llamas, cows and horses is documented.
It's acquired when animals contact/eat infected snails.
Real Men™ wear high heels.
Shoes are ancient, but HIGH HEELS were waiting for the invention of the stirrup & mounted warfare.
A traditional Persian shoe called a kalash or galesh (گالش) reflects the invention in the 10th century of the high-heeled boot.
The heel 'bracketed' the stirrups, increasing the rider's stability.
A traditional Persian shoe called a kalash or galesh (گالش) reflects the invention in the 10th century of the high-heeled boot.
The heel 'bracketed' the stirrups, increasing the rider's stability.
November 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Real Men™ wear high heels.
Can a flamingo dance the Flamenco?
Only if they're from Belgium.
How did a pink bird and a fancy dance get such a similar name? They MAY be related.
Flamingo probably derives from Latin 'flamma' meaning "flame" via Portuguese / Spanish 'flamengo' which means "flame-colored."
An apt description!
Only if they're from Belgium.
How did a pink bird and a fancy dance get such a similar name? They MAY be related.
Flamingo probably derives from Latin 'flamma' meaning "flame" via Portuguese / Spanish 'flamengo' which means "flame-colored."
An apt description!
a pink flamingo is walking in a room with dolphins in the background
Alt: a pink flamingo is walking in a room with dolphins in the background. It spins in a short loop facing each direction.
media.tenor.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Can a flamingo dance the Flamenco?
Only if they're from Belgium.
How did a pink bird and a fancy dance get such a similar name? They MAY be related.
Flamingo probably derives from Latin 'flamma' meaning "flame" via Portuguese / Spanish 'flamengo' which means "flame-colored."
An apt description!
Only if they're from Belgium.
How did a pink bird and a fancy dance get such a similar name? They MAY be related.
Flamingo probably derives from Latin 'flamma' meaning "flame" via Portuguese / Spanish 'flamengo' which means "flame-colored."
An apt description!
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
I always assumed the "Newton discovered gravity by observing an apple" was a sort of 'educator's shorthand' to stand in for Newton's broader observations.
I was mistaken.
He retold the story many times. We still have the very same apple tree & the *tree* also swears to the accuracy of the story.
I was mistaken.
He retold the story many times. We still have the very same apple tree & the *tree* also swears to the accuracy of the story.
March 29, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I always assumed the "Newton discovered gravity by observing an apple" was a sort of 'educator's shorthand' to stand in for Newton's broader observations.
I was mistaken.
He retold the story many times. We still have the very same apple tree & the *tree* also swears to the accuracy of the story.
I was mistaken.
He retold the story many times. We still have the very same apple tree & the *tree* also swears to the accuracy of the story.
Antifungal 'Nystatin' is named for the NY State Department of Health.
'Statins', on the other hand, are from Latin 'stare' meaning to "stay or hold still" for their ability to slow or stop cholesterol production via inhibition of liver enzyme HMG-CoA reductase.
'Statins', on the other hand, are from Latin 'stare' meaning to "stay or hold still" for their ability to slow or stop cholesterol production via inhibition of liver enzyme HMG-CoA reductase.
Chemist Rachel Fuller Brown was born #OTD in 1898. She co-discovered the antifungal nystatin while doing research for the New York State Department of Health, hence the name. (1/2) 🧪 👩🔬
Image: Smithsonian Institution
Image: Smithsonian Institution
November 23, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Antifungal 'Nystatin' is named for the NY State Department of Health.
'Statins', on the other hand, are from Latin 'stare' meaning to "stay or hold still" for their ability to slow or stop cholesterol production via inhibition of liver enzyme HMG-CoA reductase.
'Statins', on the other hand, are from Latin 'stare' meaning to "stay or hold still" for their ability to slow or stop cholesterol production via inhibition of liver enzyme HMG-CoA reductase.
Reposted by c0nc0rdance
Tbh phylogenetics is the well actually of scientific disciplines
March 2, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Tbh phylogenetics is the well actually of scientific disciplines