Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
@dlarson.bsky.social
Collection Manager and Researcher at the Royal BC Museum. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. studying lizards, dinosaur teeth, and fossil turtles. MtG, TTRPG, and boardgame enthusiast. He/him
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
I strongly encourage my palaeoart peers who work in the museum display sector to write explicit "no AI modification" clauses into their contracts.
Even if your employee contacts at a given museum are trustworthy, you can't rely on outsourced 3rd parties to not butcher your work without said clause.
Even if your employee contacts at a given museum are trustworthy, you can't rely on outsourced 3rd parties to not butcher your work without said clause.
December 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I strongly encourage my palaeoart peers who work in the museum display sector to write explicit "no AI modification" clauses into their contracts.
Even if your employee contacts at a given museum are trustworthy, you can't rely on outsourced 3rd parties to not butcher your work without said clause.
Even if your employee contacts at a given museum are trustworthy, you can't rely on outsourced 3rd parties to not butcher your work without said clause.
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
In 2003, I published a paper on an incomplete large theropod tibia recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Hastings Group (part of the Wealden). It likely belongs to a member of the Allosauridae + Carcharodontosauria clade within Allosauroidea rather than to a metriacanthosaurid... cont #dinosaurs
February 3, 2026 at 3:08 PM
In 2003, I published a paper on an incomplete large theropod tibia recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Hastings Group (part of the Wealden). It likely belongs to a member of the Allosauridae + Carcharodontosauria clade within Allosauroidea rather than to a metriacanthosaurid... cont #dinosaurs
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/
January 31, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Academics vying for a spot in Epstein‘s world. There are so many. I feel the need to make a thread, so I don’t keep confusing them. 1/
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Danielle Smith is undermining the independence of the judiciary in her province. She openly believes in parliamentary supremacy. Her argument is that we should be more like the US.
Our Canadian values are getting in her way, apparently.
#Canada #CdnPoli #Politics #Alberta #Smith #Americanization
Our Canadian values are getting in her way, apparently.
#Canada #CdnPoli #Politics #Alberta #Smith #Americanization
February 4, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Absolutely the opposite.
Harper is still the worst prime minister in my life.
He made Canada weaker, destroyed science - especially climate science. Cut Stats Canada and fucked the census to cripple our ability to criticize his policies. Targeted non profits with fruitless tax audits.
Harper is still the worst prime minister in my life.
He made Canada weaker, destroyed science - especially climate science. Cut Stats Canada and fucked the census to cripple our ability to criticize his policies. Targeted non profits with fruitless tax audits.
Stephen Harper will be remembered as “a safe set of hands” says Ian Brodie, former chief of staff to PM Harper.
Full Interview: youtu.be/7GIZ8_jKkUU
Full Interview: youtu.be/7GIZ8_jKkUU
February 4, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Absolutely the opposite.
Harper is still the worst prime minister in my life.
He made Canada weaker, destroyed science - especially climate science. Cut Stats Canada and fucked the census to cripple our ability to criticize his policies. Targeted non profits with fruitless tax audits.
Harper is still the worst prime minister in my life.
He made Canada weaker, destroyed science - especially climate science. Cut Stats Canada and fucked the census to cripple our ability to criticize his policies. Targeted non profits with fruitless tax audits.
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
UPDATE: Following user backlash Adobe has changed plans, saying that while active development on Animate will cease, it will remain available for download.
Adobe Is Ruthlessly Killing Off Software That Animators Around The World Are Using Every Day [Update]
'The entire toolshed is being demolished'
aftermath.site
February 4, 2026 at 12:16 AM
UPDATE: Following user backlash Adobe has changed plans, saying that while active development on Animate will cease, it will remain available for download.
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Get excited for tonight's Westminster best in show decision by diving into the science of dog breeds
Dog Genetics Reveal Surprising Relationships among Breeds
When it comes to dog traits, genetics-based lineages are more telling than human-made categories
www.scientificamerican.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Get excited for tonight's Westminster best in show decision by diving into the science of dog breeds
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Adobe is not really in the creative software business anymore. They are in the digital wealth extraction business. I wish more comics publishers would prioritize moving away from Adobe.
Adobe announced it's killing off Animate (formerly Flash), abandoning millions of artists who depend on the software while continuing its push into AI-heavy toolsets.
www.cartoonbrew.com/tools/adobe-...
www.cartoonbrew.com/tools/adobe-...
Adobe Ends Animate, Abandoning Millions Of Artists Amid AI Push
The sudden shutdown ends decades of workflows, jeopardizes active productions, and deepens fears that AI-first strategies are steering the industry.
www.cartoonbrew.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Adobe is not really in the creative software business anymore. They are in the digital wealth extraction business. I wish more comics publishers would prioritize moving away from Adobe.
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
The western U.S. faces its lowest snowpack on record despite average or above-average rainfall. Warmer temperatures mean more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow, and will worsen droughts in areas like the Pacific Northwest and the Colorado River Basin.
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
February 3, 2026 at 6:27 AM
The western U.S. faces its lowest snowpack on record despite average or above-average rainfall. Warmer temperatures mean more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow, and will worsen droughts in areas like the Pacific Northwest and the Colorado River Basin.
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
A student & I got a 4 page review on a manuscript we submitted to a peer reviewed journal. It’s hard not to suspect AI. But however this was generated, this line was so troubling: "There is mention of limitations to the research, which also undermines transparency and credibility of the manuscript."
February 3, 2026 at 3:04 AM
A student & I got a 4 page review on a manuscript we submitted to a peer reviewed journal. It’s hard not to suspect AI. But however this was generated, this line was so troubling: "There is mention of limitations to the research, which also undermines transparency and credibility of the manuscript."
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Alvarezsaurs were very bird-like dinosaurs, many possessing bizarre, stubby claw hands. Despite several decades of study, we still don’t know why these dinosaurs evolved such unusual arms. My latest for Smithsonian. 🧪
Small, Stubby-Armed Dinosaurs Have Confounded Paleontologists. Are Answers Finally Within Reach?
Recent discoveries about an alvarezsaur called Manipulonyx have drawn renewed attention to this group of bird-like, clawed creatures and the mysteries around their anatomy and behavior
www.smithsonianmag.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Alvarezsaurs were very bird-like dinosaurs, many possessing bizarre, stubby claw hands. Despite several decades of study, we still don’t know why these dinosaurs evolved such unusual arms. My latest for Smithsonian. 🧪
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
CANNIBALISM OF AN ADULT TYRANNOSAUR BY A JUVENILE:
Our new study on a Badlands Dinosaur Museum fossil reveals dinosaur cannibalism where a juvenile tyrannosaur feasted on the carcass of a dead adult!
3D reconstructions supervision Yu Xin, designer Shen Li, sculptor Liang Junwei
/1
Our new study on a Badlands Dinosaur Museum fossil reveals dinosaur cannibalism where a juvenile tyrannosaur feasted on the carcass of a dead adult!
3D reconstructions supervision Yu Xin, designer Shen Li, sculptor Liang Junwei
/1
February 2, 2026 at 10:02 PM
CANNIBALISM OF AN ADULT TYRANNOSAUR BY A JUVENILE:
Our new study on a Badlands Dinosaur Museum fossil reveals dinosaur cannibalism where a juvenile tyrannosaur feasted on the carcass of a dead adult!
3D reconstructions supervision Yu Xin, designer Shen Li, sculptor Liang Junwei
/1
Our new study on a Badlands Dinosaur Museum fossil reveals dinosaur cannibalism where a juvenile tyrannosaur feasted on the carcass of a dead adult!
3D reconstructions supervision Yu Xin, designer Shen Li, sculptor Liang Junwei
/1
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
imagine, with everything else going on at this company, how someone thought this was a good idea.
Ubisoft fires team lead for criticising stupid return-to-office mandate:
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
February 2, 2026 at 11:33 PM
imagine, with everything else going on at this company, how someone thought this was a good idea.
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
The tiny Foskeia pelendonum was a plant-eating dinosaur with a “weird” anatomy, scientists say
New chicken-sized dinosaur baffles paleontologists
The tiny Foskeia pelendonum was a plant-eating dinosaur with a “weird” anatomy, scientists say
www.scientificamerican.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:09 PM
The tiny Foskeia pelendonum was a plant-eating dinosaur with a “weird” anatomy, scientists say
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
by age 38 you should have had experiences with Google, Adobe, Microsoft, etc rile you up so much when you meet anyone working there no matter what dept unless you knew them before that you're furious with them personally like someone from alderaan meeting a storm trooper who worked on the death star
February 2, 2026 at 11:09 PM
by age 38 you should have had experiences with Google, Adobe, Microsoft, etc rile you up so much when you meet anyone working there no matter what dept unless you knew them before that you're furious with them personally like someone from alderaan meeting a storm trooper who worked on the death star
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
I keep seeing the “reminder don’t use Adobe here are the alternatives” image going around and folks, the problem is not just that Adobe sucks, the problem is they’re blocking legal access to decades of art files utilized by individuals and entire teams
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I keep seeing the “reminder don’t use Adobe here are the alternatives” image going around and folks, the problem is not just that Adobe sucks, the problem is they’re blocking legal access to decades of art files utilized by individuals and entire teams
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
the conspiratorial part of me wants to say that there's no way Adobe is so stupid as to spontaneously shut down an industry-wide used program so it must be deliberate sabotage on art to artificially force usage of gAI
but on the other hand "they are in fact that stupid" is a valid counter-argument
but on the other hand "they are in fact that stupid" is a valid counter-argument
February 2, 2026 at 11:26 PM
the conspiratorial part of me wants to say that there's no way Adobe is so stupid as to spontaneously shut down an industry-wide used program so it must be deliberate sabotage on art to artificially force usage of gAI
but on the other hand "they are in fact that stupid" is a valid counter-argument
but on the other hand "they are in fact that stupid" is a valid counter-argument
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Called and spoke with Adobe customer support and the guy told me Adobe is discontinuing Animate because apparently the company can't think of any new features to add to the program and they feel it's gotten stale.
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
February 2, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Called and spoke with Adobe customer support and the guy told me Adobe is discontinuing Animate because apparently the company can't think of any new features to add to the program and they feel it's gotten stale.
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
This isn't hypothetical; at least four times, I've later learned that someone I've worked with or connected a student with was a predator, after the fact. In the absence of institutional action, sometimes a whisper network is all we have. But whisper networks only work if you're in the network.
February 2, 2026 at 6:39 PM
This isn't hypothetical; at least four times, I've later learned that someone I've worked with or connected a student with was a predator, after the fact. In the absence of institutional action, sometimes a whisper network is all we have. But whisper networks only work if you're in the network.
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Just as a quick note while we discuss all the new (and familiar) names in the Epstein files: be careful about saying "everyone knows" about prominent people who are predators. People new to the field, people less connected (often marginalized folks), people who are adjacent, etc. may not know.
February 2, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Just as a quick note while we discuss all the new (and familiar) names in the Epstein files: be careful about saying "everyone knows" about prominent people who are predators. People new to the field, people less connected (often marginalized folks), people who are adjacent, etc. may not know.
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
Billie Eilish: "No one is illegal on stolen land"
February 2, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Billie Eilish: "No one is illegal on stolen land"
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
(1) Long 🧵 Time.
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
February 1, 2026 at 9:13 PM
(1) Long 🧵 Time.
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
Today we learned that paleontologist Jack Horner (the same guy who helped give us "Jurassic Park") is in the Epstein Files. As a paleontologist, I feel compelled to say something because this touches my field and I want to make my stance clear on this...
Reposted by Derek Larson, Ph.D. 🇨🇦
This Jack Horner. Who’s been known to the whisper network for some time now. There’s a reason I have repeatedly turned down writing about his work or him.
February 1, 2026 at 11:32 PM
This Jack Horner. Who’s been known to the whisper network for some time now. There’s a reason I have repeatedly turned down writing about his work or him.