Rachel Dale
@drracheldale.bsky.social
Senior scientist with 2 science hats: Mental health (humans) & animal behaviour (canids/elephants).
Co-host @wildbehaviorpod.bsky.social
Mountain and camping addict. Scot in Austria. 🏳️🌈
Co-host @wildbehaviorpod.bsky.social
Mountain and camping addict. Scot in Austria. 🏳️🌈
Pinned
Rachel Dale
@drracheldale.bsky.social
· Jan 17
Dive into the world of animal behaviour with us.
Subscribe now so you don't miss the first episode!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6vxB3zL...
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
#SciComm #animal #podcast
Subscribe now so you don't miss the first episode!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6vxB3zL...
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
#SciComm #animal #podcast
NEW PODCAST!
Woohoo 🥳 My side project with Megan Lambert is finally coming to fruition. If you're into animal behaviour and/or podcasts please give us a follow and subscribe 🎙️
#AVeryNotSeriousSciencePodcast #SciComm #animal #podcast
Woohoo 🥳 My side project with Megan Lambert is finally coming to fruition. If you're into animal behaviour and/or podcasts please give us a follow and subscribe 🎙️
#AVeryNotSeriousSciencePodcast #SciComm #animal #podcast
Reposted by Rachel Dale
A lovely read about researchers who make animals happy for a living 😊 A day spent playing the sounds of baby bonobo laughter is surely a day well spent
www.sciencenews.org/article/scie...
www.sciencenews.org/article/scie...
Animals experience joy. Scientists want to measure it
Scientists have long focused on quantifying fear and other negative emotions in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings — and it’s a challenge.
www.sciencenews.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:04 AM
A lovely read about researchers who make animals happy for a living 😊 A day spent playing the sounds of baby bonobo laughter is surely a day well spent
www.sciencenews.org/article/scie...
www.sciencenews.org/article/scie...
When I changed research field I was lucky to have opportunity to participate on lots of papers. This helped me learn my new field
But I agree with slow science 💯 & hope I can focus on higher quality research that takes more time now I have the luxury of a permanent job
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
But I agree with slow science 💯 & hope I can focus on higher quality research that takes more time now I have the luxury of a permanent job
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I’m going to halve my publication output. You should consider slow science, too
If we don’t slow down, the research enterprise is going to crash, argues Adrian Barnett.
www.nature.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:51 PM
When I changed research field I was lucky to have opportunity to participate on lots of papers. This helped me learn my new field
But I agree with slow science 💯 & hope I can focus on higher quality research that takes more time now I have the luxury of a permanent job
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
But I agree with slow science 💯 & hope I can focus on higher quality research that takes more time now I have the luxury of a permanent job
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Belugas are fascinating! So glad there are people out there finding out more about them 🐳
Our new review of beluga sociality and culture just dropped at Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology! Some of our key conclusions summarized 🧵
doi.org/10.1007/s002...
@marine-valeria.bsky.social @dmennill.bsky.social @raincoast.org
doi.org/10.1007/s002...
@marine-valeria.bsky.social @dmennill.bsky.social @raincoast.org
January 23, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Belugas are fascinating! So glad there are people out there finding out more about them 🐳
This will be scientifically interesting for many in the tool use research community.
For me it's simply very cute to watch the video of Veronika 🐮
For me it's simply very cute to watch the video of Veronika 🐮
Cow Tools!
We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years.
We breed them and exploit them
It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS
Here I describe our study
(paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social
with @auersperga.bsky.social
We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years.
We breed them and exploit them
It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS
Here I describe our study
(paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social
with @auersperga.bsky.social
January 20, 2026 at 8:18 AM
This will be scientifically interesting for many in the tool use research community.
For me it's simply very cute to watch the video of Veronika 🐮
For me it's simply very cute to watch the video of Veronika 🐮
Reposted by Rachel Dale
This is incredibly important. If you read one thing this week: marcusolang.substack.com/p/im-kenyan-...
I'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me.
I'm calm. I'm calm. I promise.
marcusolang.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:47 AM
This is incredibly important. If you read one thing this week: marcusolang.substack.com/p/im-kenyan-...
Reposted by Rachel Dale
1/3 Jellyfish and anemones also sleep, despite not having a brain
Not only do they sleep, but their behavior is affected if they lack sleep; they become clumsier and need to catch up on lost sleep. Interestingly, they sleep 8 hours a day, just like us.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Not only do they sleep, but their behavior is affected if they lack sleep; they become clumsier and need to catch up on lost sleep. Interestingly, they sleep 8 hours a day, just like us.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 14, 2026 at 11:32 AM
1/3 Jellyfish and anemones also sleep, despite not having a brain
Not only do they sleep, but their behavior is affected if they lack sleep; they become clumsier and need to catch up on lost sleep. Interestingly, they sleep 8 hours a day, just like us.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Not only do they sleep, but their behavior is affected if they lack sleep; they become clumsier and need to catch up on lost sleep. Interestingly, they sleep 8 hours a day, just like us.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Rachel Dale
The man actually mistook his *bat* for a hat, but lexical competition just didn't have the same broad appeal
Fascinating (and depressing) piece on the complicated Oliver Sacks, whose writing on neurology captivated and inspired so many.
"Sacks wrote in his journal,
Guilt has been *much* greater since 'Hat' because of (among other things)
My lies,
falsification"
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
"Sacks wrote in his journal,
Guilt has been *much* greater since 'Hat' because of (among other things)
My lies,
falsification"
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Oliver Sacks Put Himself Into His Case Studies. What Was the Cost?
The scientist was famous for linking healing with storytelling. Sometimes that meant reshaping patients’ reality.
www.newyorker.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The man actually mistook his *bat* for a hat, but lexical competition just didn't have the same broad appeal
Super proud of my office buddy and unofficial PhD student for defending her thesis!
She's done some great work on stress in young people, especially gender-non-conforming youth.
Here's to further collaborations Dr @teresaorourke.bsky.social!
She's done some great work on stress in young people, especially gender-non-conforming youth.
Here's to further collaborations Dr @teresaorourke.bsky.social!
We are proud to congratulate Dr. Teresa O’Rourke, @teresaorourke.bsky.social, on successfully defending her PhD! 🎉🔬
In her dissertation, she investigated risk and protective factors for mental health in young people experiencing chronic stress. We are excited where her work takes her next! 🍀
In her dissertation, she investigated risk and protective factors for mental health in young people experiencing chronic stress. We are excited where her work takes her next! 🍀
December 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Super proud of my office buddy and unofficial PhD student for defending her thesis!
She's done some great work on stress in young people, especially gender-non-conforming youth.
Here's to further collaborations Dr @teresaorourke.bsky.social!
She's done some great work on stress in young people, especially gender-non-conforming youth.
Here's to further collaborations Dr @teresaorourke.bsky.social!
Iain Douglas-Hamilton was a champion for elephants 🐘 & one of the inspirations for my own research. He was among the 1st to study ele social behaviour & it was his life's work to protect them
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Iain Douglas-Hamilton, pioneering elephant conservationist, dies aged 83
His groundbreaking field research was instrumental in banning the international ivory trade and protecting elephants from poachers.
www.bbc.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Iain Douglas-Hamilton was a champion for elephants 🐘 & one of the inspirations for my own research. He was among the 1st to study ele social behaviour & it was his life's work to protect them
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Sending my condolences to all the friends & family during this sad time
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Rachel Dale
watch out for pretend papers guys!
So...my undergrad thesis student is doing a quality analysis of studies found in meta-analyses. She identified a few and we contacted the authors to request their effect sizes and other variables for the studies in their papers.
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
Here's what happened:
scientiapsychiatrica.com/index.php/Sc...
The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis | Scientia Psychiatrica
Introduction: The proliferation of social media has raised significant concerns about its potential effects on the mental health of adolescents. This meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive asse...
scientiapsychiatrica.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
watch out for pretend papers guys!
"when people can see real, practical ways to make a difference, their worry can turn into positive action... Also research consistently shows that taking climate-positive actions can improve wellbeing"
#hope
#hope
Climate change may be adding to mental health pressures, from trauma to climate distress, but climate action can be a positive way to cope.
Three ways climate change affects mental health – and why the story is more hopeful than it might seem
Climate change may be adding to mental health pressures, from trauma to climate distress, but climate action can be a positive way to cope.
tcnv.link
December 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
"when people can see real, practical ways to make a difference, their worry can turn into positive action... Also research consistently shows that taking climate-positive actions can improve wellbeing"
#hope
#hope
Reposted by Rachel Dale
The problems with academic publishing in one graph. The big for-profit publishers get product for free and sell it back to us. Their profits rival those from the big tech companies. This is money that could have supported research, teaching and graduate students.
From: danielroelfs.com/pos...
From: danielroelfs.com/pos...
November 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The problems with academic publishing in one graph. The big for-profit publishers get product for free and sell it back to us. Their profits rival those from the big tech companies. This is money that could have supported research, teaching and graduate students.
From: danielroelfs.com/pos...
From: danielroelfs.com/pos...
NEW RESEARCH 📣
Now with a summary infographic
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#LGBTQIA+ #psychotherapy #psychotherapie
Now with a summary infographic
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#LGBTQIA+ #psychotherapy #psychotherapie
November 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
NEW RESEARCH 📣
Now with a summary infographic
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#LGBTQIA+ #psychotherapy #psychotherapie
Now with a summary infographic
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#LGBTQIA+ #psychotherapy #psychotherapie
These results highlight that psychotherapists in Austria feel underprepared to work with LGBTQIA+ clients. This has important implications for health equity in gender and sexual minorities.
November 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
These results highlight that psychotherapists in Austria feel underprepared to work with LGBTQIA+ clients. This has important implications for health equity in gender and sexual minorities.
People of LGBTQIA+ communities are at increased risk of experiencing negative effects during therapy. So it's important to evaluate to what extent psychotherapists have the necessary awareness and knowledge to work with LGBTQIA+ clients.
November 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
People of LGBTQIA+ communities are at increased risk of experiencing negative effects during therapy. So it's important to evaluate to what extent psychotherapists have the necessary awareness and knowledge to work with LGBTQIA+ clients.
📣 NEW PAPER!
How prepared are psychotherapists in Austria to work with LGBTQIA+ clients? 🏳️🌈
Only 5% felt they definitely had enough training on LGBTQIA+ topics and 2% received obligatory training. Training & self-education were positively associated with allyship
1/3
#LGBTQIA #InclusiveHealthcare
How prepared are psychotherapists in Austria to work with LGBTQIA+ clients? 🏳️🌈
Only 5% felt they definitely had enough training on LGBTQIA+ topics and 2% received obligatory training. Training & self-education were positively associated with allyship
1/3
#LGBTQIA #InclusiveHealthcare
Attitudes of Psychotherapists in Working with LGBTQIA+ Clients and Validation of the German Version of the Ally Identity Measure
It is well established that people of LGBTQIA+ communities suffer more often from mental illness and encounter greater barriers to accessing mental health services compared to hetero/cis people. Mo...
www.tandfonline.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
📣 NEW PAPER!
How prepared are psychotherapists in Austria to work with LGBTQIA+ clients? 🏳️🌈
Only 5% felt they definitely had enough training on LGBTQIA+ topics and 2% received obligatory training. Training & self-education were positively associated with allyship
1/3
#LGBTQIA #InclusiveHealthcare
How prepared are psychotherapists in Austria to work with LGBTQIA+ clients? 🏳️🌈
Only 5% felt they definitely had enough training on LGBTQIA+ topics and 2% received obligatory training. Training & self-education were positively associated with allyship
1/3
#LGBTQIA #InclusiveHealthcare
While I wouldn't go as far as calling this tool use, it's certainly a clever way of acquiring food (check out the video in the article) 🐺
#wolf
#wolf
Have wild wolves learned to use tools?
Video captures a lone female pulling crab traps out of the water, but does it count as tool use?
www.science.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:52 AM
While I wouldn't go as far as calling this tool use, it's certainly a clever way of acquiring food (check out the video in the article) 🐺
#wolf
#wolf
Reposted by Rachel Dale
3 year postdoc funded by @ukri.org NERC on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins is now live - please share widely 🙏 www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol
University of Bristol Beacon House Queens Road Bristol, BS8 1QU, UK Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000 Contact us
www.bristol.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
3 year postdoc funded by @ukri.org NERC on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins is now live - please share widely 🙏 www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Reposted by Rachel Dale
Years ago, I attempted a self-assessment of my potential gender biases in an academic research setting:
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
October 31, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Years ago, I attempted a self-assessment of my potential gender biases in an academic research setting:
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
ecoevoevoeco.blogspot.com/2016/04/subt...
Today, I happened on a very nice summary of how to avoid such biases in letters of recommendation, which provides an comprehensive outline. Check it out
There's some good advice in here. We tend towards the negative in our viewing so we have to actively search for the positive.
I've been trying to curate my feeds for a while to include more positive content like Reasons to be Cheerful. Now I'll also try more inspiring content too.
I've been trying to curate my feeds for a while to include more positive content like Reasons to be Cheerful. Now I'll also try more inspiring content too.
Social media can push us to the dark side, with negative content. A new study finds watching inspiring videos for just 3 minutes a day is on par with meditation for boosting mood and reducing stress.
Got 3 minutes? This habit may help boost hope and reduce stress
Social media can push us to the dark side, with negative content. A new study finds watching inspiring videos for just 3 minutes a day is on par with meditation for boosting mood and reducing stress.
n.pr
October 28, 2025 at 7:46 AM
There's some good advice in here. We tend towards the negative in our viewing so we have to actively search for the positive.
I've been trying to curate my feeds for a while to include more positive content like Reasons to be Cheerful. Now I'll also try more inspiring content too.
I've been trying to curate my feeds for a while to include more positive content like Reasons to be Cheerful. Now I'll also try more inspiring content too.
Reposted by Rachel Dale
What we all need right now. I LOVE the comedy wildlife photography awards
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 – in pictures
From a red-throated loon touching down on water, to good and bad hair days, and an airborne squirrel, here is a selection of the finalists in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife awards
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:52 AM
What we all need right now. I LOVE the comedy wildlife photography awards
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rachel Dale
Researchers at Brown University found that AI chatbots routinely violate core mental health ethics standards, underscoring the need for legal standards and oversight as use of these tools increases. www.brown.edu/news/2025-10...
New study: AI chatbots systematically violate mental health ethics standards
Researchers at Brown University found that AI chatbots routinely violate core mental health ethics standards, underscoring the need for legal standards and oversight as use of these tools increases.
www.brown.edu
October 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Researchers at Brown University found that AI chatbots routinely violate core mental health ethics standards, underscoring the need for legal standards and oversight as use of these tools increases. www.brown.edu/news/2025-10...