Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
@joshlukedavis.com
Science writer, editor and author @ the Natural History Museum, London | Queer animals, birds and embroidery | he/him | ✏️🏛🦦 | joshlukedavis.com
Pinned
I guess it's probably time to re-introduce myself!
Hi everyone! I'm Josh, and I work at the Natural History Museum, London 🎉 where I write about natural history and badger curators into letting me nose about their collections.
I also wrote an entire book on ✨queer✨ nature! 🙌🌈🦆
Hi everyone! I'm Josh, and I work at the Natural History Museum, London 🎉 where I write about natural history and badger curators into letting me nose about their collections.
I also wrote an entire book on ✨queer✨ nature! 🙌🌈🦆
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Like to imagine that when papers refer to animals as large bodied rather than simply large it's because they are also taking personality size into account
November 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Like to imagine that when papers refer to animals as large bodied rather than simply large it's because they are also taking personality size into account
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Somebody posted an old photo in a Facebook local group and asked if anyone could clean it up. Well-meaning people turned to #AI. Lots of responders seemed happy with the results, but this is how you destroy historical records.
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Somebody posted an old photo in a Facebook local group and asked if anyone could clean it up. Well-meaning people turned to #AI. Lots of responders seemed happy with the results, but this is how you destroy historical records.
look if anyone wants to gift me a gay sheep jumper I think it would be a combination of all my identities
www.out.com/fashion/quee...
www.out.com/fashion/quee...
Queer by nature, see the fashion collection only gay sheep could inspire
With looks crafted from Rainbow Wool's yarn, Grindr's newest collaboration turns identity, artistry, and pure queer joy into a runway spectacle.
www.out.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:40 PM
look if anyone wants to gift me a gay sheep jumper I think it would be a combination of all my identities
www.out.com/fashion/quee...
www.out.com/fashion/quee...
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
unfortunately I have lost my mind at the Instagram posting from the gay sheep wool brand
November 24, 2025 at 11:22 PM
unfortunately I have lost my mind at the Instagram posting from the gay sheep wool brand
I'm not usually one to brag, but I have been running sub-25-minute 5ks on the treadmill at the moment and I do feel quite smug about that
November 25, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I'm not usually one to brag, but I have been running sub-25-minute 5ks on the treadmill at the moment and I do feel quite smug about that
just hook it to my veins 🥲
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
A grand day out: Wallace and Gromit star in London exhibition
Aardman studios to put props, sets and storyboards on show for its 50th anniversary event at the Young V&A
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:21 PM
just hook it to my veins 🥲
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
![[Scene is JESUS sat behind a boss’s desk in his office on a cloud in HEAVEN]
1
JESUS [speaking into intercom]
Hi can you send in Saint Nicholas please
2
SANTA [entering in full Santa garb]:
Hi boss
JESUS:
Hi Nick
3
JESUS:
Listen - about this ‘my birthday’ thing...
SANTA:
Ohh not this again boss
4
JESUS:
Nick, it’s out of hand. *You’ve* got out of hand.
5
JESUS:
I mean when I hired you, you was all humble, hiding under windows, lobbing in dowries…
And now you’re like…
6
JESUS [gesturing disdainfully at Santa’s clothing]:
I mean - what’s this.
7
SANTA:
This is my get up! I’ve had this since the Coca Cola deal in the 30s
JESUS:
*That’s what I mean.*
8
JESUS:
You’ve just gone too -
SANTA:
Oh no, oh no -
9
SANTA:
Sorry boss but waaay back in the Reformation, right, Martin Luther said: “why don’t we have Jesus delivering the presents?”. And when he prayed to ask you, do you remember what you said? Eh?
10
SANTA:
You said: “I ain’t going back there”
11
SANTA:
If you wanna take over -
JESUS:
Oh yeah! Kids coming downstairs to find me resurrected in their living room going "I got you an Xbox"...
12
SANTA:
You’re just feeling threatened cos I’m doing a bloody good -
JESUS:
*WATCH IT NICK*.
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayhglimve4fbwilzyfjedpa56xwmjq4oriqqs62atkospprs6x5y@jpeg)
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Our Latin America bureau @mongabaylatam.bsky.social won the Global Shining Light award last night 🏆 💯
One of the highest honors in investigative journalism, it's given at the annual @gijn.org conference
Their winning project moved Peruvian officials to protect land defenders in the Amazon:
One of the highest honors in investigative journalism, it's given at the annual @gijn.org conference
Their winning project moved Peruvian officials to protect land defenders in the Amazon:
Indigenous leaders killed as narco airstrips cut into their Amazon territories
Mongabay and Earth Genome detected 67 clandestine airstrips used for transporting drugs in the Peruvian regions of Ucayali, Huánuco and Pasco. The analysis used artificial intelligence (AI) and satell...
news.mongabay.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Our Latin America bureau @mongabaylatam.bsky.social won the Global Shining Light award last night 🏆 💯
One of the highest honors in investigative journalism, it's given at the annual @gijn.org conference
Their winning project moved Peruvian officials to protect land defenders in the Amazon:
One of the highest honors in investigative journalism, it's given at the annual @gijn.org conference
Their winning project moved Peruvian officials to protect land defenders in the Amazon:
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Me when I have an idea just before falling asleep but I don’t write it down in my phone notes:
Terumaru, a bright young lightbulb and the mascot of the Tokyu Denki electric company, trapped in a door yesterday:
November 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Me when I have an idea just before falling asleep but I don’t write it down in my phone notes:
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
It would be harder to find a less sympathetic case, given that her parents paid £20,000 for their house which is now worth £1.2m. Why is somebody moaning about the very existence of inheritance tax a news story?
November 24, 2025 at 10:26 AM
It would be harder to find a less sympathetic case, given that her parents paid £20,000 for their house which is now worth £1.2m. Why is somebody moaning about the very existence of inheritance tax a news story?
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Ahhh happy Sunday night everyone. The wonderful @nhcooper123.bsky.social and @joshlukedavis.com thought it wise to ask me to talk about my fav specimens…
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
Exciting new episode today is SPIKY, featuring our first ever guest the incredible @flygirlnhm.bsky.social. Spoiler alert - there may be some flies! m.youtube.com/watch?v=8si6...
Our first guest brings a powderpuff with wings | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep14
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Ahhh happy Sunday night everyone. The wonderful @nhcooper123.bsky.social and @joshlukedavis.com thought it wise to ask me to talk about my fav specimens…
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
And here the results from the Solnhofen #paleostream! This image depicts large parts of the terrestrial fauna of the Altmühltal Formation, the best understood part of the litographic limestone formations of Germany. There were several reasons for gong onto land despite...
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 AM
And here the results from the Solnhofen #paleostream! This image depicts large parts of the terrestrial fauna of the Altmühltal Formation, the best understood part of the litographic limestone formations of Germany. There were several reasons for gong onto land despite...
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
“Mum, Dad... I’m a homo sapien”
From the Private Eye archive.
Issue 865, Feb 1995.
From the Private Eye archive.
Issue 865, Feb 1995.
November 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
“Mum, Dad... I’m a homo sapien”
From the Private Eye archive.
Issue 865, Feb 1995.
From the Private Eye archive.
Issue 865, Feb 1995.
omg LOVE this and would love to see more science conferences doing something similar!!
ARTISTS!
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
I need your help!
In collab. w/the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, I'm organizing a group of artists to come to our Jan. meeting! We're looking for artists to create based on what they learn at the conference. $1000 stipend.
Application is V short! forms.gle/ah1i8KwNJinZ...
November 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
omg LOVE this and would love to see more science conferences doing something similar!!
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
No way I’m sharing Stock’s UnHerd article. But I am going to point to this bit which amply demonstrates the anti-trans=>anti-women’s rights pipeline. “Abortions should only be done for a highly restricted set of reasons. They should not be just nodded through for any reason a pregnant woman likes.”
November 21, 2025 at 10:55 AM
No way I’m sharing Stock’s UnHerd article. But I am going to point to this bit which amply demonstrates the anti-trans=>anti-women’s rights pipeline. “Abortions should only be done for a highly restricted set of reasons. They should not be just nodded through for any reason a pregnant woman likes.”
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Paco was giving me a good sniff today at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#tapiroftheday #tapirs #nature
#tapiroftheday #tapirs #nature
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Paco was giving me a good sniff today at @tapirvalley.bsky.social #CostaRica
#tapiroftheday #tapirs #nature
#tapiroftheday #tapirs #nature
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
the nominees were
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
For Women Scotland wins Public Campaign or Campaigner of the Year at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025, in association with ScottishPower
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
#politicianawards25
www.heraldscotland.com/news...
#politicianawards25
November 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM
the nominees were
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
-a campaign to get lifechanging medication for extremely sick children
-a campaign to improve access to justice for victims of rape and sexual assault
-a transphobic hate campaign that managed to convince some judges to make the worst ruling in Supreme Court history*
(*winner)
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Earlier today, I was notified that someone was at my door.
This is who it was:
This is who it was:
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
There SO MUCH going on in this lovely story. But the stickler in me wants to know if these sheep are truly, exclusively gay. After all, they might be baaa-sexual.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/fashio...
www.washingtonpost.com/style/fashio...
I love your sweater. Is it made from gay sheep wool?
Grindr partnered with Rainbow Wool and designer Michael Schmidt to create a fashion show featuring clothing made entirely from the wool of gay sheep. Wait, what?
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
There SO MUCH going on in this lovely story. But the stickler in me wants to know if these sheep are truly, exclusively gay. After all, they might be baaa-sexual.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/fashio...
www.washingtonpost.com/style/fashio...
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Happy #WorldAnteaterDay! This Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) #SciArt is by Édouard Traviès for Charles Dessalines d'Orbigny, Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle (1849). Contributed to BHL by @ncsulibraries.bsky.social: www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19538021 🧪 📖 🌎 🐜 #ILoveBHL
November 19, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Happy #WorldAnteaterDay! This Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) #SciArt is by Édouard Traviès for Charles Dessalines d'Orbigny, Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle (1849). Contributed to BHL by @ncsulibraries.bsky.social: www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19538021 🧪 📖 🌎 🐜 #ILoveBHL
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Out of curiosity, do I know someone (who knows someone) who counts spiders in rainforests? I want to use a short clip of them working for a video and I'd love to use a real scientist. #spiders
November 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Out of curiosity, do I know someone (who knows someone) who counts spiders in rainforests? I want to use a short clip of them working for a video and I'd love to use a real scientist. #spiders
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
Sadly, we have seen a big increase in avian flu cases in the UK - particularly in waterfowl
Whilst the risk to the public remains assessed as very low, Government advice is not to touch any visibly sick or dead birds, and to keep pets away
Read on for ways to help:
📷Ben Andrew
Whilst the risk to the public remains assessed as very low, Government advice is not to touch any visibly sick or dead birds, and to keep pets away
Read on for ways to help:
📷Ben Andrew
November 19, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Sadly, we have seen a big increase in avian flu cases in the UK - particularly in waterfowl
Whilst the risk to the public remains assessed as very low, Government advice is not to touch any visibly sick or dead birds, and to keep pets away
Read on for ways to help:
📷Ben Andrew
Whilst the risk to the public remains assessed as very low, Government advice is not to touch any visibly sick or dead birds, and to keep pets away
Read on for ways to help:
📷Ben Andrew
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
It’s our 13th episode! UNLUCKY for some… but not for @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social as they share their favourite UNLUCKY specimens. m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwGf... Yes we know some might be considered LUCKY depending on how you look at it! Picking stuff is hard! 🤣
What's beautiful and smells like vomit? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep13
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It’s our 13th episode! UNLUCKY for some… but not for @joshlukedavis.com and @nhcooper123.bsky.social as they share their favourite UNLUCKY specimens. m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwGf... Yes we know some might be considered LUCKY depending on how you look at it! Picking stuff is hard! 🤣
Reposted by Josh Luke Davis 🏳️🌈
More work linking irregular iris pigmentation in gannets to prior HPAI infections: likelihood of NP antibody increased with iris pigment irregularity. Moderate correlations for H5 antibodies.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 18, 2025 at 10:52 PM
More work linking irregular iris pigmentation in gannets to prior HPAI infections: likelihood of NP antibody increased with iris pigment irregularity. Moderate correlations for H5 antibodies.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...